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Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Trivia Week 2 NYT Mini September 09, 2026 Solutions & Guide

Quick NYT Mini Crossword September 09, 2026 (Trivia Week 2) - Solutions

Today's Mini has 20 clues to get through. Hints and answers for all of them are below.

About Today's Puzzle

NYT Mini Crossword solutions for September 09, 2026 — NYT Mini Crossword Grid - Wednesday, September 09, 2026

Puzzle Statistics
Detail	Information
Date	September 09, 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 2 NYT Mini Crossword Grid Layout

Standard Mini size again: 5 across, 5 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 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

Squares in the grid: 25
How long it takes: usually under a minute once you're warmed up
Best moment for it: any short break
Overall difficulty: easy-going by design

Across Clues - 10 Total

These run left to right across the grid.

Across Clues List
Number	Clue
1 Across	43. Barely made (out)
2 Across	20. "Semper Fidelis," for one
3 Across	48. Paint options
4 Across	23. Me-time destination
5 Across	24. Creature of Egyptian myth
6 Across	28. Some landscaping equipment
7 Across	72. Shell out cash
8 Across	31. Worker who's behind the Times?
9 Across	4. Develop
10 Across	41. Completely lost ... or where the now-idiomatic answer to each italicized clue has a literal meaning

Hints and Answers for Across Clues

Stuck on one? Hints and answers for each clue are below. A few other guides worth a look:

1 Across: "43. Barely made (out)"

Hints:

Blank it out and you get: E__D
You're looking for 4 letters.
Kicks off with 'E' and wraps up with 'D'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

EKED

2 Across: "20. "Semper Fidelis," for one"

Hints:

'slogan' points in the same direction.
Basically, a favorite saying of a sect or political group.
First letter's a 'M', last letter's a 'O'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

MOTTO

3 Across: "48. Paint options"

Hints:

You could also think of it as "lustre."
This one runs 6 letters long.
Starts with 'S', ends with 'S'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SHEENS

4 Across: "23. Me-time destination"

Hints:

Think of it this way — a health resort near a spring or at the seaside.
Count on 3 letters here.
First letter's a 'S', last letter's a 'A'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SPA

5 Across: "24. Creature of Egyptian myth"

Hints:

If that helps, the shape is: S____X
This one runs 6 letters long.
Starts with 'S', ends with 'X'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SPHINX

6 Across: "28. Some landscaping equipment"

Hints:

Basically, a person who puts finishing edges on a garment.
Kicks off with 'E' and wraps up with 'S'.
You could also think of it as "edger."

Answer:

Click to reveal

EDGERS

7 Across: "72. Shell out cash"

Hints:

Count on 5 letters here.
In plain terms: pass time in a specific way.
You could also think of it as "pass."

Answer:

Click to reveal

SPEND

8 Across: "31. Worker who's behind the Times?"

Hints:

Blank it out and you get: E____R
It's a 6-letter word.
Kicks off with 'E' and wraps up with 'R'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

EDITOR

9 Across: "4. Develop"

Hints:

It's a 5-letter word.
Pattern-wise it looks like: B___D
Close enough in meaning: make.

Answer:

Click to reveal

BUILD

10 Across: "41. Completely lost ... or where the now-idiomatic answer to each italicized clue has a literal meaning"

Hints:

This one runs 5 letters long.
Kicks off with 'A' and wraps up with 'A'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ATSEA

Down Clues - 10 Total

These run top to bottom in the grid.

Down Clues List
Number	Clue
1 Down	9. Stir-fry add-ins
2 Down	32. Flattened against the masts in a changing wind
3 Down	65. Personally contacts online, for short
4 Down	33. Roman theaters
5 Down	62. Positive
6 Down	53. Gradually tapered cuts
7 Down	35. Soft leather shoes, for short
8 Down	34. Comedian Foxx
9 Down	29. I.R.A. classification
10 Down	55. Jailed New York crime boss

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

Same deal here — hints then answers. You might also like:

1 Down: "9. Stir-fry add-ins"

Hints:

First letter's a 'P', last letter's a 'S'.
This one runs 7 letters long.
Pattern-wise it looks like: P_____S

Answer:

Click to reveal

PEAPODS

2 Down: "32. Flattened against the masts in a changing wind"

Hints:

You're looking for 10 letters.
First letter's a 'T', last letter's a 'K'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

TAKENABACK

3 Down: "65. Personally contacts online, for short"

Hints:

Count on 3 letters here.
You could also think of it as "DM."
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

DMS

4 Down: "33. Roman theaters"

Hints:

Count on 4 letters here.
Starts with 'O', ends with 'A'.
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ODEA

5 Down: "62. Positive"

Hints:

Count on 4 letters here.
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
Starts with 'S', ends with 'E'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SURE

6 Down: "53. Gradually tapered cuts"

Hints:

Close enough in meaning: fade.
You're looking for 5 letters.
Kicks off with 'F' and wraps up with 'S'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

FADES

7 Down: "35. Soft leather shoes, for short"

Hints:

Kicks off with 'M' and wraps up with 'S'.
Pattern-wise it looks like: M__S
This one runs 4 letters long.

Answer:

Click to reveal

MOCS

8 Down: "34. Comedian Foxx"

Hints:

You're looking for 4 letters.
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
Starts with 'R', ends with 'D'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

REDD

9 Down: "29. I.R.A. classification"

Hints:

You're looking for 4 letters.
Short form / acronym territory here.
First letter's a 'R', last letter's a 'H'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ROTH

10 Down: "55. Jailed New York crime boss"

Hints:

Kicks off with 'G' and wraps up with 'I'.
Count on 5 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

GOTTI

How to Solve the NYT Mini Crossword Faster

Here's what tends to work if you solve these regularly:

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

Today's Puzzle by the Numbers
Total Clues:	20
Grid Size:	5 boxes across, 5 boxes down
Total Squares:	25
Average Time:	1 minute 10 seconds
Difficulty:	Easy

Common Questions About Trivia Week 2

When does the Trivia Week 2 Mini go live?

It usually goes live around 10 PM Eastern the night before.

How long should Trivia Week 2 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 2 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 2?

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 2 get harder as the week goes on?

Difficulty shifts through the week; expect Monday to be gentle and Saturday to bite a bit more.

Sunday, October 18, 2026

NYT Mini Crossword Trivia Week 3 October 18, 2026 - Daily Answers

Today's Trivia Week 3 NYT Mini Crossword October 18, 2026 Answers

Here's today's NYT Mini — 20 clues in total, and we've got hints plus answers for every one of them.

About Today's Puzzle

NYT Mini Crossword solutions for October 18, 2026 — NYT Mini Crossword Grid - Sunday, October 18, 2026

Puzzle Statistics
Detail	Information
Date	October 18, 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 3 NYT Mini Crossword Grid Layout

Standard Mini size again: 5 across, 5 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 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

Squares in the grid: 25
How long it takes: usually under a minute once you're warmed up
Best moment for it: any short break
Overall difficulty: easy-going by design

Across Clues - 10 Total

These run left to right across the grid.

Across Clues List
Number	Clue
1 Across	94. Figure, informally
2 Across	28. Softens with sudden sympathy or affection
3 Across	72. Bond
4 Across	44. View spoiler
5 Across	84. Brand represented by Happy the Oil Drop
6 Across	78. Tree that can be a source of water for thirsty elephants
7 Across	120. Analogue of a delete key
8 Across	32. "What"
9 Across	76. Apt name for a thief
10 Across	75. Small + or –

Hints and Answers for Across Clues

Stuck on one? Hints and answers for each clue are below. A few other guides worth a look:

1 Across: "94. Figure, informally"

Hints:

In plain terms: alternative names for the body of a human being.
Starts with 'B', ends with 'D'.
You're looking for 3 letters.

Answer:

Click to reveal

BOD

2 Across: "28. Softens with sudden sympathy or affection"

Hints:

It's a 5-letter word.
If that helps, the shape is: M___S
'thawing' points in the same direction.

Answer:

Click to reveal

MELTS

3 Across: "72. Bond"

Hints:

Close enough in meaning: linkup.
Count on 3 letters here.
Starts with 'T', ends with 'E'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

TIE

4 Across: "44. View spoiler"

Hints:

First letter's a 'E', last letter's a 'E'.
Basically, something very ugly and offensive.
It's a 7-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

EYESORE

5 Across: "84. Brand represented by Happy the Oil Drop"

Hints:

First letter's a 'E', last letter's a 'O'.
Short form / acronym territory here.
Count on 4 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ESSO

6 Across: "78. Tree that can be a source of water for thirsty elephants"

Hints:

This one runs 6 letters long.
Starts with 'B', ends with 'B'.
Blank it out and you get: B____B

Answer:

Click to reveal

BAOBAB

7 Across: "120. Analogue of a delete key"

Hints:

Basically, an implement used to erase something.
Kicks off with 'E' and wraps up with 'R'.
Blank it out and you get: E____R

Answer:

Click to reveal

ERASER

8 Across: "32. "What""

Hints:

Kicks off with 'I' and wraps up with 'T'.
You're looking for 12 letters.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ITELLYOUWHAT

9 Across: "76. Apt name for a thief"

Hints:

You could also think of it as "plume."
Count on 3 letters here.
Starts with 'R', ends with 'B'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ROB

10 Across: "75. Small + or –"

Hints:

It's a 3-letter word.
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
Kicks off with 'I' and wraps up with 'N'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ION

Down Clues - 10 Total

These run top to bottom in the grid.

Down Clues List
Number	Clue
1 Down	87. Ousted, democratically
2 Down	35. Weak, as an excuse
3 Down	7. Novel form of summer escapism?
4 Down	47. Like Amazon forests, typically
5 Down	36. "Ibis" poet
6 Down	74. Big bang source
7 Down	77. Like London's Kew Gardens
8 Down	42. Gawker
9 Down	1. Short cut
10 Down	62. John M. ___, director of 2024's "Wicked"

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

Same deal here — hints then answers. You might also like:

1 Down: "87. Ousted, democratically"

Hints:

You're looking for 8 letters.
Starts with 'V', ends with 'T'.
Blank it out and you get: V______T

Answer:

Click to reveal

VOTEDOUT

2 Down: "35. Weak, as an excuse"

Hints:

It's a 4-letter word.
'halt' points in the same direction.
Basically, someone who doesn't understand what is going on.

Answer:

Click to reveal

LAME

3 Down: "7. Novel form of summer escapism?"

Hints:

Blank it out and you get: P______D
Starts with 'P', ends with 'D'.
You're looking for 8 letters.

Answer:

Click to reveal

POOLREAD

4 Down: "47. Like Amazon forests, typically"

Hints:

Blank it out and you get: R___Y
Think of it this way — (of weather) wet by periods of rain.
Starts with 'R', ends with 'Y'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

RAINY

5 Down: "36. "Ibis" poet"

Hints:

Short form / acronym territory here.
You're looking for 4 letters.
First letter's a 'O', last letter's a 'D'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

OVID

6 Down: "74. Big bang source"

Hints:

Close enough in meaning: cap.
Blank it out and you get: D_______R
First letter's a 'D', last letter's a 'R'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

DETONATOR

7 Down: "77. Like London's Kew Gardens"

Hints:

First letter's a 'B', last letter's a 'C'.
Blank it out and you get: B_____C
You're looking for 7 letters.

Answer:

Click to reveal

BOTANIC

8 Down: "42. Gawker"

Hints:

If that helps, the shape is: L______O
Count on 8 letters here.
First letter's a 'L', last letter's a 'O'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

LOOKYLOO

9 Down: "1. Short cut"

Hints:

Starts with 'S', ends with 'P'.
It's a 4-letter word.
Short form / acronym territory here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SNIP

10 Down: "62. John M. ___, director of 2024's "Wicked""

Hints:

It's a 3-letter word.
Short form / acronym territory here.
First letter's a 'C', last letter's a 'U'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

CHU

How to Solve the NYT Mini Crossword Faster

A few things that actually help once you've been doing these a while:

Step-by-Step Strategy

Scan before you solve: One quick read-through of all the clues before you commit to anything usually pays off.
Short words first: The 2-3 letter answers are almost always the low-hanging fruit.
Let crossings guide you: Harder answers get much easier once a couple of crossing letters are locked in.
Puns hide behind question marks: If a clue ends in "?", expect wordplay, not a straight answer.
A few words repeat a lot: ERA, ORE, ATE, ICE show up more than you'd expect — keep them in mind.

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

Today's Puzzle by the Numbers
Total Clues:	20
Grid Size:	5 boxes across, 5 boxes down
Total Squares:	25
Average Time:	1 minute 10 seconds
Difficulty:	Normal

Common Questions About Trivia Week 3

When does the Trivia Week 3 Mini go live?

Typically drops the evening before, around 10 PM ET.

How long should Trivia Week 3 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 3 free to play?

Nope, it's free — no subscription needed like the full-size crossword.

What actually makes someone good at Trivia Week 3?

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 3 get harder as the week goes on?

Difficulty shifts through the week; expect Monday to be gentle and Saturday to bite a bit more.

Sunday, September 27, 2026

Trivia Week 4 NYT Mini September 27, 2026 Solutions & Guide

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.

About Today's Puzzle

NYT Mini Crossword solutions for September 27, 2026 — NYT Mini Crossword Grid - Sunday, September 27, 2026

Puzzle Statistics
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.

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 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.

Across Clues List
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:

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

ORATORY

2 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

DRAGRACES

3 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

OPHELIA

4 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

LAB

5 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

NILE

6 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

YEASTY

7 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

SUE

8 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

RANLOW

9 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

PERSONALLIMO

10 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

LOOPBACK

Down Clues - 10 Total

These run top to bottom in the grid.

Down Clues List
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:

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

GRIER

2 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

TERRI

3 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

VCR

4 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

LIB

5 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

GAP

6 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

ISLAM

7 Down: "12. Assumed ownership over"

Hints:

Starts with 'C', ends with 'D'.
You're looking for 7 letters.

Answer:

Click to reveal

COOPTED

8 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

PRANCE

9 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

CBD

10 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

ETA

How 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

Today's Puzzle by the Numbers
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.

Sunday, October 12, 2025

NYT Mini Today October 12, 2025: Complete Walkthrough with Progressive Hints

Quick Summary: Today's NYT Mini Crossword has 20 clues total. We have all the answers plus helpful hints to make solving easier!

About Today's Puzzle

NYT Mini Crossword solutions for October 12, 2025 — NYT Mini Crossword Grid - Sunday, October 12, 2025

Puzzle Statistics
Detail	Information
Date	October 12, 2025
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 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

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.

Across Clues List
Number	Clue
1 Across	25. Low-pitched jazz instruments, for short
2 Across	34. "Project Hail Mary" creatures, in brief
3 Across	74. Platoon or battalion
4 Across	18. Like
5 Across	97. Facility
6 Across	63. Carpenter's adage illustrated four times in this puzzle
7 Across	14. Cry of frustration
8 Across	122. "Uh, your point is ...?"
9 Across	37. Rock band?
10 Across	1. Common sight near the entrance of a mall

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: "25. Low-pitched jazz instruments, for short"

Helpful hints:

This word has 9 letters
It starts with 'B' and ends with 'S'
Word pattern: B_______S

Answer:

Click to reveal

BARISAXES

2 Across: "34. "Project Hail Mary" creatures, in brief"

Helpful hints:

This word has 3 letters
It starts with 'E' and ends with 'S'
This is a short form or acronym

Answer:

Click to reveal

ETS

3 Across: "74. Platoon or battalion"

Helpful hints:

This word has 4 letters
It starts with 'U' and ends with 'T'
Word pattern: U__T

Answer:

Click to reveal

UNIT

4 Across: "18. Like"

Helpful hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

ALA

5 Across: "97. Facility"

Helpful hints:

This word has 4 letters
It starts with 'E' and ends with 'E'
Word pattern: E__E

Answer:

Click to reveal

EASE

6 Across: "63. Carpenter's adage illustrated four times in this puzzle"

Helpful hints:

This word has 19 letters
It starts with 'M' and ends with 'E'
Word pattern: M_________________E

Answer:

Click to reveal

MEASURETWICECUTONCE

7 Across: "14. Cry of frustration"

Helpful hints:

This word has 4 letters
It starts with 'A' and ends with 'H'
Word pattern: A__H

Answer:

Click to reveal

ARGH

8 Across: "122. "Uh, your point is ...?""

Helpful hints:

This word has 6 letters
It starts with 'Y' and ends with 'O'
Word pattern: Y____O

Answer:

Click to reveal

YEAHSO

9 Across: "37. Rock band?"

Helpful hints:

This word has 4 letters
It starts with 'S' and ends with 'M'
Word pattern: S__M

Answer:

Click to reveal

SEAM

10 Across: "1. Common sight near the entrance of a mall"

Helpful hints:

This word has 3 letters
It starts with 'M' and ends with 'P'
Another word like this: map out

Answer:

Click to reveal

MAP

Down Clues - 10 Total

These clues go from top to bottom in the puzzle.

Down Clues List
Number	Clue
1 Down	85. "More or less"
2 Down	16. Fairy tale sibling
3 Down	69. Hot French beverage
4 Down	33. It's covered in kernels
5 Down	11. Chews (out)
6 Down	3. Freak out
7 Down	56. Camera type, for short
8 Down	26. CPR pressure points
9 Down	51. Sharply dressed
10 Down	39. Wood found in restaurant furniture

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

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

1 Down: "85. "More or less""

Helpful hints:

This word has 3 letters
It starts with 'I' and ends with 'H'
This is a short form or acronym

Answer:

Click to reveal

ISH

2 Down: "16. Fairy tale sibling"

Helpful hints:

This word has 6 letters
It starts with 'G' and ends with 'L'
Word pattern: G____L

Answer:

Click to reveal

GRETEL

3 Down: "69. Hot French beverage"

Helpful hints:

This word has 3 letters
It starts with 'T' and ends with 'E'
This is a short form or acronym

Answer:

Click to reveal

THE

4 Down: "33. It's covered in kernels"

Helpful hints:

This word has 3 letters
It starts with 'C' and ends with 'B'
Another word like this: cobnut

Answer:

Click to reveal

COB

5 Down: "11. Chews (out)"

Helpful hints:

This word has 5 letters
It starts with 'R' and ends with 'S'
Word pattern: R___S

Answer:

Click to reveal

REAMS

6 Down: "3. Freak out"

Helpful hints:

This word has 5 letters
It starts with 'P' and ends with 'C'
Word pattern: P___C

Answer:

Click to reveal

PANIC

7 Down: "56. Camera type, for short"

Helpful hints:

This word has 3 letters
It starts with 'S' and ends with 'R'
This is a short form or acronym

Answer:

Click to reveal

SLR

8 Down: "26. CPR pressure points"

Helpful hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

STERNA

9 Down: "51. Sharply dressed"

Helpful hints:

This word has 4 letters
It starts with 'C' and ends with 'C'
Word pattern: C__C

Answer:

Click to reveal

CHIC

10 Down: "39. Wood found in restaurant furniture"

Helpful hints:

This word has 3 letters
It starts with 'A' and ends with 'H'
This is a short form or acronym

Answer:

Click to reveal

ASH

How 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

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 52 seconds
Difficulty:	A bit tricky

Common Questions About NYT Mini Crossword

When can I play the NYT Mini?

The puzzle comes out at 10 PM Eastern Time the night before. So you can play Monday's puzzle starting Sunday at 10 PM.

How fast should I be able to solve it?

Most people solve the 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?

No! The NYT Mini is completely free. You don't need a subscription like the big crossword.

What makes a good Mini solver?

Good Mini solvers know common short words, can spot wordplay quickly, and use crossing letters well. Practice helps a lot!

Are the puzzles harder on certain days?

Unlike the big NYT crossword, the Mini stays about the same difficulty every day. Sometimes Saturday might be a tiny bit harder.

Tuesday, September 29, 2026

Trivia Week 4 NYT Mini September 29, 2026 Solutions & Guide

NYT Mini Answers September 29, 2026 - Trivia Week 4 Special

20 clues today. If you're stuck on any of them, scroll down — hints first, answers hidden underneath.

About Today's Puzzle

NYT Mini Crossword solutions for September 29, 2026 — NYT Mini Crossword Grid - Tuesday, September 29, 2026

Puzzle Statistics
Detail	Information
Date	September 29, 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

Standard Mini size again: 5 across, 5 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 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

Squares in the grid: 25
How long it takes: usually under a minute once you're warmed up
Best moment for it: any short break
Overall difficulty: easy-going by design

Across Clues - 10 Total

These run left to right across the grid.

Across Clues List
Number	Clue
1 Across	30. Copied
2 Across	23. Muslim holiday, informally
3 Across	53. Dad on "Black-ish"
4 Across	56. Couch
5 Across	33. "I ___ U" (candy heart message)
6 Across	35. Another plateful from the buffet, say
7 Across	20. Rich deposits of ore
8 Across	42. Work unit
9 Across	32. Terse
10 Across	17. Where some monster home runs land

Hints and Answers for Across Clues

Stuck on one? Hints and answers for each clue are below. A few other guides worth a look:

1 Across: "30. Copied"

Hints:

Kicks off with 'A' and wraps up with 'D'.
Blank it out and you get: A__D
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

APED

2 Across: "23. Muslim holiday, informally"

Hints:

This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
Starts with 'E', ends with 'D'.
It's a 3-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

EID

3 Across: "53. Dad on "Black-ish""

Hints:

Short form / acronym territory here.
This one runs 3 letters long.
First letter's a 'D', last letter's a 'E'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

DRE

4 Across: "56. Couch"

Hints:

Pattern-wise it looks like: D___N
First letter's a 'D', last letter's a 'N'.
You could also think of it as "diwan."

Answer:

Click to reveal

DIVAN

5 Across: "33. "I ___ U" (candy heart message)"

Hints:

Starts with 'L', ends with 'V'.
Short form / acronym territory here.
It's a 3-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

LUV

6 Across: "35. Another plateful from the buffet, say"

Hints:

Count on 13 letters here.
Starts with 'S', ends with 'G'.
Blank it out and you get: S___________G

Answer:

Click to reveal

SECONDHELPING

7 Across: "20. Rich deposits of ore"

Hints:

You could also think of it as "load."
Kicks off with 'L' and wraps up with 'S'.
It's a 5-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

LODES

8 Across: "42. Work unit"

Hints:

Count on 3 letters here.
First letter's a 'E', last letter's a 'G'.
Short form / acronym territory here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ERG

9 Across: "32. Terse"

Hints:

Short form / acronym territory here.
In plain terms: marked by rude or peremptory shortness.
Starts with 'C', ends with 'T'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

CURT

10 Across: "17. Where some monster home runs land"

Hints:

Pattern-wise it looks like: U_______K
Kicks off with 'U' and wraps up with 'K'.
Count on 9 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

UPPERDECK

Down Clues - 10 Total

These run top to bottom in the grid.

Down Clues List
Number	Clue
1 Down	6. Regret
2 Down	4. Numbered in a tournament bracket
3 Down	60. Sort
4 Down	34. Scanned lines, for short
5 Down	49. Move like Shakira in her "Hips Don't Lie" video
6 Down	37. Crossed (out)
7 Down	46. Perhaps not at all
8 Down	51. Courier and Century Gothic, for two
9 Down	27. Blue race in "Avatar"
10 Down	12. Like not-work-from-home days

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

Same deal here — hints then answers. You might also like:

1 Down: "6. Regret"

Hints:

You could also think of it as "repent."
This one runs 3 letters long.
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

RUE

2 Down: "4. Numbered in a tournament bracket"

Hints:

Kicks off with 'S' and wraps up with 'D'.
It's a 6-letter word.
Basically, go to seed; shed seeds.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SEEDED

3 Down: "60. Sort"

Hints:

Close enough in meaning: like.
In plain terms: a kind of person.
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ILK

4 Down: "34. Scanned lines, for short"

Hints:

Short form / acronym territory here.
Kicks off with 'U' and wraps up with 'C'.
Count on 3 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

UPC

5 Down: "49. Move like Shakira in her "Hips Don't Lie" video"

Hints:

If that helps, the shape is: G____E
Count on 6 letters here.
First letter's a 'G', last letter's a 'E'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

GYRATE

6 Down: "37. Crossed (out)"

Hints:

Blank it out and you get: E__D
Short form / acronym territory here.
Starts with 'E', ends with 'D'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

EXED

7 Down: "46. Perhaps not at all"

Hints:

If that helps, the shape is: I____R
It's a 6-letter word.
Kicks off with 'I' and wraps up with 'R'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

IFEVER

8 Down: "51. Courier and Century Gothic, for two"

Hints:

Starts with 'F', ends with 'S'.
You could also think of it as "face."
This one runs 5 letters long.

Answer:

Click to reveal

FONTS

9 Down: "27. Blue race in "Avatar""

Hints:

Short form / acronym territory here.
It's a 4-letter word.
Kicks off with 'N' and wraps up with 'I'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

NAVI

10 Down: "12. Like not-work-from-home days"

Hints:

This one runs 6 letters long.
Starts with 'O', ends with 'E'.
If that helps, the shape is: O____E

Answer:

Click to reveal

ONSITE

How to Solve the NYT Mini Crossword Faster

A few things that actually help once you've been doing these a while:

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

Today's Puzzle by the Numbers
Total Clues:	20
Grid Size:	5 boxes across, 5 boxes down
Total Squares:	25
Average Time:	58 seconds
Difficulty:	Normal

Common Questions About Trivia Week 4

When does the Trivia Week 4 Mini go live?

It usually goes live around 10 PM Eastern the night before.

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?

It mostly comes down to recognizing common short answers and catching puns fast. The rest is just reps.

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.

Search Clues

Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Trivia Week 2 NYT Mini September 09, 2026 Solutions & Guide

About Today's Puzzle

Today's Trivia Week 2 NYT Mini Crossword Grid Layout

How to Solve This One Fast

Quick Facts

Across Clues - 10 Total

Hints and Answers for Across Clues

1 Across: "43. Barely made (out)"

2 Across: "20. "Semper Fidelis," for one"

3 Across: "48. Paint options"

4 Across: "23. Me-time destination"

5 Across: "24. Creature of Egyptian myth"

6 Across: "28. Some landscaping equipment"

7 Across: "72. Shell out cash"

8 Across: "31. Worker who's behind the Times?"

9 Across: "4. Develop"

10 Across: "41. Completely lost ... or where the now-idiomatic answer to each italicized clue has a literal meaning"

Down Clues - 10 Total

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

1 Down: "9. Stir-fry add-ins"

2 Down: "32. Flattened against the masts in a changing wind"

3 Down: "65. Personally contacts online, for short"

4 Down: "33. Roman theaters"

5 Down: "62. Positive"

6 Down: "53. Gradually tapered cuts"

7 Down: "35. Soft leather shoes, for short"

8 Down: "34. Comedian Foxx"

9 Down: "29. I.R.A. classification"

10 Down: "55. Jailed New York crime boss"

How to Solve the NYT Mini Crossword Faster

Step-by-Step Strategy

Letter Tips That Really Help

Time Goals to Aim For

Puzzle Numbers and Facts

More Puzzle Help

Common Questions About Trivia Week 2

When does the Trivia Week 2 Mini go live?

How long should Trivia Week 2 take me?

Is Trivia Week 2 free to play?

What actually makes someone good at Trivia Week 2?

Does Trivia Week 2 get harder as the week goes on?

Sunday, October 18, 2026

NYT Mini Crossword Trivia Week 3 October 18, 2026 - Daily Answers

About Today's Puzzle

Today's Trivia Week 3 NYT Mini Crossword Grid Layout

How to Solve This One Fast

Quick Facts

Across Clues - 10 Total

Hints and Answers for Across Clues

1 Across: "94. Figure, informally"

2 Across: "28. Softens with sudden sympathy or affection"

3 Across: "72. Bond"

4 Across: "44. View spoiler"

5 Across: "84. Brand represented by Happy the Oil Drop"

6 Across: "78. Tree that can be a source of water for thirsty elephants"

7 Across: "120. Analogue of a delete key"

8 Across: "32. "What""

9 Across: "76. Apt name for a thief"

10 Across: "75. Small + or –"

Down Clues - 10 Total

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

1 Down: "87. Ousted, democratically"

2 Down: "35. Weak, as an excuse"

3 Down: "7. Novel form of summer escapism?"

4 Down: "47. Like Amazon forests, typically"

5 Down: "36. "Ibis" poet"

6 Down: "74. Big bang source"

7 Down: "77. Like London's Kew Gardens"

8 Down: "42. Gawker"

9 Down: "1. Short cut"

10 Down: "62. John M. ___, director of 2024's "Wicked""

How to Solve the NYT Mini Crossword Faster

Step-by-Step Strategy

Letter Tips That Really Help

Time Goals to Aim For

Puzzle Numbers and Facts

More Puzzle Help

Common Questions About Trivia Week 3