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.
Popular Puzzles: February 24 2020 NYT Clues Solutions | Xwordhint Crossword Answers December 08 | March 24 2021 NYT Clues Solutions |
About Today's Puzzle
| 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.
| 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.
| 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:
- April 12 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
- July 09 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
- Xwordhint Crossword Answers October 05
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
EKED2 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
MOTTO3 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
SHEENS4 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
SPA5 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
SPHINX6 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
EDGERS7 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
SPEND8 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
EDITOR9 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
BUILD10 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
ATSEADown Clues - 10 Total
These run top to bottom in the grid.
| 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:
- December 26 2019 NYT Clues Solutions
- November 13 2020 NYT Clues Solutions
- March 24 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
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
PEAPODS2 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
TAKENABACK3 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
DMS4 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
ODEA5 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
SURE6 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
FADES7 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
MOCS8 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
REDD9 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
ROTH10 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
GOTTIHow 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
| 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.
