NYT Mini Answers September 27, 2026 - Trivia Week 4 Special
Here's today's NYT Mini — 20 clues in total, and we've got hints plus answers for every one of them.
Popular Puzzles: January 14 2021 NYT Clues Solutions | November 04 2020 NYT Clues Solutions | Quick NYT Mini Crossword September 28 |
About Today's Puzzle
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | September 27, 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 4 NYT Mini Crossword Grid Layout
Today's layout is the usual 5x5: five columns, five rows.
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | Column 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Row 1 | |||||
| Row 2 | |||||
| Row 3 | |||||
| Row 4 | |||||
| Row 5 |
How to Solve This One Fast
- Skim every clue once before you write anything — your brain keeps chewing on the ones you don't solve right away.
- Knock out the short answers (3 letters or under) first.
- Lean on the crossing letters once a couple of words are in.
- A question mark in a clue usually means there's a pun coming.
- THE, AND, ARE, FOR, NOT — these little words show up constantly, keep them in your back pocket.
Quick Facts
- Total squares: 25 (5 × 5)
- Typical solve time: well under a minute for most regulars
- Good time to play: on a coffee break
- Difficulty: built to be approachable
Across Clues - 10 Total
These run left to right across the grid.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Across | 25. That's saying something! |
| 2 Across | 68. Straightaway driving contests |
| 3 Across | 21. DeVore who co-founded one of the first U.S. agencies for nonwhite models in 1946 |
| 4 Across | 47. Test room |
| 5 Across | 40. Where many papyrus plants grow |
| 6 Across | 119. Like wheat beers |
| 7 Across | 44. Press a case? |
| 8 Across | 23. Was almost out of supplies |
| 9 Across | 66. ... transport)(Bigwig's ... |
| 10 Across | 85. Return to an earlier topic of conversation ... or what six answers in this puzzle literally do |
Hints and Answers for Across Clues
Stuck on one? Hints and answers for each clue are below. A few other guides worth a look:
- NYT Down Clues Answers December 24 2025
- January 14 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
- Sundays NYT Down Nov 30 Full Vertical
1 Across: "25. That's saying something!"
Hints:
- Pattern-wise it looks like: O_____Y
- Kicks off with 'O' and wraps up with 'Y'.
- It's a 7-letter word.
Answer:
Click to reveal
ORATORY2 Across: "68. Straightaway driving contests"
Hints:
- First letter's a 'D', last letter's a 'S'.
- This one runs 9 letters long.
- Blank it out and you get: D_______S
Answer:
Click to reveal
DRAGRACES3 Across: "21. DeVore who co-founded one of the first U.S. agencies for nonwhite models in 1946"
Hints:
- Pattern-wise it looks like: O_____A
- First letter's a 'O', last letter's a 'A'.
- It's a 7-letter word.
Answer:
Click to reveal
OPHELIA4 Across: "47. Test room"
Hints:
- This one runs 3 letters long.
- Short form / acronym territory here.
- Kicks off with 'L' and wraps up with 'B'.
Answer:
Click to reveal
LAB5 Across: "40. Where many papyrus plants grow"
Hints:
- It's a 4-letter word.
- Pattern-wise it looks like: N__E
- Kicks off with 'N' and wraps up with 'E'.
Answer:
Click to reveal
NILE6 Across: "119. Like wheat beers"
Hints:
- It's a 6-letter word.
- Blank it out and you get: Y____Y
- You could also think of it as "zesty."
Answer:
Click to reveal
YEASTY7 Across: "44. Press a case?"
Hints:
- This one runs 3 letters long.
- Kicks off with 'S' and wraps up with 'E'.
- 'process' points in the same direction.
Answer:
Click to reveal
SUE8 Across: "23. Was almost out of supplies"
Hints:
- It's a 6-letter word.
- Kicks off with 'R' and wraps up with 'W'.
- If that helps, the shape is: R____W
Answer:
Click to reveal
RANLOW9 Across: "66. ... transport)(Bigwig's ..."
Hints:
- First letter's a 'P', last letter's a 'O'.
- Count on 12 letters here.
Answer:
Click to reveal
PERSONALLIMO10 Across: "85. Return to an earlier topic of conversation ... or what six answers in this puzzle literally do"
Hints:
- Blank it out and you get: L______K
- It's a 8-letter word.
- Kicks off with 'L' and wraps up with 'K'.
Answer:
Click to reveal
LOOPBACKDown Clues - 10 Total
These run top to bottom in the grid.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Down | 4. "Jackie Brown" star Pam |
| 2 Down | 104. Twin sister of Sherri on "The Simpsons" |
| 3 Down | 118. Forerunner of the DVD player |
| 4 Down | 76. Lefty, to a righty |
| 5 Down | 31. Clothing brand named for perceived generational differences in the '60s |
| 6 Down | 10. Faith with five pillars |
| 7 Down | 12. Assumed ownership over |
| 8 Down | 8. Have a spring in one's step |
| 9 Down | 87. Purportedly calming compound in some gummies, in brief |
| 10 Down | 120. "when r u coming?" |
Hints and Answers for Down Clues
Same deal here — hints then answers. You might also like:
- NYT Down Clues Answers December 24 2025
- Sundays NYT Down Nov 30 Full Vertical
- December 20 2019 NYT Clues Solutions
1 Down: "4. "Jackie Brown" star Pam"
Hints:
- Pattern-wise it looks like: G___R
- Starts with 'G', ends with 'R'.
- You're looking for 5 letters.
Answer:
Click to reveal
GRIER2 Down: "104. Twin sister of Sherri on "The Simpsons""
Hints:
- If that helps, the shape is: T___I
- Kicks off with 'T' and wraps up with 'I'.
- This one runs 5 letters long.
Answer:
Click to reveal
TERRI3 Down: "118. Forerunner of the DVD player"
Hints:
- Count on 3 letters here.
- Short form / acronym territory here.
- First letter's a 'V', last letter's a 'R'.
Answer:
Click to reveal
VCR4 Down: "76. Lefty, to a righty"
Hints:
- You're looking for 3 letters.
- First letter's a 'L', last letter's a 'B'.
- This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
Answer:
Click to reveal
LIB5 Down: "31. Clothing brand named for perceived generational differences in the '60s"
Hints:
- This one runs 3 letters long.
- Short form / acronym territory here.
- 'breach' points in the same direction.
Answer:
Click to reveal
GAP6 Down: "10. Faith with five pillars"
Hints:
- Pattern-wise it looks like: I___M
- Count on 5 letters here.
- Kicks off with 'I' and wraps up with 'M'.
Answer:
Click to reveal
ISLAM7 Down: "12. Assumed ownership over"
Hints:
- Starts with 'C', ends with 'D'.
- You're looking for 7 letters.
Answer:
Click to reveal
COOPTED8 Down: "8. Have a spring in one's step"
Hints:
- Count on 6 letters here.
- In plain terms: a proud stiff pompous gait.
- First letter's a 'P', last letter's a 'E'.
Answer:
Click to reveal
PRANCE9 Down: "87. Purportedly calming compound in some gummies, in brief"
Hints:
- First letter's a 'C', last letter's a 'D'.
- This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
- You're looking for 3 letters.
Answer:
Click to reveal
CBD10 Down: "120. "when r u coming?""
Hints:
- This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
- Starts with 'E', ends with 'A'.
- This one runs 3 letters long.
Answer:
Click to reveal
ETAHow to Solve the NYT Mini Crossword Faster
Some habits that speed things up over time:
Step-by-Step Strategy
- Read it all first: Go through every clue once before writing anything down — it primes your brain even on the ones you skip.
- Grab the short ones: Two and three letter answers (things like "IT" or "ON") are usually the easiest place to start.
- Use the crossings: Once a couple of words are in, the crossing letters do a lot of the work for you on the harder ones.
- Watch for question marks: A "?" at the end of a clue almost always signals a pun rather than a literal answer.
- Keep the regulars in mind: ERA, ORE, ATE, ICE — these turn up often enough that it's worth remembering them.
Letter Tips That Really Help
- E is the most common letter in English, so it's worth guessing early.
- Words ending in S are usually plurals.
- Blanks ("___") in a clue mean the answer fits exactly into those spaces.
- An abbreviation in the clue is a signal the answer's abbreviated too.
Time Goals to Aim For
| Your Time | Skill Level | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Under 30 seconds | Expert | You've clearly got the puzzle's patterns down. |
| 30-60 seconds | Advanced | Solid pace — you're solving quickly. |
| 1-2 minutes | Good | Right where most regular solvers land. |
| Over 2 minutes | Learning | Totally fine — speed comes with reps. |
Puzzle Numbers and Facts
| Total Clues: | 20 |
| Grid Size: | 5 boxes across, 5 boxes down |
| Total Squares: | 25 |
| Average Time: | 58 seconds |
| Difficulty: | A bit tricky |
Common Questions About Trivia Week 4
When does the Trivia Week 4 Mini go live?
Typically drops the evening before, around 10 PM ET.
How long should Trivia Week 4 take me?
Anywhere from 30 seconds to a couple of minutes is typical. Don't stress if you're on the slower end at first.
Is Trivia Week 4 free to play?
It's free to play, unlike the main NYT Crossword which sits behind a paywall.
What actually makes someone good at Trivia Week 4?
Knowing the common short words, spotting wordplay quickly, and reading crossing letters well — that combination gets you most of the way there.
Does Trivia Week 4 get harder as the week goes on?
Difficulty shifts through the week; expect Monday to be gentle and Saturday to bite a bit more.
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