Thursday, May 14, 2026 – LA Times Crossword Answers & Hints

LA Times Crossword – May 14, 2026 (Thursday)

Today’s crossword puzzle is fun and a little tricky.

If you are stuck, don’t worry!

Here you can find the answers and help.

Crossword puzzles help us:

• Learn new words
• Improve spelling
• Think smart

Theme Answer: WOODCUT

Clue: Artistic printing method, and a feature of rows 2, 5, 11, and 14 in this puzzle

Answer: WOODCUT

Explanation:

A woodcut is a way of printing pictures. The artist carves a design into wood, puts ink on it, and prints it on paper. Today’s puzzle hides types of wood in four rows.

Across Clues

6A. Thurman of “Pretty Lethal”

Answer: UMA

Explanation: Uma Thurman is a famous actress.

13A. Moral principle

Answer: ETHIC

Explanation: An ethic is a rule about what is right or wrong.

14A. “MAS*H” setting, for short

Answer: KOR

Explanation: MASH takes place in Korea (KOR = short form).

15A. “Butterfly Dance” artist

Answer: YANNI

Explanation: Yanni is a music composer.

19A. College where Robert Frost taught English

Answer: AMHERST

Explanation: Robert Frost was a famous poet who taught at Amherst College.

22A. NYC home of Matisse’s “Landscape at Collioure”

Answer: MOMA

Explanation: MoMA is the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

25A. Taylor-Joy of “The Northman”

Answer: ANYA

Explanation: Anya Taylor-Joy is a movie actress.

34A. “Downton Abbey” cook

Answer: DAISY

Explanation: Daisy is a character in the TV show Downton Abbey.

38A. Here, in Honduras

Answer: ACA

Explanation: In Spanish, “aca” means “here.”

41A. Mod About You polish maker

Answer: OPI

Explanation: OPI is a brand that makes nail polish.

42A. Mexican sandwich

Answer: TORTA

Explanation: A torta is a Mexican sandwich.

50A. Electrically adaptable

Answer: AC/DC

Explanation: AC/DC means it can work with both types of electric current.

55A. Sazerac options

Answer: RYES

Explanation: Rye is a type of grain used in drinks.

58A. Abu Dhabi, e.g.

Answer: EMIRATE

Explanation: Abu Dhabi is one of the Emirates in the UAE.

61A. Expanse crossed by Odysseus

Answer: IONIAN SEA

Explanation: In Greek stories, Odysseus crossed the Ionian Sea.

65A. Like van Gogh and Vermeer

Answer: DUTCH

Explanation: Both artists were from the Netherlands (Dutch).

70A. Blades for some Olympians

Answer: EPEES

Explanation: An épée is a type of fencing sword used in the Olympics.

Down Clues

1D. Super Mario Bros. console

Answer: NES

Explanation: NES is a Nintendo gaming system.

2D. Jazzy James

Answer: ETTA

Explanation: Etta James was a famous singer.

3D. Guitar accessory that may create vibrato

Answer: WHAMMY BAR

Explanation: A whammy bar is used on guitars to change sound.

4D. Knights’ neighbors

Answer: BISHOPS

Explanation: In chess, bishops sit next to knights.

5D. Blueprint

Answer: SCHEMA

Explanation: A schema is a plan or design.

9D. Prehistoric supercontinent

Answer: PANGAEA

Explanation: Pangaea was one giant land before continents split.

11D. Moriarty, to Holmes

Answer: ENEMY

Explanation: Moriarty is the enemy of Sherlock Holmes.

18D. Latvian capital

Answer: RIGA

Explanation: Riga is the capital city of Latvia.

36D. Hormel product

Answer: SPAM

Explanation: Spam is a canned meat product.

43D. Elements of a strategy

Answer: TACTICS

Explanation: Tactics are small actions used in a plan.

51D. Easy part of a sky in a jigsaw puzzle

Answer: CLOUD

Explanation: Puzzle sky areas are often blue with clouds.

54D. Oscar winner Witherspoon

Answer: REESE

Explanation: Reese Witherspoon is an actress.

60D. Brontë orphan

Answer: EYRE

Explanation: Jane Eyre is a famous novel character.

January 12, 1990 NYT Clues Solutions | XWordHint

Published on Friday, January 12, 1990 • Daily puzzle hints • Crossword clues © The New York Times

Master the NYT crossword from January 12, 1990 with our expert hint system. We provide synonyms, antonyms, and strategic clues to help you solve without spoiling the fun.

Puzzle Difficulty: Challenging

Pro Tip: Start with the fill-in-the-blank clues - they're usually the easiest entry points!

Across Clues - Strategic Hints (38 clues)

1A: "1. Following"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that located farther aft
• Similar words include: later on, subsequently, afterward
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: AFTER

2A: "6. Droop"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a shape that sags
• Similar words include: flag, swag, droop
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer

Answer: SAG

3A: "9. Baby"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a small amount (especially of a drink)
• Similar words include: tote up, add, sum
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer

Answer: TOT

4A: "12. Clamorous"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that full of or characterized by loud and nonmusical sounds
• Opposite of: quiet
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: NOISY

5A: "13. Mariposa lily"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: SEGO

6A: "14. Japanese wrestling"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a japanese form of wrestling; you lose if you are forced out of a small ring or if any part of your body (other than your feet) touches the ground
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: SUMO

7A: "15. How to make a belt catch a rod tightener"

10 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that an oblong metal coupling with a swivel at one end and an internal thread at the other into which a threaded rod can be screwed in order to form a unit that can be adjusted for length or tension
• Pattern: __________

Click to reveal answer

Answer: TURNBUCKLE

8A: "17. Review: Colloq."

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: CRIT

9A: "18. Toward shelter, at sea"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that on or toward the lee
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: ALEE

10A: "19. Gael's republic"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a republic consisting of 26 of 32 counties comprising the island of ireland; achieved independence from the united kingdom in 1921
• Similar words include: Irish Republic, Republic of Ireland, Ireland
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: EIRE

11A: "20. Lone Ranger's sidekick"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: TONTO

12A: "21. Record"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a long thin piece of cloth or paper as used for binding or fastening
• Similar words include: mag tape, taping, videotape
• Opposite of: erase

Click to reveal answer

Answer: TAPE

13A: "22. Severs"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a share of the profits
• Similar words include: undercut, cutting off, cut back
• Opposite of: switch on, expand

Click to reveal answer

Answer: CUTS

14A: "23. Kind of cross"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the 19th letter of the greek alphabet
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer

Answer: TAU

15A: "25. Bart or Brenda"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that rock star and drummer for the beatles (born in 1940)
• Similar words include: Richard Starkey, Ringo Starr, Starkey
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: STARR

16A: "27. Ratite bird"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that any of various systems of units for measuring electricity and magnetism
• Similar words include: Dromaius novaehollandiae, electromagnetic unit, Emu novaehollandiae
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer

Answer: EMU

17A: "30. Imitates a partridge"

6 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that make a vibrant sound, as of some birds
• Similar words include: whirr, churr
• Pattern: ______

Click to reveal answer

Answer: CHURRS

18A: "33. Ornamentations on costumes"

8 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that adornment consisting of a small piece of shiny material used to decorate clothing
• Similar words include: diamante, bespangle, sequin
• Pattern: ________

Click to reveal answer

Answer: SPANGLES

19A: "35. Spouse"

7 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a person's partner in marriage
• Similar words include: married person, mate, better half
• Pattern: _______

Click to reveal answer

Answer: PARTNER

20A: "37. Mounted"

7 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that with one leg on each side
• Similar words include: astraddle
• Pattern: _______

Click to reveal answer

Answer: ASTRIDE

21A: "38. More cantankerous"

8 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ________

Click to reveal answer

Answer: ORNERIER

22A: "40. Fries, in a way"

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a dish of sauteed food
• Similar words include: saute
• Pattern: ______

Click to reveal answer

Answer: SAUTES

23A: "41. But, to Britannicus"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer

Answer: SED

24A: "42. Finished"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that have an end, in a temporal, spatial, or quantitative sense; either spatial or metaphorical
• Similar words include: over, complete, stop
• Opposite of: begin

Click to reveal answer

Answer: ENDED

25A: "44. Fallen into disuse: Abbr."

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a major river of western siberia; flows generally northward and westward to the gulf of ob and the kara sea
• Similar words include: tocology, Ob, OB
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer

Answer: OBS

26A: "45. Part of St. Patrick's Cathedral"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the central area of a church
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: NAVE

27A: "47. Soft mineral"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a fine grained mineral having a soft soapy feel and consisting of hydrated magnesium silicate; used in a variety of products including talcum powder
• Similar words include: talcum
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: TALC

28A: "49. A Neptune neighbor"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a cartoon character created by walt disney
• Similar words include: Hades, Aidoneus, Aides
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: PLUTO

29A: "51. Take on"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a newly hired employee
• Similar words include: charter, employ, engage
• Opposite of: fire

Click to reveal answer

Answer: HIRE

30A: "52. In ___ (positioned)"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: SITU

31A: "56. Potato or carrot"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that (botany) the usually underground organ that lacks buds or leaves or nodes; absorbs water and mineral salts; usually it anchors the plant to the ground
• Similar words include: steady down, antecedent, ascendant
• Opposite of: descendant

Click to reveal answer

Answer: ROOT

32A: "57. How to make a tortoise capsize"

10 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: __________

Click to reveal answer

Answer: TURNTURTLE

33A: "59. Cather's "One of ___""

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: OURS

34A: "60. Eras"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that how long something has existed
• Similar words include: historic period, age, old age
• Opposite of: rejuvenate

Click to reveal answer

Answer: AGES

35A: "61. Solo"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that isolated from others
• Similar words include: unparalleled, unique, solo
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: ALONE

36A: "62. Boise's county"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that an enzyme found in mammals that can catalyze the deamination of adenosine into inosine and ammonia
• Similar words include: adenosine deaminase
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer

Answer: ADA

37A: "63. Garden plot"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
• Similar words include: have sex, hump, turn in
• Opposite of: get up, turn out

Click to reveal answer

Answer: BED

38A: "64. Ice-cream holders"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that any cone-shaped artifact
• Similar words include: strobilus, con, rook
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: CONES

Down Clues - Strategic Hints (40 clues)

1D: "1. Pier of a sort"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: ANTA

2D: "2. Noisome"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that an act that violates the rules of a sport
• Similar words include: filthy, smelly, revolting
• Opposite of: fair, unclog

Click to reveal answer

Answer: FOUL

3D: "3. Radial, e.g."

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that hoop that covers a wheel
• Similar words include: fag, run down, outwear
• Opposite of: refresh, interest

Click to reveal answer

Answer: TIRE

4D: "4. Feudal serf"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: ESNE

5D: "5. It crosses the bar"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the seed of the cereal grass
• Similar words include: Secale cereale, rye whiskey, rye whisky
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer

Answer: RYE

6D: "6. Arcana"

7 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that something that should remain hidden from others (especially information that is not to be passed on)
• Similar words include: secret, enigma, arcanum
• Pattern: _______

Click to reveal answer

Answer: SECRETS

7D: "7. Chills and fever"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a fit of shivering or shaking
• Similar words include: acute accent, chills and fever, acute
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: AGUE

8D: "8. Tar"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a man who serves as a sailor
• Similar words include: sea dog, maw, Jack
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer

Answer: GOB

9D: "9. How to make rural crossings subway entrances"

10 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a gate consisting of a post that acts as a pivot for rotating arms; set in a passageway for controlling the persons entering
• Similar words include: turnstile
• Pattern: __________

Click to reveal answer

Answer: TURNSTILES

10D: "10. Leave out"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that prevent from being included or considered or accepted
• Similar words include: miss, except, leave out
• Opposite of: include, attend to

Click to reveal answer

Answer: OMIT

11D: "11. Oz dog"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: TOTO

12D: "13. Omits"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a gait in which steps and hops alternate
• Similar words include: bound off, skitter, pass over
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: SKIPS

13D: "14. Macbeth, for one"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a native or inhabitant of scotland
• Similar words include: Scotsman, Scotchman
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: SCOT

14D: "16. Meadow"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a unit of length of thread or yarn
• Similar words include: pasture, grazing land, pastureland
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer

Answer: LEA

15D: "20. How to make a jacket for a traitor"

8 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion or political party or friend etc.
• Similar words include: ratter, renegade, apostate
• Pattern: ________

Click to reveal answer

Answer: TURNCOAT

16D: "21. How to make a cricket series a dessert"

8 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the ratio of the number of workers that had to be replaced in a given time period to the average number of workers
• Similar words include: dollar volume, upset, employee turnover
• Pattern: ________

Click to reveal answer

Answer: TURNOVER

17D: "22. Unrefined"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that (of persons) so unrefined as to be lacking in discrimination and sensibility
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: CRASS

18D: "23. How to make more or less a traffic circle"

10 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that time need to prepare a vessel or ship for a return trip
• Similar words include: change of mind, flip-flop, turnround
• Pattern: __________

Click to reveal answer

Answer: TURNAROUND

19D: "24. Comedian Johnson"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: ARTE

20D: "26. River on Paraguay's border"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer

Answer: APA

21D: "28. Ancient Iranian"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: MEDE

22D: "29. Employs"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the act of using
• Similar words include: role, the States, America
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: USES

23D: "30. Certain U S N men"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: CPOS

24D: "31. Loser of a fabled race"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that swift timid long-eared mammal larger than a rabbit having a divided upper lip and long hind legs; young born furred and with open eyes
• Similar words include: rabbit
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: HARE

25D: "32. Net"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a french river that flows through the heart of paris and then northward into the english channel
• Similar words include: Seine River
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: SEINE

26D: "34. Chow"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that informal terms for a meal
• Similar words include: eats, bum, chuck
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: GRUB

27D: "36. Cincy player"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
• Similar words include: redness, loss, cherry-red
• Opposite of: gain

Click to reveal answer

Answer: RED

28D: "39. Abed"

7 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that go into retirement; stop performing one's work or withdraw from one's position
• Similar words include: turn in, crawl in, pull back
• Opposite of: get up, advance

Click to reveal answer

Answer: RETIRED

29D: "43. Repairs socks"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that something of little value
• Similar words include: tinker's damn, hoot, mend
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: DARNS

30D: "46. Members of an A.B.A."

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: ATTS

31D: "48. Confederate immortal"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that united states filmmaker whose works explore the richness of black culture in america (born in 1957)
• Similar words include: Robert Edward Lee, Rose Louise Hovick, Robert E. Lee
• Opposite of: windward

Click to reveal answer

Answer: LEE

32D: "49. Outrigger of Malay"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: PROA

33D: "50. Stentorian"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
• Similar words include: tatty, cheap, aloud
• Opposite of: soft, softly

Click to reveal answer

Answer: LOUD

34D: "51. Immense"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; - w.r.inge
• Similar words include: immense, Brobdingnagian, vast
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: HUGE

35D: "52. W W II battle site"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: STLO

36D: "53. Mashie or niblick"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
• Similar words include: iron out, press, Fe
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: IRON

37D: "54. Melody"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence
• Similar words include: strain, melodic phrase, tune up
• Opposite of: untune

Click to reveal answer

Answer: TUNE

38D: "55. Western Indians"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a member of the shoshonean people of utah and colorado and new mexico
• Similar words include: Ute
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer

Answer: UTES

39D: "57. Bill"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the bill in a restaurant
• Similar words include: check, yellow journalism, chit
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer

Answer: TAB

40D: "58. Varnish ingredient"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that resinlike substance secreted by certain lac insects; used in e.g. varnishes and sealing wax
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer

Answer: LAC

Puzzle Stats

38 Across

40 Down

78 Total

Disclaimer: Crossword clues © The New York Times. Educational content for puzzle enthusiasts.

Processed: August 23, 2025 at 08:21 PM

NYT Mini Crossword Today - August 15 Quick Solutions | Daily Mini Puzzle

NYT Mini Crossword Today - Quick Puzzle Solutions for August 15, 2025

Published: Friday, August 15, 2025

Today's NYT Mini Crossword Overview

Solve today's NYT Mini Crossword with our carefully selected 8 across and 8 down clues. Perfect for a quick brain workout with strategic hints and letter frequency analysis.

Quick Navigation

• Puzzle Statistics
• Across Clues (8)
• Down Clues (8)
• Letter Frequency Analysis
• Quick Solving Tips

Mini Crossword Statistics

Today's Mini Puzzle Metrics

Metric	Value	Details
Total Clues	16	8 Across + 8 Down
Total Letters	68	All answer letters combined
Unique Letters	20	Distinct letters used
Average Word Length	4.2	Letters per answer
Difficulty Level	Medium	Based on word complexity

Across Clues - Mini Selection

8 Selected Across Clues with Hints

#	Clue	Letters	Hints	Answer
1A	26. Didn't follow	3	Starts with 'L' (3 letters) Similar to: chair	Reveal LED
2A	19. Engage in pugilism	3	Starts with 'B' (3 letters) Similar to: loge	Reveal BOX
3A	45. One of four suits in a tarot deck	4	Starts with 'C' (4 letters) Similar to: cupful	Reveal CUPS
4A	38. That feeling "when the world seems to shine like you've had too much wine"	5	Starts with 'A' (5 letters)	Reveal AMORE
5A	35. A real piece of work	3	Starts with 'J' (3 letters) Similar to: farm out	Reveal JOB
6A	52. Figure on the $10,000 bill, the largest U.S. note ever in public circulation	5	Starts with 'C' (5 letters) Similar to: Salmon Portland Chase	Reveal CHASE
7A	20. Rock alternative	5	Starts with 'P' (5 letters) Similar to: report	Reveal PAPER
8A	41. Some sky lights, in brief	4	Starts with 'U' (4 letters) Similar to: UFO	Reveal UFOS

Down Clues - Mini Selection

8 Selected Down Clues with Hints

#	Clue	Letters	Hints	Answer
1D	12. Like old voice mail messages	6	Starts with 'O' (6 letters)	Reveal ONTAPE
2D	2. Younger Simpson sister	6	Starts with 'A' (6 letters)	Reveal ASHLEE
3D	46. Cause for stitches	4	Starts with 'G' (4 letters) Similar to: slash	Reveal GASH
4D	49. P.I.	3	Starts with 'T' (3 letters) Similar to: investigator	Reveal TEC
5D	31. "On Call: A Doctor's Journey in Public Service" memoirist, 2024	5	Starts with 'F' (5 letters)	Reveal FAUCI
6D	48. Hits up, as on TikTok	3	Starts with 'D' (3 letters) Similar to: diabetes mellitus	Reveal DMS
7D	24. Favoritism	4	Starts with 'B' (4 letters) Similar to: predetermine	Reveal BIAS
8D	42. "On the contrary …"	5	Starts with 'B' (5 letters)	Reveal BUTNO

Letter Frequency Analysis

Letter Frequency Bar Graph - Mini Crossword

A	8 (11.76%)
E	8 (11.76%)
S	7 (10.29%)
O	6 (8.82%)
B	4 (5.88%)
C	4 (5.88%)
P	4 (5.88%)
U	4 (5.88%)
H	3 (4.41%)
T	3 (4.41%)

Letter Distribution Table

Top 15 Most Frequent Letters

Rank	Letter	Count	Percentage	Usage Level
1	A	8	11.76%	High
2	E	8	11.76%	High
3	S	7	10.29%	High
4	O	6	8.82%	High
5	B	4	5.88%	High
6	C	4	5.88%	Medium
7	P	4	5.88%	Medium
8	U	4	5.88%	Medium
9	H	3	4.41%	Medium
10	T	3	4.41%	Medium
11	D	2	2.94%	Low
12	F	2	2.94%	Low
13	I	2	2.94%	Low
14	L	2	2.94%	Low
15	M	2	2.94%	Low

Quick Mini Crossword Solving Tips

Strategy Guide for Today's Puzzle

• Start with Short Words: Look for 3-4 letter answers first - they're usually the easiest entry points
• Common Letters First: Based on today's frequency analysis, focus on words with E, T, A, O, I, N
• Cross-Reference: Use intersecting letters from completed answers to solve harder clues
• Fill-in-the-Blanks: These clues (with underscores) are typically the most straightforward
• Word Patterns: Common endings like -ING, -TION, -NESS can help you work backwards
• Theme Recognition: Mini puzzles often have subtle themes - look for connections

Time-Saving Techniques

1. Scan all clues first before starting
2. Fill in definite answers immediately
3. Use pencil marks for uncertain letters
4. Check crossing letters for validation
5. Don't overthink simple clues

Common Mini Crossword Words

Here are frequently appearing words in NYT Mini puzzles:

Category	Common Words
3 Letters	ERA, ORE, ATE, ICE, ACE, EGO, AGE, ART
4 Letters	AREA, IDEA, EASE, ARIA, ANTE, IDLE, ORAL, IRON
5 Letters	ARENA, ERODE, AISLE, EMAIL, ESSAY, IDEAL, OCEAN, ALIEN

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About NYT Mini Crossword: The Mini is a smaller, quicker version of the classic New York Times crossword, typically featuring a 5x5 grid perfect for a coffee break solve.

Related Resources

• NYT Crossword Archive
• Crossword Solving Guide
• Daily Puzzle Tips
• Mini Crossword Strategies