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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.

Monday, October 12, 2026

Trivia Week 2 October 12, 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 October 12, 2026 — NYT Mini Crossword Grid - Monday, October 12, 2026

Puzzle Statistics
Detail	Information
Date	October 12, 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	41. "No ___, no foul"
2 Across	22. Mail carrier's assignment: Abbr.
3 Across	1. "Let's not forget ..."
4 Across	58. Positioned precariously ... or where the ends of 16-, 24-, 35- and 49-Across can all be found
5 Across	66. ___ off (miffed)
6 Across	18. God with a bow and arrow
7 Across	48. Furious
8 Across	30. Quick kiss
9 Across	13. Close by
10 Across	20. Investment option for old age, in brief

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: "41. "No ___, no foul""

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

HARM

2 Across: "22. Mail carrier's assignment: Abbr."

Hints:

Short form / acronym territory here.
You're looking for 3 letters.
Starts with 'R', ends with 'E'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

RTE

3 Across: "1. "Let's not forget ...""

Hints:

This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
Close enough in meaning: besides.
Pattern-wise it looks like: A__O

Answer:

Click to reveal

ALSO

4 Across: "58. Positioned precariously ... or where the ends of 16-, 24-, 35- and 49-Across can all be found"

Hints:

First letter's a 'O', last letter's a 'B'.
It's a 10-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

OUTONALIMB

5 Across: "66. ___ off (miffed)"

Hints:

Starts with 'T', ends with 'D'.
You could also think of it as "tee up."
Short form / acronym territory here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

TEED

6 Across: "18. God with a bow and arrow"

Hints:

Blank it out and you get: E__S
First letter's a 'E', last letter's a 'S'.
Count on 4 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

EROS

7 Across: "48. Furious"

Hints:

Kicks off with 'M' and wraps up with 'D'.
Count on 3 letters here.
Think of it this way — roused to anger; - Mark Twain.

Answer:

Click to reveal

MAD

8 Across: "30. Quick kiss"

Hints:

Kicks off with 'P' and wraps up with 'K'.
'lot' points in the same direction.
Count on 4 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

PECK

9 Across: "13. Close by"

Hints:

Pattern-wise it looks like: N__R
Close enough in meaning: about.
Basically, move towards.

Answer:

Click to reveal

NEAR

10 Across: "20. Investment option for old age, in brief"

Hints:

Starts with 'I', ends with 'A'.
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
Close enough in meaning: anger.

Answer:

Click to reveal

IRA

Down Clues - 10 Total

These run top to bottom in the grid.

Down Clues List
Number	Clue
1 Down	24. ___ Marian, Robin Hood's beloved
2 Down	26. Sound from the horse's mouth
3 Down	36. Follows an order
4 Down	4. "Citizen Kane" director Welles
5 Down	60. Anxious condition, in brief
6 Down	50. Give a leg up
7 Down	57. Residue on a grill
8 Down	6. Astounded state
9 Down	55. Squid's defensive output
10 Down	12. City map next to a state map, e.g.

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

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

1 Down: "24. ___ Marian, Robin Hood's beloved"

Hints:

First letter's a 'M', last letter's a 'D'.
Close enough in meaning: maiden.
Count on 4 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

MAID

2 Down: "26. Sound from the horse's mouth"

Hints:

'whicker' points in the same direction.
First letter's a 'N', last letter's a 'H'.
If that helps, the shape is: N___H

Answer:

Click to reveal

NEIGH

3 Down: "36. Follows an order"

Hints:

Pattern-wise it looks like: O___S
Kicks off with 'O' and wraps up with 'S'.
Close enough in meaning: obey.

Answer:

Click to reveal

OBEYS

4 Down: "4. "Citizen Kane" director Welles"

Hints:

Count on 5 letters here.
Starts with 'O', ends with 'N'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ORSON

5 Down: "60. Anxious condition, in brief"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

OCD

6 Down: "50. Give a leg up"

Hints:

You could also think of it as "hike."
It's a 5-letter word.
First letter's a 'B', last letter's a 'T'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

BOOST

7 Down: "57. Residue on a grill"

Hints:

Starts with 'A', ends with 'H'.
In plain terms: the residue that remains when something is burned.
Short form / acronym territory here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ASH

8 Down: "6. Astounded state"

Hints:

Short form / acronym territory here.
Think of it this way — an overwhelming feeling of wonder or admiration.
Close enough in meaning: fear.

Answer:

Click to reveal

AWE

9 Down: "55. Squid's defensive output"

Hints:

Starts with 'I', ends with 'K'.
Basically, a liquid used for printing or writing or drawing.
This one runs 3 letters long.

Answer:

Click to reveal

INK

10 Down: "12. City map next to a state map, e.g."

Hints:

You could also think of it as "gusset."
Blank it out and you get: I___T
Count on 5 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

INSET

How to Solve the NYT Mini Crossword Faster

Some habits that speed things up over time:

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:	52 seconds
Difficulty:	Normal

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?

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

What actually makes someone good at Trivia Week 2?

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

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.

Saturday, October 10, 2026

Trivia Week 2 NYT Mini October 10, 2026 Solutions & Guide

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 10, 2026 — NYT Mini Crossword Grid - Saturday, October 10, 2026

Puzzle Statistics
Detail	Information
Date	October 10, 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

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

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	40. Member of the winning 2025 Super Bowl team
2 Across	26. Office building abbr.
3 Across	20. Peak overlooking the Grindelwald Valley
4 Across	57. Played by oneself
5 Across	62. Hide, in a way, as a communication
6 Across	23. Frito ___ (Tex-Mex dish)
7 Across	59. Animated character with a signature quiff hairstyle
8 Across	22. Do a bad job of helping?
9 Across	64. Became the beneficiary of
10 Across	17. Like Hamlet, Macbeth and King Lear

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: "40. Member of the winning 2025 Super Bowl team"

Hints:

You're looking for 5 letters.
First letter's a 'E', last letter's a 'E'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

EAGLE

2 Across: "26. Office building abbr."

Hints:

Count on 3 letters here.
First letter's a 'S', last letter's a 'E'.
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

STE

3 Across: "20. Peak overlooking the Grindelwald Valley"

Hints:

First letter's a 'E', last letter's a 'R'.
It's a 5-letter word.
If that helps, the shape is: E___R

Answer:

Click to reveal

EIGER

4 Across: "57. Played by oneself"

Hints:

You're looking for 8 letters.
Starts with 'H', ends with 'O'.
Pattern-wise it looks like: H______O

Answer:

Click to reveal

HADASOLO

5 Across: "62. Hide, in a way, as a communication"

Hints:

Starts with 'E', ends with 'E'.
Think of it this way — convert information into code.
This one runs 6 letters long.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ENCODE

6 Across: "23. Frito ___ (Tex-Mex dish)"

Hints:

Short form / acronym territory here.
This one runs 3 letters long.
Starts with 'P', ends with 'E'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

PIE

7 Across: "59. Animated character with a signature quiff hairstyle"

Hints:

Pattern-wise it looks like: T____N
Count on 6 letters here.
First letter's a 'T', last letter's a 'N'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

TINTIN

8 Across: "22. Do a bad job of helping?"

Hints:

In plain terms: assist or encourage.
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
Starts with 'A', ends with 'T'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ABET

9 Across: "64. Became the beneficiary of"

Hints:

'reap' points in the same direction.
In plain terms: gather.
You're looking for 6 letters.

Answer:

Click to reveal

REAPED

10 Across: "17. Like Hamlet, Macbeth and King Lear"

Hints:

Blank it out and you get: T____C
It's a 6-letter word.
First letter's a 'T', last letter's a 'C'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

TRAGIC

Down Clues - 10 Total

These run top to bottom in the grid.

Down Clues List
Number	Clue
1 Down	54. Danny who was UNICEF's's first goodwill ambassador
2 Down	5. Prefix with dermis
3 Down	29. Walt Disney initially designed it as a utopian city
4 Down	38. 1980s chart-topping band with a semi-duplicative name
5 Down	32. Refueling spot
6 Down	2. Kind of student
7 Down	3. In free fall
8 Down	14. "Buona ___" (bedtime words in Roma)
9 Down	33. Where a wallflower often stands
10 Down	13. Start

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

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

1 Down: "54. Danny who was UNICEF's's first goodwill ambassador"

Hints:

Count on 4 letters here.
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
Kicks off with 'K' and wraps up with 'E'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

KAYE

2 Down: "5. Prefix with dermis"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

EPI

3 Down: "29. Walt Disney initially designed it as a utopian city"

Hints:

Starts with 'E', ends with 'T'.
You're looking for 5 letters.
Blank it out and you get: E___T

Answer:

Click to reveal

EPCOT

4 Down: "38. 1980s chart-topping band with a semi-duplicative name"

Hints:

Kicks off with 'M' and wraps up with 'R'.
Pattern-wise it looks like: M______R
It's a 8-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

MRMISTER

5 Down: "32. Refueling spot"

Hints:

Count on 9 letters here.
Kicks off with 'T' and wraps up with 'P'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

TRUCKSTOP

6 Down: "2. Kind of student"

Hints:

First letter's a 'S', last letter's a 'A'.
This one runs 9 letters long.

Answer:

Click to reveal

STRAIGHTA

7 Down: "3. In free fall"

Hints:

This one runs 9 letters long.
Kicks off with 'C' and wraps up with 'G'.
If that helps, the shape is: C_______G

Answer:

Click to reveal

CRATERING

8 Down: "14. "Buona ___" (bedtime words in Roma)"

Hints:

Kicks off with 'N' and wraps up with 'E'.
Blank it out and you get: N___E
This one runs 5 letters long.

Answer:

Click to reveal

NOTTE

9 Down: "33. Where a wallflower often stands"

Hints:

You're looking for 9 letters.
Starts with 'T', ends with 'E'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

TOTHESIDE

10 Down: "13. Start"

Hints:

Kicks off with 'O' and wraps up with 'T'.
Count on 5 letters here.
'onrush' points in the same direction.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ONSET

How to Solve the NYT Mini Crossword Faster

Some habits that speed things up over time:

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:	58 seconds
Difficulty:	Normal

Common Questions About Trivia Week 2

When does the Trivia Week 2 Mini go live?

Typically drops the evening before, around 10 PM ET.

How long should Trivia Week 2 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 2 free to play?

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

What actually makes someone good at Trivia Week 2?

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

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.

Friday, October 9, 2026

XWordHint Crossword Answers October 09, 2026 | Expert Breakdown & Tips

Master today's NYT crossword with our expert hint system. We provide synonyms, antonyms, and strategic clues to help you solve without spoiling the fun. Perfect for crossword lovers who want that satisfying "aha!" moment.

October 09, 2026 NYT Crossword Solutions

Today's Puzzle Difficulty: Moderate

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

Across Clues - Complete List

No.	Clue	Letters
1A	1. Mensches	9
2A	10. "Super Dry" brewer	5
3A	15. Visual aid with a three-dimensional aspect	9
4A	16. Persona non grata	5
5A	17. By an even stronger argument, at law	9
6A	18. Stars to gaze up at	5
7A	19. Not mad	4
8A	20. Squishy projectile	8
9A	22. Cackling carnivores	6
10A	25. World's third-largest river by discharge, after the Amazon and the Congo	7
11A	27. Miserly sorts, informally	8
12A	30. Rift	3
13A	31. Like a certain artery	8
14A	32. Mango leftovers	4
15A	33. The astronomer Tycho Brahe, for one	4
16A	34. Org. concerned with screenings	3
17A	35. Wine leftovers	4
18A	36. ___ Kar-wai, acclaimed Hong Kong filmmaker behind 1994's "Chungking Express"	4
19A	37. Hounds that can run up to 35 m.p.h.	8
20A	39. It's mine, all mine!	3
21A	40. NPR program since 1987	8
22A	41. Two aces, say	7
23A	43. Kind of roll	6
24A	47. Comfortable	8
25A	50. "Do I ___ to eat a peach?": T.S. Eliot	4
26A	51. Record of the year?	5
27A	52. Drawing on another's life	9
28A	55. Handle	5
29A	56. Much-anticipated rivalry game in soccer's La Liga	9
30A	57. Hidden element of FedEx's logo	5
31A	58. Extremely difficult and ultimately futile	9

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. Mensches"

9 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

Pattern: _________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: CLASSACTS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "10. "Super Dry" brewer"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ASAHI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "15. Visual aid with a three-dimensional aspect"

9 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

Pattern: _________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: RELIEFMAP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "16. Persona non grata"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

Think of something that a person afflicted with leprosy
Similar words include: lazar
Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: LEPER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "17. By an even stronger argument, at law"

9 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

Pattern: _________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: AFORTIORI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "18. Stars to gaze up at"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

Think of something that a material effigy that is worshipped
Similar words include: matinee idol, perfection, idol
Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: IDOLS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "19. Not mad"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

Think of something that mentally healthy; free from mental disorder
Similar words include: reasonable
Opposite of: insane

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SANE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "20. Squishy projectile"

8 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

Pattern: ________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: NERFBALL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "22. Cackling carnivores"

6 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

Think of something that doglike nocturnal mammal of africa and southern asia that feeds chiefly on carrion
Similar words include: hyena, hyaena
Pattern: ______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: HYENAS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "25. World's third-largest river by discharge, after the Amazon and the Congo"

7 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

Think of something that a south american river 1,500 miles long; flows into the south atlantic
Similar words include: Orinoco River
Pattern: _______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ORINOCO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "27. Miserly sorts, informally"

8 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

Think of something that a selfish person who is unwilling to give or spend
Similar words include: niggard, scrooge, churl
Pattern: ________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SCROOGES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "30. Rift"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

Think of something that a conspicuous disparity or difference as between two figures
Similar words include: spread, break, col
Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: GAP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "31. Like a certain artery"

8 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

Think of something that obstruction of blood flow in a coronary artery by a blood clot (thrombus)
Similar words include: coronary thrombosis
Pattern: ________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: CORONARY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "32. Mango leftovers"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

Think of something that a sizeable hole (usually in the ground)
Similar words include: quarry, cavity, pit
Opposite of: Heaven

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: PITS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "33. The astronomer Tycho Brahe, for one"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

Think of something that a native or inhabitant of denmark
Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: DANE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "34. Org. concerned with screenings"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

Think of something that an agency established in 2001 to safeguard united states transportation systems and insure safe air travel
Similar words include: Transportation Security Administration
Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: TSA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "35. Wine leftovers"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

Think of something that the sediment from fermentation of an alcoholic beverage
Similar words include: Spike Lee, Gypsy Rose Lee, Henry Lee
Opposite of: windward

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: LEES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "36. ___ Kar-wai, acclaimed Hong Kong filmmaker behind 1994's "Chungking Express""

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: WONG

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "37. Hounds that can run up to 35 m.p.h."

8 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

Think of something that small slender dog of greyhound type developed in england
Similar words include: whippet
Pattern: ________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: WHIPPETS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "39. It's mine, all mine!"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

Think of something that an inflated feeling of pride in your superiority to others
Similar words include: self, egotism, self-importance
Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: EGO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "40. NPR program since 1987"

8 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

Pattern: ________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: FRESHAIR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "41. Two aces, say"

7 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

Pattern: _______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: TOPPAIR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "43. Kind of roll"

6 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

Think of something that the title of the holy roman emperors or the emperors of austria or of germany until 1918
Pattern: ______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: KAISER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "47. Comfortable"

8 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

Pattern: ________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: WELLTODO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "50. "Do I ___ to eat a peach?": T.S. Eliot"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

Think of something that a challenge to do something dangerous or foolhardy
Similar words include: defy, presume, daring
Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: DARE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "51. Record of the year?"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ANNAL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "52. Drawing on another's life"

9 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

Think of something that relating to or caused by parasites
Similar words include: parasitical, bloodsucking, epenthetic
Pattern: _________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: PARASITIC

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "55. Handle"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SEETO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "56. Much-anticipated rivalry game in soccer's La Liga"

9 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

Pattern: _________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ELCLASICO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "57. Hidden element of FedEx's logo"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

Think of something that a mark to indicate a direction or relation
Similar words include: pointer
Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ARROW

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "58. Extremely difficult and ultimately futile"

9 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

Think of something that of or relating to sisyphus
Pattern: _________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SISYPHEAN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No.	Clue	Letters
1D	1. Hit the hay hard	5
2D	2. Morgan ___, sorceress in King Arthur stories	5
3D	3. Not having company	5
4D	4. What Odysseus' crew waxed on about?	9
5D	5. Mahjong grouping	3
6D	6. Org. concerned with screenings	3
7D	7. "Really?!"	4
8D	8. Zero out, in a way	4
9D	9. Device geared to draw rotationally symmetrical shapes	10
10D	10. Accounts for checking?	6
11D	11. Compact, maybe	5
12D	12. "My mistake"	9
13D	13. Some Navy aircraft during W.W. II	8
14D	14. Org. requiring crypto disclosures beginning in 2025	3
15D	21. Glenn who co-founded the Eagles	4
16D	23. A lot of lot	4
17D	24. Broadway show inits.	3
18D	26. Psy-___	3
19D	28. Near failure, colloquially	10
20D	29. Fertile place	5
21D	31. Swiss Army knife component	9
22D	32. Aid for someone studying a culture	9
23D	33. One who regularly takes a best friend out?	8
24D	35. Princess who says "Governor Tarkin! I should have expected to find you holding Vader's leash. I recognized your foul stench when I was brought on board"	4
25D	36. Like some noodles and martinis	3
26D	37. Habeas corpus, e.g.	4
27D	38. Cricket's Men in Green, on scoreboards	3
28D	40. Dormant	6
29D	42. Student of Socrates	5
30D	44. "Gymnopédies" composer	5
31D	45. Jong who wrote "Fear of Flying"	5
32D	46. Scouting trip	5
33D	48. Artist with an absurdist humor book all about his mustache	4
34D	49. Sauron's soldiers in "The Lord of the Rings"	4
35D	51. ___ team	3
36D	53. Gymnast Raisman	3
37D	54. Enervate	3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. Hit the hay hard"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

Think of something that a loud resonant repeating noise
Similar words include: collapse, doss down, ram
Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: CRASH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Morgan ___, sorceress in King Arthur stories"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: LEFAY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Not having company"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

Think of something that isolated from others
Similar words include: exclusively, lonely, solitary
Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ALONE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. What Odysseus' crew waxed on about?"

9 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

Pattern: _________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SIRENSONG

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. Mahjong grouping"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

Think of something that a group of things of the same kind that belong together and are so used
Similar words include: limit, go under, determine
Opposite of: rise

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SET

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Org. concerned with screenings"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: AFI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. "Really?!""

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: CMON

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. Zero out, in a way"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

Think of something that an adjustment made for the weight of the packaging in order to determine the net weight of the goods
Similar words include: darnel, bearded darnel, Lolium temulentum
Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: TARE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. Device geared to draw rotationally symmetrical shapes"

10 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

Think of something that a measuring instrument for recording the depth and rapidity of breathing movements
Pattern: __________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SPIROGRAPH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. Accounts for checking?"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

Think of something that (law) a defense by an accused person purporting to show that he or she could not have committed the crime in question
Similar words include: self-justification, alibi, excuse
Pattern: ______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ALIBIS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. Compact, maybe"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

Think of something that a car that is closed and that has front and rear seats and two or four doors
Similar words include: sedan chair, saloon
Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SEDAN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. "My mistake""

9 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

Think of something that an expression of regret at having caused trouble for someone
Similar words include: apology, excuse, apologia
Pattern: _________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: APOLOGIES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "13. Some Navy aircraft during W.W. II"

8 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

Think of something that a malicious woman with a fierce temper
Similar words include: vixen, harpy, hellcat
Pattern: ________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: HELLCATS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14D: "14. Org. requiring crypto disclosures beginning in 2025"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

Think of something that the bureau of the treasury department responsible for tax collections
Similar words include: Internal Revenue Service
Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: IRS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "21. Glenn who co-founded the Eagles"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

Think of something that (norse mythology) god of earth's fertility and peace and prosperity; son of njorth and brother of freya; originally of the vanir; later with the aesir
Similar words include: Freyr
Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: FREY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "23. A lot of lot"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

Think of something that a unit of area (4840 square yards) used in english-speaking countries
Similar words include: Akko, Akka, Accho
Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ACRE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "24. Broadway show inits."

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SRO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "26. Psy-___"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

Think of something that (roman mythology) goddess of abundance and fertility; wife of saturn; counterpart of greek rhea and cybele of ancient asia minor
Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: OPS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "28. Near failure, colloquially"

10 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

Pattern: __________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ONTHEROPES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "29. Fertile place"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

Think of something that a fertile tract in a desert (where the water table approaches the surface)
Similar words include: haven
Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: OASIS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "31. Swiss Army knife component"

9 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

Pattern: _________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: CANOPENER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "32. Aid for someone studying a culture"

9 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

Pattern: _________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: PETRIDISH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "33. One who regularly takes a best friend out?"

8 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

Pattern: ________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: DOGOWNER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "35. Princess who says "Governor Tarkin! I should have expected to find you holding Vader's leash. I recognized your foul stench when I was brought on board""

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: LEIA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "36. Like some noodles and martinis"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

Think of something that wetness caused by water
Similar words include: besotted, pie-eyed, soaked
Opposite of: dry

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: WET

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "37. Habeas corpus, e.g."

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

Think of something that (law) a legal document issued by a court or judicial officer
Similar words include: judicial writ
Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: WRIT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "38. Cricket's Men in Green, on scoreboards"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: PAK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "40. Dormant"

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

Think of something that cultivated land that is not seeded for one or more growing seasons
Pattern: ______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: FALLOW

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "42. Student of Socrates"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

Think of something that ancient athenian philosopher; pupil of socrates; teacher of aristotle (428-347 bc)
Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: PLATO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "44. "Gymnopédies" composer"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

Think of something that french composer noted for his experimentalism and rejection of romanticism (1866-1925)
Similar words include: Erik Satie, Erik Alfred Leslie Satie
Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SATIE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31D: "45. Jong who wrote "Fear of Flying""

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

Think of something that any plant of the genus erica
Similar words include: true heath
Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ERICA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32D: "46. Scouting trip"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: RECON

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33D: "48. Artist with an absurdist humor book all about his mustache"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

Think of something that surrealist spanish painter (1904-1989)
Similar words include: Salvador Dali
Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: DALI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34D: "49. Sauron's soldiers in "The Lord of the Rings""

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ORCS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35D: "51. ___ team"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ASA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36D: "53. Gymnast Raisman"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ALY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37D: "54. Enervate"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

Think of something that a watery solution of sugars, salts, and minerals that circulates through the vascular system of a plant
Similar words include: muggins, run down, tire
Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SAP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Expert Solving Strategies

Start Smart

Begin with fill-in-the-blank clues and short 3-4 letter words. These are your foundation.

Decode the Clues

Question marks indicate wordplay or puns. "Maybe" suggests multiple interpretations.

Use Cross-References

Let intersecting letters guide you. One correct answer unlocks several others.

Build Vocabulary

Common crossword words repeat. Learning them speeds up future solving.

Today's Puzzle Stats

31 Across Clues

37 Down Clues

68 Total Clues

More NYT Crossword Help

Looking for more puzzle solutions? Check out our comprehensive archive of NYT crossword hints and answers. We update daily with expert analysis and solving strategies.

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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

When does the Trivia Week 3 Mini go live?

How long should Trivia Week 3 take me?

Is Trivia Week 3 free to play?

What actually makes someone good at Trivia Week 3?

Does Trivia Week 3 get harder as the week goes on?

Monday, October 12, 2026

Trivia Week 2 October 12, 2026 NYT Mini Crossword Hints

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: "41. "No ___, no foul""

2 Across: "22. Mail carrier's assignment: Abbr."

3 Across: "1. "Let's not forget ...""

4 Across: "58. Positioned precariously ... or where the ends of 16-, 24-, 35- and 49-Across can all be found"

5 Across: "66. ___ off (miffed)"

6 Across: "18. God with a bow and arrow"

7 Across: "48. Furious"

8 Across: "30. Quick kiss"

9 Across: "13. Close by"

10 Across: "20. Investment option for old age, in brief"

Down Clues - 10 Total

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

1 Down: "24. ___ Marian, Robin Hood's beloved"

2 Down: "26. Sound from the horse's mouth"

3 Down: "36. Follows an order"

4 Down: "4. "Citizen Kane" director Welles"

5 Down: "60. Anxious condition, in brief"

6 Down: "50. Give a leg up"

7 Down: "57. Residue on a grill"

8 Down: "6. Astounded state"

9 Down: "55. Squid's defensive output"

10 Down: "12. City map next to a state map, e.g."

How to Solve the NYT Mini Crossword Faster

Step-by-Step Strategy

Letter Tips That Really Help

Time Goals to Aim For

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