Trivia Week 3 February 15, 2026 NYT Mini Crossword 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: NYT Across Clues Answers November 16 | October 08 2022 NYT Clues Solutions | September 27 2019 NYT Clues Solutions |
About Today's Puzzle
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | February 15, 2026 |
| 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 Trivia Week {week_num} 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 | 36. Circa |
| 2 Across | 79. Muckety-muck |
| 3 Across | 13. No time at all |
| 4 Across | 131. Skin softener |
| 5 Across | 100. Wear (out) |
| 6 Across | 61. Had a brain fart |
| 7 Across | 111. Ruby lookalike |
| 8 Across | 80. Frequently, poetically |
| 9 Across | 46. "My life is over" |
| 10 Across | 123. In back |
Hints and Answers for Across Clues
Need help? Here are hints and answers for each clue above. Also check out these helpful guides:
- March 02 2020 NYT Clues Solutions
- NYT Across Today October 15 2025
- Xwordhint Crossword Answers October 26
1 Across: "36. Circa"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 6 letters
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: A____D
Answer: Click to reveal
AROUND
2 Across: "79. Muckety-muck"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 5 letters
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'B'
- Word pattern: N___B
Answer: Click to reveal
NABOB
3 Across: "13. No time at all"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 6 letters
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'H'
- Word pattern: A____H
Answer: Click to reveal
AFLASH
4 Across: "131. Skin softener"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 4 letters
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: A__E
Answer: Click to reveal
ALOE
5 Across: "100. Wear (out)"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 4 letters
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: T__E
Answer: Click to reveal
TIRE
6 Across: "61. Had a brain fart"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 7 letters
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: B_____D
Answer: Click to reveal
BLANKED
7 Across: "111. Ruby lookalike"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 6 letters
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: G____T
Answer: Click to reveal
GARNET
8 Across: "80. Frequently, poetically"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 3 letters
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'T'
- Another word like this: often
Answer: Click to reveal
OFT
9 Across: "46. "My life is over""
Helpful hints:
- This word has 8 letters
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: I______D
Answer: Click to reveal
IMRUINED
10 Across: "123. In back"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 9 letters
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: A_______R
Answer: Click to reveal
ATTHEREAR
Down Clues - 10 Total
These clues go from top to bottom in the puzzle.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Down | 12. Many middle schoolers |
| 2 Down | 92. Part of an equestrian's ensemble |
| 3 Down | 59. Contribute |
| 4 Down | 86. Fixed, as a "m-i-t-s-a-k-e" |
| 5 Down | 128. Depressed |
| 6 Down | 73. Two peas ___ pod |
| 7 Down | 101. Lit up, in a way |
| 8 Down | 10. Dress down |
| 9 Down | 62. N.Y.C. neighborhood that's home to the Grey Art Museum |
| 10 Down | 8. Lost traction |
Hints and Answers for Down Clues
Need help? Here are hints and answers for each clue above. You might also like:
- NYT Across Clues Answers November 16
- Xwordhint Crossword Answers October 26
- Mini Crossword NYT November 15 2025
1 Down: "12. Many middle schoolers"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 6 letters
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: T____S
Answer: Click to reveal
TWEENS
2 Down: "92. Part of an equestrian's ensemble"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 8 letters
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: B______S
Answer: Click to reveal
BREECHES
3 Down: "59. Contribute"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 3 letters
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'D'
- Another word like this: ADHD
Answer: Click to reveal
ADD
4 Down: "86. Fixed, as a "m-i-t-s-a-k-e""
Helpful hints:
- This word has 9 letters
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: R_______D
Answer: Click to reveal
RESPELLED
5 Down: "128. Depressed"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 3 letters
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'W'
- Another word like this: gloomy
Answer: Click to reveal
LOW
6 Down: "73. Two peas ___ pod"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 3 letters
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'A'
- This is a short form or acronym
Answer: Click to reveal
INA
7 Down: "101. Lit up, in a way"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 7 letters
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: I_____D
Answer: Click to reveal
IGNITED
8 Down: "10. Dress down"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 7 letters
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: C_____T
Answer: Click to reveal
CHEWOUT
9 Down: "62. N.Y.C. neighborhood that's home to the Grey Art Museum"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 4 letters
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: N__O
Answer: Click to reveal
NOHO
10 Down: "8. Lost traction"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 4 letters
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: S__D
Answer: Click to reveal
SLID
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 45 seconds |
| Difficulty: | A bit tricky |
Common Questions About Trivia Week 3
When can I play the Trivia Week 3 Mini?
The Trivia Week 3 puzzle is available at 10 PM Eastern Time the night before.
How fast should I be able to solve Trivia Week 3?
Most people solve the Trivia Week 3 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 Trivia Week 3?
No! The Trivia Week 3 NYT Mini is completely free. You don't need a subscription like the big crossword.
What makes a good Trivia Week 3 solver?
Good Trivia Week 3 solvers know common short words, can spot wordplay quickly, and use crossing letters well. Practice helps a lot!
Are the puzzles harder during Trivia Week 3?
Trivia Week 3 puzzles can vary in difficulty. Saturdays are often the hardest, while Mondays are the easiest.
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