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Friday, May 15, 2026

Quick NYT Mini Crossword May 15, 2026 (Trivia Week 3) - Solutions

NYT Mini Trivia Week 3 May 15, 2026 - Hints & Answers

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 14 2020 NYT Clues Solutions | Saturday NYT Mini Crossword Answers | All NYT Across Clues December 25 2025 |

About Today's Puzzle

NYT Mini Crossword solutions for May 15, 2026
NYT Mini Crossword Grid - Friday, May 15, 2026
Puzzle Statistics
Detail Information
Date May 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.

5x5 Crossword Grid Pattern
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

  1. Read all the clues first - your brain will start working on them
  2. Fill in the short words first (3 letters or less)
  3. Use the crossing letters to help with harder words
  4. If a clue has a question mark (?), it's probably a joke or play on words
  5. 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.

Across Clues List
Number Clue
1 Across 34. Throw in at the end
2 Across 16. Good name for a yoga instructor?
3 Across 35. Pulls off
4 Across 47. Duane ___ (New York-based pharmacy chain)
5 Across 49. Figures in "Puss in Boots" and "Hop-o'-My-Thumb"
6 Across 57. Difficult time for farmers
7 Across 17. Hairy get-up
8 Across 20. Civil rights activist Williams, an associate of Martin Luther King Jr.
9 Across 37. Jarring film transition to a new scene
10 Across 1. To the ___ (as much as possible)

Hints and Answers for Across Clues

Need help? Here are hints and answers for each clue above. Also check out these helpful guides:


1 Across: "34. Throw in at the end"

Helpful hints:

  • This word has 5 letters
  • It starts with 'T' and ends with 'N'
  • Word pattern: T___N

Answer:

Click to reveal TAGON


2 Across: "16. Good name for a yoga instructor?"

Helpful hints:

  • This word has 4 letters
  • It starts with 'M' and ends with 'T'
  • Word pattern: M__T

Answer:

Click to reveal MATT


3 Across: "35. Pulls off"

Helpful hints:

  • This word has 4 letters
  • It starts with 'D' and ends with 'S'
  • Word pattern: D__S

Answer:

Click to reveal DOES


4 Across: "47. Duane ___ (New York-based pharmacy chain)"

Helpful hints:

  • This word has 5 letters
  • It starts with 'R' and ends with 'E'
  • Word pattern: R___E

Answer:

Click to reveal READE


5 Across: "49. Figures in "Puss in Boots" and "Hop-o'-My-Thumb""

Helpful hints:

  • This word has 5 letters
  • It starts with 'O' and ends with 'S'
  • Word pattern: O___S

Answer:

Click to reveal OGRES


6 Across: "57. Difficult time for farmers"

Helpful hints:

  • This word has 9 letters
  • It starts with 'D' and ends with 'N'
  • Word pattern: D_______N

Answer:

Click to reveal DRYSEASON


7 Across: "17. Hairy get-up"

Helpful hints:

  • This word has 10 letters
  • It starts with 'A' and ends with 'E'
  • Word pattern: A________E

Answer:

Click to reveal APECOSTUME


8 Across: "20. Civil rights activist Williams, an associate of Martin Luther King Jr."

Helpful hints:

  • This word has 5 letters
  • It starts with 'H' and ends with 'A'
  • Word pattern: H___A

Answer:

Click to reveal HOSEA


9 Across: "37. Jarring film transition to a new scene"

Helpful hints:

  • This word has 8 letters
  • It starts with 'S' and ends with 'T'
  • Word pattern: S______T

Answer:

Click to reveal SMASHCUT


10 Across: "1. To the ___ (as much as possible)"

Helpful hints:

  • This word has 4 letters
  • It starts with 'H' and ends with 'T'
  • Word pattern: H__T

Answer:

Click to reveal HILT

Down Clues - 10 Total

These clues go from top to bottom in the puzzle.

Down Clues List
Number Clue
1 Down 22. Puma rival
2 Down 3. Line of attack?
3 Down 36. Knockouts
4 Down 7. Here goes nothing!
5 Down 54. Common end to an address
6 Down 24. Setting for the graphic novel series "Persepolis"
7 Down 53. Occasion that may involve fine china
8 Down 2. "Tell me!"
9 Down 46. Sing like Michael Bublé
10 Down 15. Made hay?

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

Need help? Here are hints and answers for each clue above. You might also like:


1 Down: "22. Puma rival"

Helpful hints:

  • This word has 6 letters
  • It starts with 'A' and ends with 'S'
  • Word pattern: A____S

Answer:

Click to reveal ADIDAS


2 Down: "3. Line of attack?"

Helpful hints:

  • This word has 9 letters
  • It starts with 'L' and ends with 'M'
  • Word pattern: L_______M

Answer:

Click to reveal LETMEATEM


3 Down: "36. Knockouts"

Helpful hints:

  • This word has 8 letters
  • It starts with 'S' and ends with 'S'
  • Word pattern: S______S

Answer:

Click to reveal STUNNERS


4 Down: "7. Here goes nothing!"

Helpful hints:

  • This word has 9 letters
  • It starts with 'V' and ends with 'T'
  • Word pattern: V_______T

Answer:

Click to reveal VACANTLOT


5 Down: "54. Common end to an address"

Helpful hints:

  • This word has 3 letters
  • It starts with 'C' and ends with 'M'
  • This is a short form or acronym

Answer:

Click to reveal COM


6 Down: "24. Setting for the graphic novel series "Persepolis""

Helpful hints:

  • This word has 4 letters
  • It starts with 'I' and ends with 'N'
  • Word pattern: I__N

Answer:

Click to reveal IRAN


7 Down: "53. Occasion that may involve fine china"

Helpful hints:

  • This word has 3 letters
  • It starts with 'T' and ends with 'A'
  • Another word like this: teatime

Answer:

Click to reveal TEA


8 Down: "2. "Tell me!""

Helpful hints:

  • This word has 9 letters
  • It starts with 'I' and ends with 'S'
  • Word pattern: I_______S

Answer:

Click to reveal IMALLEARS


9 Down: "46. Sing like Michael Bublé"

Helpful hints:

  • This word has 5 letters
  • It starts with 'C' and ends with 'N'
  • Word pattern: C___N

Answer:

Click to reveal CROON


10 Down: "15. Made hay?"

Helpful hints:

  • This word has 5 letters
  • It starts with 'B' and ends with 'D'
  • Word pattern: B___D

Answer:

Click to reveal BALED

How to Solve the NYT Mini Crossword Faster

Here are the best tips from expert solvers:

Step-by-Step Strategy

  1. Quick Scan: Read all clues once. Your brain starts working on them right away.
  2. Easy First: Fill in the shortest words (2-3 letters). These are usually simple words like "IT" or "ON".
  3. Use Crossings: When letters cross, they help you figure out harder words.
  4. Watch for Wordplay: Clues with question marks (?) are jokes or puns.
  5. 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

Today's Puzzle by the Numbers
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: 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.


About This Page: We provide hints and answers for the NYT Mini Crossword to help you learn and improve. This site is not connected to The New York Times.

Last Updated: May 15, 2026 at 06:44 AM

Search terms: NYT Mini Trivia Week, Trivia Week {week_num}, Mini crossword Trivia Week, Trivia Week answers, NYT Trivia Week, May 15 2026 mini crossword

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