Quick NYT Mini Crossword May 17, 2026 (Trivia Week 3) - Solutions
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: January 02 2021 NYT Clues Solutions | July 29 2021 NYT Clues Solutions | September 22 2020 NYT Clues Solutions |
About Today's Puzzle
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | May 17, 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 | 84. Cologne conjunction |
| 2 Across | 26. University of Alabama rallying cry |
| 3 Across | 100. Go downhill, in a way |
| 4 Across | 102. Fire starter? |
| 5 Across | 96. Page (through) |
| 6 Across | 120. Demonstrate complete disrespect for, in a way |
| 7 Across | 7. Italian sparkling wine |
| 8 Across | 37. Guido ___, Baroque painter from Bologna |
| 9 Across | 60. Symbol of the American West |
| 10 Across | 45. Acquire, in a way |
Hints and Answers for Across Clues
Need help? Here are hints and answers for each clue above. Also check out these helpful guides:
- May 21 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
- January 02 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
- September 22 2020 NYT Clues Solutions
1 Across: "84. Cologne conjunction"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 3 letters
- It starts with 'U' and ends with 'D'
- This is a short form or acronym
Answer:
Click to reveal
UND2 Across: "26. University of Alabama rallying cry"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 8 letters
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: R______E
Answer:
Click to reveal
ROLLTIDE3 Across: "100. Go downhill, in a way"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 4 letters
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: S__D
Answer:
Click to reveal
SLED4 Across: "102. Fire starter?"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 9 letters
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: C_______R
Answer:
Click to reveal
CANOPENER5 Across: "96. Page (through)"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 4 letters
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'F'
- Word pattern: L__F
Answer:
Click to reveal
LEAF6 Across: "120. Demonstrate complete disrespect for, in a way"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 6 letters
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: S____T
Answer:
Click to reveal
SPITAT7 Across: "7. Italian sparkling wine"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 4 letters
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'I'
- Word pattern: A__I
Answer:
Click to reveal
ASTI8 Across: "37. Guido ___, Baroque painter from Bologna"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 4 letters
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'I'
- Word pattern: R__I
Answer:
Click to reveal
RENI9 Across: "60. Symbol of the American West"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 7 letters
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: S_____O
Answer:
Click to reveal
SAGUARO10 Across: "45. Acquire, in a way"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 5 letters
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'X'
- Word pattern: A___X
Answer:
Click to reveal
ANNEXDown Clues - 10 Total
These clues go from top to bottom in the puzzle.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Down | 2. Entice |
| 2 Down | 55. Cask wood |
| 3 Down | 40. Crazylegs Hirsch, from 1949 to 1957, informally |
| 4 Down | 35. Misjudgment |
| 5 Down | 108. "Hey there!" |
| 6 Down | 21. Alternative to a bouncy house |
| 7 Down | 95. Pollster Lou or singer Emmylou |
| 8 Down | 51. Seasoning from the ocean |
| 9 Down | 105. Fail to mention |
| 10 Down | 10. Iconic role for Harrison Ford |
Hints and Answers for Down Clues
Need help? Here are hints and answers for each clue above. You might also like:
- July 29 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
- September 22 2020 NYT Clues Solutions
- October 19 2019 NYT Clues Solutions
1 Down: "2. Entice"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 4 letters
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: L__E
Answer:
Click to reveal
LURE2 Down: "55. Cask wood"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 3 letters
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'K'
- This is a short form or acronym
Answer:
Click to reveal
OAK3 Down: "40. Crazylegs Hirsch, from 1949 to 1957, informally"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 5 letters
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'M'
- Word pattern: L___M
Answer:
Click to reveal
LARAM4 Down: "35. Misjudgment"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 7 letters
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'Y'
- Word pattern: E_____Y
Answer:
Click to reveal
ERRANCY5 Down: "108. "Hey there!""
Helpful hints:
- This word has 4 letters
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: P__T
Answer:
Click to reveal
PSST6 Down: "21. Alternative to a bouncy house"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 7 letters
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: B_____T
Answer:
Click to reveal
BALLPIT7 Down: "95. Pollster Lou or singer Emmylou"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 6 letters
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: H____S
Answer:
Click to reveal
HARRIS8 Down: "51. Seasoning from the ocean"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 7 letters
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: S_____T
Answer:
Click to reveal
SEASALT9 Down: "105. Fail to mention"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 4 letters
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: O__T
Answer:
Click to reveal
OMIT10 Down: "10. Iconic role for Harrison Ford"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 7 letters
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: I_____A
Answer:
Click to reveal
INDIANAHow 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 1 minute 10 seconds |
| Difficulty: | Easy |
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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