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Wednesday, September 2, 2026

NYT Mini Trivia Week 1 September 02, 2026 - Hints & 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 September 02, 2026 — NYT Mini Crossword Grid - Wednesday, September 02, 2026

Puzzle Statistics
Detail	Information
Date	September 02, 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 1 NYT Mini Crossword Grid Layout

It's a 5 by 5 grid today — five boxes across, five 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 One Fast

Read through all the clues before filling in a single square.
Start with anything three letters or shorter.
Crossing letters are your best friend for the trickier answers.
Question mark clues (?) almost always mean wordplay, not a literal answer.
Watch for the usual suspects: THE, AND, ARE, FOR, NOT.

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	20. Multicolored implements in many art drawers
2 Across	28. Muscular part of a marathoner
3 Across	34. Make sure not to miss it!
4 Across	52. Munificent man
5 Across	1. "Melts in your mouth" candies ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme
6 Across	14. Mama Morton of "Chicago," for one
7 Across	38. Marauder's Map encryption phrase in "Harry Potter"
8 Across	24. Maroon and mahogany, for two
9 Across	17. Much of Mali
10 Across	15. Meaning of "mono-"

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: "20. Multicolored implements in many art drawers"

Hints:

First letter's a 'M', last letter's a 'S'.
Pattern-wise it looks like: M__________S
It's a 12-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

MAGICMARKERS

2 Across: "28. Muscular part of a marathoner"

Hints:

Kicks off with 'L' and wraps up with 'G'.
Short form / acronym territory here.
You could also think of it as "pegleg."

Answer:

Click to reveal

LEG

3 Across: "34. Make sure not to miss it!"

Hints:

Close enough in meaning: remind.
You're looking for 3 letters.
Starts with 'C', ends with 'E'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

CUE

4 Across: "52. Munificent man"

Hints:

This one runs 6 letters long.
Kicks off with 'S' and wraps up with 'R'.
Blank it out and you get: S____R

Answer:

Click to reveal

SHARER

5 Across: "1. "Melts in your mouth" candies ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme"

Hints:

Count on 6 letters here.
Starts with 'M', ends with 'S'.
If that helps, the shape is: M____S

Answer:

Click to reveal

MANDMS

6 Across: "14. Mama Morton of "Chicago," for one"

Hints:

If that helps, the shape is: M____N
Kicks off with 'M' and wraps up with 'N'.
Count on 6 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

MATRON

7 Across: "38. Marauder's Map encryption phrase in "Harry Potter""

Hints:

You're looking for 15 letters.
First letter's a 'M', last letter's a 'D'.
If that helps, the shape is: M_____________D

Answer:

Click to reveal

MISCHIEFMANAGED

8 Across: "24. Maroon and mahogany, for two"

Hints:

Blank it out and you get: S____S
Close enough in meaning: shadow.
First letter's a 'S', last letter's a 'S'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SHADES

9 Across: "17. Much of Mali"

Hints:

Think of it this way — the world's largest desert (3.
You're looking for 6 letters.
First letter's a 'S', last letter's a 'A'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SAHARA

10 Across: "15. Meaning of "mono-""

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

ONE

Down Clues - 10 Total

These run top to bottom in the grid.

Down Clues List
Number	Clue
1 Down	62. Musician Cooke who sang "You Send Me"
2 Down	56. Miniature maze runners
3 Down	58. Medical mass
4 Down	10. Musters support for, as a mission
5 Down	8. Marmot or marmoset
6 Down	48. Military groups that meet in battle
7 Down	27. Map word in Marseille
8 Down	3. Maximum degree in math
9 Down	57. Major misfortunes
10 Down	5. Maxims discouraging misconduct

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

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

1 Down: "62. Musician Cooke who sang "You Send Me""

Hints:

Starts with 'S', ends with 'M'.
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
You're looking for 3 letters.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SAM

2 Down: "56. Miniature maze runners"

Hints:

This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
Close enough in meaning: shiner.
Starts with 'M', ends with 'E'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

MICE

3 Down: "58. Medical mass"

Hints:

'clog' points in the same direction.
Starts with 'C', ends with 'T'.
Count on 4 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

CLOT

4 Down: "10. Musters support for, as a mission"

Hints:

You could also think of it as "punt."
Kicks off with 'B' and wraps up with 'S'.
This one runs 5 letters long.

Answer:

Click to reveal

BACKS

5 Down: "8. Marmot or marmoset"

Hints:

You could also think of it as "fauna."
Kicks off with 'A' and wraps up with 'L'.
It's a 6-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ANIMAL

6 Down: "48. Military groups that meet in battle"

Hints:

Kicks off with 'A' and wraps up with 'S'.
It's a 6-letter word.
You could also think of it as "USA."

Answer:

Click to reveal

ARMIES

7 Down: "27. Map word in Marseille"

Hints:

Kicks off with 'I' and wraps up with 'I'.
Short form / acronym territory here.
It's a 3-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ICI

8 Down: "3. Maximum degree in math"

Hints:

This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
'n-th' points in the same direction.
Kicks off with 'N' and wraps up with 'H'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

NTH

9 Down: "57. Major misfortunes"

Hints:

You could also think of it as "ailment."
Count on 4 letters here.
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ILLS

10 Down: "5. Maxims discouraging misconduct"

Hints:

'moral' points in the same direction.
You're looking for 6 letters.
First letter's a 'M', last letter's a 'S'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

MORALS

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 1

When does the Trivia Week 1 Mini go live?

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

How long should Trivia Week 1 take me?

Most people land somewhere between 30 seconds and 2 minutes. Slower than that is completely normal too — it gets faster with practice.

Is Trivia Week 1 free to play?

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

What actually makes someone good at Trivia Week 1?

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

Does Trivia Week 1 get harder as the week goes on?

It varies day to day — Saturdays tend to be the toughest, Mondays the easiest.

Sunday, August 30, 2026

NYT Mini Trivia Week 4 August 30, 2026 - Hints & Answers

Trivia Week 4 August 30, 2026 NYT Mini Crossword Hints

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 August 30, 2026 — NYT Mini Crossword Grid - Sunday, August 30, 2026

Puzzle Statistics
Detail	Information
Date	August 30, 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

It's a 5 by 5 grid today — five boxes across, five 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 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	26. Discount Chinese e-tailer
2 Across	64. Friar with a famous "razor"
3 Across	100. Join, as two metal surfaces
4 Across	93. Discontinued Swedish cars
5 Across	31. Pink-slips
6 Across	126. Instants
7 Across	24. LIAM NEESON
8 Across	122. Submitted by the deadline
9 Across	68. Turns on the waterworks
10 Across	124. Musician/actress Haim

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: "26. Discount Chinese e-tailer"

Hints:

Starts with 'T', ends with 'U'.
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
Blank it out and you get: T__U

Answer:

Click to reveal

TEMU

2 Across: "64. Friar with a famous "razor""

Hints:

You could also think of it as "Ockham."
This one runs 5 letters long.
First letter's a 'O', last letter's a 'M'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

OCCAM

3 Across: "100. Join, as two metal surfaces"

Hints:

Kicks off with 'S' and wraps up with 'R'.
Pattern-wise it looks like: S____R
It's a 6-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SOLDER

4 Across: "93. Discontinued Swedish cars"

Hints:

Starts with 'S', ends with 'S'.
Pattern-wise it looks like: S___S
This one runs 5 letters long.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SAABS

5 Across: "31. Pink-slips"

Hints:

Short form / acronym territory here.
You could also think of it as "fire."
First letter's a 'C', last letter's a 'S'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

CANS

6 Across: "126. Instants"

Hints:

Starts with 'S', ends with 'S'.
Short form / acronym territory here.
Count on 4 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SECS

7 Across: "24. LIAM NEESON"

Hints:

This one runs 8 letters long.
First letter's a 'S', last letter's a 'O'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SALMINEO

8 Across: "122. Submitted by the deadline"

Hints:

If that helps, the shape is: I______E
You're looking for 8 letters.
First letter's a 'I', last letter's a 'E'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

INONTIME

9 Across: "68. Turns on the waterworks"

Hints:

Think of it this way — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition.
Count on 5 letters here.
Pattern-wise it looks like: C___S

Answer:

Click to reveal

CRIES

10 Across: "124. Musician/actress Haim"

Hints:

Pattern-wise it looks like: A___A
Kicks off with 'A' and wraps up with 'A'.
This one runs 5 letters long.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ALANA

Down Clues - 10 Total

These run top to bottom in the grid.

Down Clues List
Number	Clue
1 Down	67. Christmas presence?
2 Down	95. Withdraw from a union
3 Down	23. Mineral that makes cosmetics shimmer
4 Down	29. Clear
5 Down	6. Like 666, popularly
6 Down	94. Periods of 730 days
7 Down	1. God, to Bob Marley
8 Down	32. Hit a ___
9 Down	58. Diva's time to shine
10 Down	86. Hostile manner, informally

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

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

1 Down: "67. Christmas presence?"

Hints:

Short form / acronym territory here.
Blank it out and you get: M__I
Close enough in meaning: magus.

Answer:

Click to reveal

MAGI

2 Down: "95. Withdraw from a union"

Hints:

First letter's a 'S', last letter's a 'E'.
Pattern-wise it looks like: S____E
Basically, withdraw from an organization or communion.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SECEDE

3 Down: "23. Mineral that makes cosmetics shimmer"

Hints:

Blank it out and you get: M__A
You're looking for 4 letters.
Kicks off with 'M' and wraps up with 'A'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

MICA

4 Down: "29. Clear"

Hints:

Kicks off with 'E' and wraps up with 'E'.
It's a 5-letter word.
If that helps, the shape is: E___E

Answer:

Click to reveal

ERASE

5 Down: "6. Like 666, popularly"

Hints:

It's a 7-letter word.
You could also think of it as "demonic."
Starts with 'S', ends with 'C'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SATANIC

6 Down: "94. Periods of 730 days"

Hints:

Kicks off with 'B' and wraps up with 'A'.
Count on 7 letters here.
Pattern-wise it looks like: B_____A

Answer:

Click to reveal

BIENNIA

7 Down: "1. God, to Bob Marley"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

JAH

8 Down: "32. Hit a ___"

Hints:

Pattern-wise it looks like: S__G
It's a 4-letter word.
Close enough in meaning: hang-up.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SNAG

9 Down: "58. Diva's time to shine"

Hints:

Think of it this way — an elaborate song for solo voice.
You're looking for 4 letters.
First letter's a 'A', last letter's a 'A'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ARIA

10 Down: "86. Hostile manner, informally"

Hints:

Short form / acronym territory here.
Starts with 'T', ends with 'E'.
This one runs 4 letters long.

Answer:

Click to reveal

TUDE

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:	45 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?

Most people land somewhere between 30 seconds and 2 minutes. Slower than that is completely normal too — it gets faster with practice.

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?

It varies day to day — Saturdays tend to be the toughest, Mondays the easiest.

Saturday, August 29, 2026

NYT Mini Trivia Week 4 August 29, 2026 - Hints & Answers

NYT Mini Puzzle Trivia Week 4 August 29, 2026 - Solved

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 August 29, 2026 — NYT Mini Crossword Grid - Saturday, August 29, 2026

Puzzle Statistics
Detail	Information
Date	August 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

It's a 5 by 5 grid today — five boxes across, five 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 One Fast

Read through all the clues before filling in a single square.
Start with anything three letters or shorter.
Crossing letters are your best friend for the trickier answers.
Question mark clues (?) almost always mean wordplay, not a literal answer.
Watch for the usual suspects: THE, AND, ARE, FOR, NOT.

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	14. Skin-care brand known for its pore strips
2 Across	20. Work, as a joke
3 Across	47. "It is not easy for a ___ to balance himself on a ladder": "Animal Farm"
4 Across	49. Relative of house music
5 Across	37. Court session, perhaps
6 Across	1. Main characters for an early reader
7 Across	23. His #33 was retired by the Knicks in 2003
8 Across	51. Inverse of an exponential function
9 Across	58. Come off as
10 Across	42. Put your back into it

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: "14. Skin-care brand known for its pore strips"

Hints:

Count on 5 letters here.
Kicks off with 'B' and wraps up with 'E'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

BIORE

2 Across: "20. Work, as a joke"

Hints:

Close enough in meaning: bring.
Basically, the land on which real estate is located.
If that helps, the shape is: L__D

Answer:

Click to reveal

LAND

3 Across: "47. "It is not easy for a ___ to balance himself on a ladder": "Animal Farm""

Hints:

This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
Basically, domestic swine.
'cop' points in the same direction.

Answer:

Click to reveal

PIG

4 Across: "49. Relative of house music"

Hints:

Kicks off with 'T' and wraps up with 'O'.
Count on 6 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

TECHNO

5 Across: "37. Court session, perhaps"

Hints:

Pattern-wise it looks like: T__________N
You're looking for 12 letters.
First letter's a 'T', last letter's a 'N'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

TENNISLESSON

6 Across: "1. Main characters for an early reader"

Hints:

It's a 4-letter word.
Blank it out and you get: A__S
First letter's a 'A', last letter's a 'S'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ABCS

7 Across: "23. His #33 was retired by the Knicks in 2003"

Hints:

It's a 5-letter word.
Kicks off with 'E' and wraps up with 'G'.
If that helps, the shape is: E___G

Answer:

Click to reveal

EWING

8 Across: "51. Inverse of an exponential function"

Hints:

If that helps, the shape is: L_______M
Starts with 'L', ends with 'M'.
'log' points in the same direction.

Answer:

Click to reveal

LOGARITHM

9 Across: "58. Come off as"

Hints:

Close enough in meaning: look.
This one runs 4 letters long.
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SEEM

10 Across: "42. Put your back into it"

Hints:

This one runs 3 letters long.
Kicks off with 'T' and wraps up with 'Y'.
Short form / acronym territory here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

TRY

Down Clues - 10 Total

These run top to bottom in the grid.

Down Clues List
Number	Clue
1 Down	24. August ___, "Fences" playwright
2 Down	9. ___ legs
3 Down	19. Stocked and sold, as goods
4 Down	1. Nonhuman provider of medical advice
5 Down	45. Shockingly unconventional
6 Down	25. Makes sense of
7 Down	36. "Wow ... what are the chances?!"
8 Down	13. Green day star, for short
9 Down	6. Breaking character?
10 Down	46. Stepped-on instrument

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

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

1 Down: "24. August ___, "Fences" playwright"

Hints:

Starts with 'W', ends with 'N'.
If that helps, the shape is: W____N
This one runs 6 letters long.

Answer:

Click to reveal

WILSON

2 Down: "9. ___ legs"

Hints:

Short form / acronym territory here.
'hinder' points in the same direction.
First letter's a 'H', last letter's a 'D'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

HIND

3 Down: "19. Stocked and sold, as goods"

Hints:

Kicks off with 'D' and wraps up with 'N'.
Pattern-wise it looks like: D_____N
It's a 7-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

DEALTIN

4 Down: "1. Nonhuman provider of medical advice"

Hints:

Starts with 'A', ends with 'R'.
It's a 8-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

AIDOCTOR

5 Down: "45. Shockingly unconventional"

Hints:

First letter's a 'O', last letter's a 'E'.
Close enough in meaning: freaky.
Count on 5 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

OUTRE

6 Down: "25. Makes sense of"

Hints:

Count on 6 letters here.
Pattern-wise it looks like: P____S
Starts with 'P', ends with 'S'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

PARSES

7 Down: "36. "Wow ... what are the chances?!""

Hints:

Pattern-wise it looks like: S______M
This one runs 8 letters long.
Kicks off with 'S' and wraps up with 'M'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SORANDOM

8 Down: "13. Green day star, for short"

Hints:

Starts with 'S', ends with 'T'.
You're looking for 5 letters.

Answer:

Click to reveal

STPAT

9 Down: "6. Breaking character?"

Hints:

First letter's a 'B', last letter's a 'P'.
Count on 16 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

BULLINACHINASHOP

10 Down: "46. Stepped-on instrument"

Hints:

Starts with 'S', ends with 'E'.
Count on 5 letters here.
Close enough in meaning: shell.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SCALE

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:	1 minute 10 seconds
Difficulty:	A bit tricky

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?

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

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?

It varies day to day — Saturdays tend to be the toughest, Mondays the easiest.

Friday, August 28, 2026

Trivia Week 4 Manual for NYT Mini August 28, 2026

Trivia Week 4 NYT Mini August 28, 2026 Solutions & Guide

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 August 28, 2026 — NYT Mini Crossword Grid - Friday, August 28, 2026

Puzzle Statistics
Detail	Information
Date	August 28, 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

It's a 5 by 5 grid today — five boxes across, five 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 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	26. "Ignorance is bliss," e.g.
2 Across	36. Asteroids system
3 Across	22. "Would ya look at that ..."
4 Across	58. Kim Cattrall's role on "Sex and the City"
5 Across	39. ___ collar
6 Across	35. ___ polo (sport played in Pakistan)
7 Across	38. Flame proof?
8 Across	25. Milieu for bathyspheres, with "the"
9 Across	16. Politician's response, maybe
10 Across	13. Worrier's words

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: "26. "Ignorance is bliss," e.g."

Hints:

You're looking for 6 letters.
Kicks off with 'O' and wraps up with 'W'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

OLDSAW

2 Across: "36. Asteroids system"

Hints:

It's a 5-letter word.
Kicks off with 'A' and wraps up with 'I'.
Pattern-wise it looks like: A___I

Answer:

Click to reveal

ATARI

3 Across: "22. "Would ya look at that ...""

Hints:

Kicks off with 'W' and wraps up with 'L'.
Pattern-wise it looks like: W__________L
You're looking for 12 letters.

Answer:

Click to reveal

WELLWELLWELL

4 Across: "58. Kim Cattrall's role on "Sex and the City""

Hints:

It's a 8-letter word.
First letter's a 'S', last letter's a 'A'.
Pattern-wise it looks like: S______A

Answer:

Click to reveal

SAMANTHA

5 Across: "39. ___ collar"

Hints:

Kicks off with 'E' and wraps up with 'N'.
If that helps, the shape is: E__N
This one runs 4 letters long.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ETON

6 Across: "35. ___ polo (sport played in Pakistan)"

Hints:

Basically, noisy talk.
Close enough in meaning: yack.
This one runs 3 letters long.

Answer:

Click to reveal

YAK

7 Across: "38. Flame proof?"

Hints:

Think of it this way — the residue that remains when something is burned.
Starts with 'A', ends with 'H'.
It's a 3-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ASH

8 Across: "25. Milieu for bathyspheres, with "the""

Hints:

In plain terms: the central and most intense or profound part.
You could also think of it as "trench."
First letter's a 'D', last letter's a 'S'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

DEEPS

9 Across: "16. Politician's response, maybe"

Hints:

Kicks off with 'N' and wraps up with 'R'.
You're looking for 9 letters.

Answer:

Click to reveal

NONANSWER

10 Across: "13. Worrier's words"

Hints:

First letter's a 'I', last letter's a 'T'.
Pattern-wise it looks like: I______T
It's a 8-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

IHOPENOT

Down Clues - 10 Total

These run top to bottom in the grid.

Down Clues List
Number	Clue
1 Down	10. Screen capture?
2 Down	35. "The thing is ..."
3 Down	3. Brazilian soccer star known for his dribbling flair
4 Down	27. Blend
5 Down	43. Jazz aficionado, e.g.
6 Down	31. Outlaw
7 Down	51. Star turns at a concert
8 Down	44. Spirit seen on el Día de los Muertos
9 Down	4. Org. that might do some spring cleaning?
10 Down	17. Overhaul

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

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

1 Down: "10. Screen capture?"

Hints:

Count on 4 letters here.
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
In plain terms: fine ravellings of cotton or linen fibers.

Answer:

Click to reveal

LINT

2 Down: "35. "The thing is ...""

Hints:

Kicks off with 'Y' and wraps up with 'E'.
It's a 6-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

YOUSEE

3 Down: "3. Brazilian soccer star known for his dribbling flair"

Hints:

First letter's a 'R', last letter's a 'O'.
It's a 10-letter word.
If that helps, the shape is: R________O

Answer:

Click to reveal

RONALDINHO

4 Down: "27. Blend"

Hints:

If that helps, the shape is: A________E
You could also think of it as "commix."
Kicks off with 'A' and wraps up with 'E'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

AMALGAMATE

5 Down: "43. Jazz aficionado, e.g."

Hints:

Starts with 'N', ends with 'N'.
Count on 6 letters here.
Pattern-wise it looks like: N____N

Answer:

Click to reveal

NBAFAN

6 Down: "31. Outlaw"

Hints:

Close enough in meaning: shun.
Count on 3 letters here.
Kicks off with 'B' and wraps up with 'N'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

BAN

7 Down: "51. Star turns at a concert"

Hints:

Starts with 'S', ends with 'I'.
You could also think of it as "solo."
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SOLI

8 Down: "44. Spirit seen on el Día de los Muertos"

Hints:

This one runs 6 letters long.
Kicks off with 'M' and wraps up with 'L'.
You could also think of it as "mescal."

Answer:

Click to reveal

MEZCAL

9 Down: "4. Org. that might do some spring cleaning?"

Hints:

First letter's a 'E', last letter's a 'A'.
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
This one runs 3 letters long.

Answer:

Click to reveal

EPA

10 Down: "17. Overhaul"

Hints:

It's a 6-letter word.
Starts with 'R', ends with 'K'.
Think of it this way — use again in altered form.

Answer:

Click to reveal

REWORK

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:	52 seconds
Difficulty:	Normal

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?

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

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?

It varies day to day — Saturdays tend to be the toughest, Mondays the easiest.

Wednesday, August 26, 2026

NYT Mini Crossword Trivia Week 4 August 26, 2026 - Daily Answers

Complete Solutions for NYT Mini Trivia Week 4 August 26, 2026

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 August 26, 2026 — NYT Mini Crossword Grid - Wednesday, August 26, 2026

Puzzle Statistics
Detail	Information
Date	August 26, 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

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	63. Alien incubators in "Invasion of the Body Snatchers"
2 Across	57. "Unbelievable!" ... or what 17-, 25-, 35- and 46-Across are made from, letter-wise?
3 Across	42. Fred Flintstone's boss at the rock quarry
4 Across	29. Pinocchio's tell
5 Across	16. River by the Royal Shakespeare Theatre
6 Across	35. Sweet popcorn coating (4x)
7 Across	22. Cautious
8 Across	17. Enhancing "blemish" (3x)
9 Across	39. Sci-fi pilot ___ Solo
10 Across	62. Bug on a pug

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: "63. Alien incubators in "Invasion of the Body Snatchers""

Helpful hints:

This word has 4 letters
It starts with 'P' and ends with 'S'
Word pattern: P__S

Answer:

Click to reveal

PODS

2 Across: "57. "Unbelievable!" ... or what 17-, 25-, 35- and 46-Across are made from, letter-wise?"

Helpful hints:

This word has 10 letters
It starts with 'S' and ends with 'E'
Word pattern: S________E

Answer:

Click to reveal

SOMEPEOPLE

3 Across: "42. Fred Flintstone's boss at the rock quarry"

Helpful hints:

This word has 7 letters
It starts with 'M' and ends with 'E'
Word pattern: M_____E

Answer:

Click to reveal

MRSLATE

4 Across: "29. Pinocchio's tell"

Helpful hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

NOSE

5 Across: "16. River by the Royal Shakespeare Theatre"

Helpful hints:

This word has 4 letters
It starts with 'A' and ends with 'N'
Word pattern: A__N

Answer:

Click to reveal

AVON

6 Across: "35. Sweet popcorn coating (4x)"

Helpful hints:

This word has 13 letters
It starts with 'S' and ends with 'L'
Word pattern: S___________L

Answer:

Click to reveal

SALTEDCARAMEL

7 Across: "22. Cautious"

Helpful hints:

This word has 4 letters
It starts with 'W' and ends with 'Y'
Word pattern: W__Y

Answer:

Click to reveal

WARY

8 Across: "17. Enhancing "blemish" (3x)"

Helpful hints:

This word has 10 letters
It starts with 'B' and ends with 'K'
Word pattern: B________K

Answer:

Click to reveal

BEAUTYMARK

9 Across: "39. Sci-fi pilot ___ Solo"

Helpful hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

HAN

10 Across: "62. Bug on a pug"

Helpful hints:

This word has 4 letters
It starts with 'F' and ends with 'A'
Word pattern: F__A

Answer:

Click to reveal

FLEA

Down Clues - 10 Total

These clues go from top to bottom in the puzzle.

Down Clues List
Number	Clue
1 Down	43. Herculean tasks
2 Down	45. Sometimes-uncredited appearances
3 Down	44. Almost a quarter of the Super Bowl's run time
4 Down	58. Minecraft resource
5 Down	39. "Well, let me think"
6 Down	50. Free-for-all
7 Down	5. Chichén Itzá builders
8 Down	28. What cards with circles, stars, pluses, squares and wavy lines test for, in brief
9 Down	49. Gift from a teacher's pet
10 Down	59. Command to a jumpy dog

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

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

1 Down: "43. Herculean tasks"

Helpful hints:

This word has 6 letters
It starts with 'L' and ends with 'S'
Word pattern: L____S

Answer:

Click to reveal

LABORS

2 Down: "45. Sometimes-uncredited appearances"

Helpful hints:

This word has 6 letters
It starts with 'C' and ends with 'S'
Word pattern: C____S

Answer:

Click to reveal

CAMEOS

3 Down: "44. Almost a quarter of the Super Bowl's run time"

Helpful hints:

This word has 3 letters
It starts with 'A' and ends with 'S'
Another word like this: advert

Answer:

Click to reveal

ADS

4 Down: "58. Minecraft resource"

Helpful hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

ORE

5 Down: "39. "Well, let me think""

Helpful hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

HMM

6 Down: "50. Free-for-all"

Helpful hints:

This word has 5 letters
It starts with 'M' and ends with 'E'
Word pattern: M___E

Answer:

Click to reveal

MELEE

7 Down: "5. Chichén Itzá builders"

Helpful hints:

This word has 4 letters
It starts with 'M' and ends with 'A'
Word pattern: M__A

Answer:

Click to reveal

MAYA

8 Down: "28. What cards with circles, stars, pluses, squares and wavy lines test for, in brief"

Helpful hints:

This word has 3 letters
It starts with 'E' and ends with 'P'
Another word like this: E.S.P.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ESP

9 Down: "49. Gift from a teacher's pet"

Helpful hints:

This word has 5 letters
It starts with 'A' and ends with 'E'
Word pattern: A___E

Answer:

Click to reveal

APPLE

10 Down: "59. Command to a jumpy dog"

Helpful hints:

This word has 3 letters
It starts with 'O' and ends with 'F'
Another word like this: slay

Answer:

Click to reveal

OFF

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 45 seconds
Difficulty:	Medium

Common Questions About Trivia Week 4

When can I play the Trivia Week 4 Mini?

The Trivia Week 4 puzzle is available at 10 PM Eastern Time the night before.

How fast should I be able to solve Trivia Week 4?

Most people solve the Trivia Week 4 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 4?

No! The Trivia Week 4 NYT Mini is completely free. You don't need a subscription like the big crossword.

What makes a good Trivia Week 4 solver?

Good Trivia Week 4 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 4?

Trivia Week 4 puzzles can vary in difficulty. Saturdays are often the hardest, while Mondays are the easiest.

Search Clues

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

NYT Mini Trivia Week 1 September 02, 2026 - Hints & Answers

About Today's Puzzle

Today's Trivia Week 1 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: "20. Multicolored implements in many art drawers"

2 Across: "28. Muscular part of a marathoner"

3 Across: "34. Make sure not to miss it!"

4 Across: "52. Munificent man"

5 Across: "1. "Melts in your mouth" candies ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme"

6 Across: "14. Mama Morton of "Chicago," for one"

7 Across: "38. Marauder's Map encryption phrase in "Harry Potter""

8 Across: "24. Maroon and mahogany, for two"

9 Across: "17. Much of Mali"

10 Across: "15. Meaning of "mono-""

Down Clues - 10 Total

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

1 Down: "62. Musician Cooke who sang "You Send Me""

2 Down: "56. Miniature maze runners"

3 Down: "58. Medical mass"

4 Down: "10. Musters support for, as a mission"

5 Down: "8. Marmot or marmoset"

6 Down: "48. Military groups that meet in battle"

7 Down: "27. Map word in Marseille"

8 Down: "3. Maximum degree in math"

9 Down: "57. Major misfortunes"

10 Down: "5. Maxims discouraging misconduct"

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 1

When does the Trivia Week 1 Mini go live?

How long should Trivia Week 1 take me?

Is Trivia Week 1 free to play?

What actually makes someone good at Trivia Week 1?

Does Trivia Week 1 get harder as the week goes on?

Sunday, August 30, 2026

NYT Mini Trivia Week 4 August 30, 2026 - Hints & Answers

About Today's Puzzle

Today's Trivia Week 4 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: "26. Discount Chinese e-tailer"

2 Across: "64. Friar with a famous "razor""

3 Across: "100. Join, as two metal surfaces"

4 Across: "93. Discontinued Swedish cars"

5 Across: "31. Pink-slips"

6 Across: "126. Instants"

7 Across: "24. LIAM NEESON"

8 Across: "122. Submitted by the deadline"

9 Across: "68. Turns on the waterworks"

10 Across: "124. Musician/actress Haim"

Down Clues - 10 Total

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

1 Down: "67. Christmas presence?"

2 Down: "95. Withdraw from a union"

3 Down: "23. Mineral that makes cosmetics shimmer"

4 Down: "29. Clear"

5 Down: "6. Like 666, popularly"

6 Down: "94. Periods of 730 days"

7 Down: "1. God, to Bob Marley"

8 Down: "32. Hit a ___"

9 Down: "58. Diva's time to shine"

10 Down: "86. Hostile manner, informally"

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 4