Today's 5×5 NYT Mini December 26, 2025 - Instant Answers Plus Learning Hints
Quick Summary: Today's NYT Mini Crossword has 20 clues total. We have all the answers plus helpful hints to make solving easier!
Popular Puzzles: Sundays NYT Mini Nov 30 All 10 Across | All NYT Down Clues November 17 2025 41 | August 11 2021 NYT Clues Solutions |
About Today's Puzzle
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | December 26, 2025 |
| Grid Size | 5 x 5 squares |
| Total Clues | 20 clues |
| Across Clues | 10 clues |
| Down Clues | 10 clues |
| Average Solve Time | Under 1 minute |
Today's NYT Mini Crossword Grid Layout
This puzzle uses a 5 by 5 grid. That means 5 boxes across and 5 boxes down.
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | Column 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Row 1 | |||||
| Row 2 | |||||
| Row 3 | |||||
| Row 4 | |||||
| Row 5 |
How to Solve This Puzzle Fast
- Read all the clues first - your brain will start working on them
- Fill in the short words first (3 letters or less)
- Use the crossing letters to help with harder words
- If a clue has a question mark (?), it's probably a joke or play on words
- Common short words: THE, AND, ARE, FOR, NOT
Quick Facts About This Puzzle
- Total squares in grid: 25 (5 times 5)
- Average time to solve: Less than 1 minute
- Best time to play: During a coffee break
- Difficulty level: Made for everyone to enjoy
Across Clues - 10 Total
These clues go from left to right in the puzzle.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Across | 30. ___ Tuesday (end of the pre-Lenten season) |
| 2 Across | 31. One toeing the line? |
| 3 Across | 15. Typical sight in a bank robbery cartoon |
| 4 Across | 55. Treated with respect |
| 5 Across | 26. Since Jan. 1, on a pay stub |
| 6 Across | 18. Cracked wheat used in tabbouleh |
| 7 Across | 27. Tuesday, in French |
| 8 Across | 25. A cold one is unexpected (and usually unappreciated) |
| 9 Across | 42. Singular, with or without its first letter |
| 10 Across | 24. Some babysitters |
Hints and Answers for Across Clues
Need help? Here are hints and answers for each clue above. Also check out these helpful guides:
- All NYT Down Clues November 17 2025 41
- April 30 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
- Down Clues NYT November 25 2025 Todays
1 Across: "30. ___ Tuesday (end of the pre-Lenten season)"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 6 letters
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: S____E
Answer: Click to reveal
SHROVE
2 Across: "31. One toeing the line?"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 15 letters
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: T_____________R
Answer: Click to reveal
TIGHTROPEWALKER
3 Across: "15. Typical sight in a bank robbery cartoon"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 8 letters
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'G'
- Word pattern: M______G
Answer: Click to reveal
MONEYBAG
4 Across: "55. Treated with respect"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 8 letters
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: E______D
Answer: Click to reveal
ESTEEMED
5 Across: "26. Since Jan. 1, on a pay stub"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 3 letters
- It starts with 'Y' and ends with 'D'
- This is a short form or acronym
Answer: Click to reveal
YTD
6 Across: "18. Cracked wheat used in tabbouleh"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 6 letters
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: B____R
Answer: Click to reveal
BULGUR
7 Across: "27. Tuesday, in French"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 5 letters
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'I'
- Word pattern: M___I
Answer: Click to reveal
MARDI
8 Across: "25. A cold one is unexpected (and usually unappreciated)"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 4 letters
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'L'
- Word pattern: C__L
Answer: Click to reveal
CALL
9 Across: "42. Singular, with or without its first letter"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 4 letters
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: L__E
Answer: Click to reveal
LONE
10 Across: "24. Some babysitters"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 5 letters
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: N___S
Answer: Click to reveal
NANAS
Down Clues - 10 Total
These clues go from top to bottom in the puzzle.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Down | 47. Stack (up) |
| 2 Down | 8. Competition that combines speed with balance |
| 3 Down | 27. Stick by a fireplace |
| 4 Down | 49. Casting need |
| 5 Down | 41. Made up |
| 6 Down | 6. Broad band? |
| 7 Down | 12. The world's end, in Norse mythology |
| 8 Down | 40. Worth considering |
| 9 Down | 14. Baby sitter? |
| 10 Down | 33. Figure in sci-fi's "Attack of the 50 Foot Woman," e.g. |
Hints and Answers for Down Clues
Need help? Here are hints and answers for each clue above. You might also like:
- Xwordhint Crossword Answers September_8
- Down Clues NYT November 25 2025 Todays
- October 01 2022 NYT Clues Solutions
1 Down: "47. Stack (up)"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 4 letters
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: P__E
Answer: Click to reveal
PILE
2 Down: "8. Competition that combines speed with balance"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 15 letters
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: E_____________E
Answer: Click to reveal
EGGANDSPOONRACE
3 Down: "27. Stick by a fireplace"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 5 letters
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'H'
- Word pattern: M___H
Answer: Click to reveal
MATCH
4 Down: "49. Casting need"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 3 letters
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'E'
- Another word like this: die out
Answer: Click to reveal
DIE
5 Down: "41. Made up"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 6 letters
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: A____D
Answer: Click to reveal
ATONED
6 Down: "6. Broad band?"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 3 letters
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'I'
- Another word like this: obeah
Answer: Click to reveal
OBI
7 Down: "12. The world's end, in Norse mythology"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 8 letters
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'K'
- Word pattern: R______K
Answer: Click to reveal
RAGNAROK
8 Down: "40. Worth considering"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 6 letters
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: O____E
Answer: Click to reveal
OFNOTE
9 Down: "14. Baby sitter?"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 8 letters
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: S______R
Answer: Click to reveal
STROLLER
10 Down: "33. Figure in sci-fi's "Attack of the 50 Foot Woman," e.g."
Helpful hints:
- This word has 8 letters
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: G______S
Answer: Click to reveal
GIANTESS
How to Solve the NYT Mini Crossword Faster
Here are the best tips from expert solvers:
Step-by-Step Strategy
- Quick Scan: Read all clues once. Your brain starts working on them right away.
- Easy First: Fill in the shortest words (2-3 letters). These are usually simple words like "IT" or "ON".
- Use Crossings: When letters cross, they help you figure out harder words.
- Watch for Wordplay: Clues with question marks (?) are jokes or puns.
- Common Words: Remember these appear often: ERA, ORE, ATE, ICE.
Letter Tips That Really Help
- The letter E is the most common in English
- Words ending in S are often plurals
- If you see "___" in a clue, the answer fits those blanks exactly
- Abbreviations in clues mean the answer is also abbreviated
Time Goals to Aim For
| Your Time | Skill Level | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Under 30 seconds | Expert | You know the puzzle patterns very well! |
| 30-60 seconds | Advanced | Great job! You solve quickly. |
| 1-2 minutes | Good | You're doing well. Keep practicing! |
| Over 2 minutes | Learning | You'll get faster with practice. |
Puzzle Numbers and Facts
| Total Clues: | 20 clues to solve |
| Grid Size: | 5 boxes across, 5 boxes down |
| Total Squares: | 25 squares to fill |
| Average Time: | Most people solve in 58 seconds |
| Difficulty: | Medium |
Common Questions About NYT Mini Crossword
When can I play the NYT Mini?
The puzzle comes out at 10 PM Eastern Time the night before. So you can play Monday's puzzle starting Sunday at 10 PM.
How fast should I be able to solve it?
Most people solve the Mini in 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Don't worry if you take longer - speed comes with practice!
Do I need to pay to play?
No! The NYT Mini is completely free. You don't need a subscription like the big crossword.
What makes a good Mini solver?
Good Mini solvers know common short words, can spot wordplay quickly, and use crossing letters well. Practice helps a lot!
Are the puzzles harder on certain days?
Unlike the big NYT crossword, the Mini stays about the same difficulty every day. Sometimes Saturday might be a tiny bit harder.
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