Trivia Week 2 April 14, 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: March 18 2021 NYT Clues Solutions | August 07 2019 NYT Clues Solutions | July 13 2021 NYT Clues Solutions |
About Today's Puzzle
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | April 14, 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 | 39. Chess defeats |
| 2 Across | 40. Basic unit of work |
| 3 Across | 65. ___ tide |
| 4 Across | 36. Network junction points |
| 5 Across | 19. Take giant steps |
| 6 Across | 15. Defense grp. since 1949 |
| 7 Across | 1. Safe place to stand on a diamond |
| 8 Across | 62. Quintet seen in order in 16-, 26-, 44- and 57-Across |
| 9 Across | 24. To the ___ degree |
| 10 Across | 38. Force of habit, for some, in brief |
Hints and Answers for Across Clues
Need help? Here are hints and answers for each clue above. Also check out these helpful guides:
- May 03 2022 NYT Clues Solutions
- March 18 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
- October 05 2020 NYT Clues Solutions
1 Across: "39. Chess defeats"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 5 letters
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: M___S
Answer:
Click to reveal
MATES2 Across: "40. Basic unit of work"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 5 letters
- It starts with 'J' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: J___E
Answer:
Click to reveal
JOULE3 Across: "65. ___ tide"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 4 letters
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'P'
- Word pattern: N__P
Answer:
Click to reveal
NEAP4 Across: "36. Network junction points"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 5 letters
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: N___S
Answer:
Click to reveal
NODES5 Across: "19. Take giant steps"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 6 letters
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: S____E
Answer:
Click to reveal
STRIDE6 Across: "15. Defense grp. since 1949"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 4 letters
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: N__O
Answer:
Click to reveal
NATO7 Across: "1. Safe place to stand on a diamond"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 4 letters
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: B__E
Answer:
Click to reveal
BASE8 Across: "62. Quintet seen in order in 16-, 26-, 44- and 57-Across"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 5 letters
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'U'
- Word pattern: A___U
Answer:
Click to reveal
AEIOU9 Across: "24. To the ___ degree"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 3 letters
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'H'
- Another word like this: n-th
Answer:
Click to reveal
NTH10 Across: "38. Force of habit, for some, in brief"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 3 letters
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'D'
- This is a short form or acronym
Answer:
Click to reveal
OCDDown Clues - 10 Total
These clues go from top to bottom in the puzzle.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Down | 9. Like most TV shows, nowadays |
| 2 Down | 52. Few and far between |
| 3 Down | 24. Expert in stealth |
| 4 Down | 4. Surplus |
| 5 Down | 12. ___ Ross, George Clooney's role on "ER" |
| 6 Down | 56. Jailhouse weapon |
| 7 Down | 17. [Alas!] |
| 8 Down | 7. Bowmaker's wood |
| 9 Down | 30. Apply to, as an ointment |
| 10 Down | 25. Scouting party |
Hints and Answers for Down Clues
Need help? Here are hints and answers for each clue above. You might also like:
- October 05 2020 NYT Clues Solutions
- August 07 2019 NYT Clues Solutions
- May 03 2022 NYT Clues Solutions
1 Down: "9. Like most TV shows, nowadays"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 4 letters
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: I__D
Answer:
Click to reveal
INHD2 Down: "52. Few and far between"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 4 letters
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: R__E
Answer:
Click to reveal
RARE3 Down: "24. Expert in stealth"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 5 letters
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: N___A
Answer:
Click to reveal
NINJA4 Down: "4. Surplus"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 5 letters
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: E___A
Answer:
Click to reveal
EXTRA5 Down: "12. ___ Ross, George Clooney's role on "ER""
Helpful hints:
- This word has 4 letters
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'G'
- Word pattern: D__G
Answer:
Click to reveal
DOUG6 Down: "56. Jailhouse weapon"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 4 letters
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'V'
- Word pattern: S__V
Answer:
Click to reveal
SHIV7 Down: "17. [Alas!]"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 4 letters
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'H'
- Word pattern: S__H
Answer:
Click to reveal
SIGH8 Down: "7. Bowmaker's wood"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 3 letters
- It starts with 'Y' and ends with 'W'
- This is a short form or acronym
Answer:
Click to reveal
YEW9 Down: "30. Apply to, as an ointment"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 5 letters
- It starts with 'U' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: U___N
Answer:
Click to reveal
USEON10 Down: "25. Scouting party"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 5 letters
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'P'
- Word pattern: T___P
Answer:
Click to reveal
TROOPHow 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: | Normal |
Common Questions About Trivia Week 2
When can I play the Trivia Week 2 Mini?
The Trivia Week 2 puzzle is available at 10 PM Eastern Time the night before.
How fast should I be able to solve Trivia Week 2?
Most people solve the Trivia Week 2 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 2?
No! The Trivia Week 2 NYT Mini is completely free. You don't need a subscription like the big crossword.
What makes a good Trivia Week 2 solver?
Good Trivia Week 2 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 2?
Trivia Week 2 puzzles can vary in difficulty. Saturdays are often the hardest, while Mondays are the easiest.
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