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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.

Saturday, October 17, 2026

Complete Solutions for NYT Mini Trivia Week 3 October 17, 2026

Trivia Week 3 NYT Mini October 17, 2026 Solutions & Guide

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

About Today's Puzzle

NYT Mini Crossword solutions for October 17, 2026 — NYT Mini Crossword Grid - Saturday, October 17, 2026

Puzzle Statistics
Detail	Information
Date	October 17, 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

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

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	37. Give credit to
2 Across	42. It's meant to be believed
3 Across	43. Rich
4 Across	34. "One ___" (Elizabeth Bishop poem that repeats the line "The ___ of losing isn't hard to master")
5 Across	31. Party leader?
6 Across	21. Silicon Valley V.I.P.
7 Across	50. ___ bowl
8 Across	54. ___ mess (British dessert)
9 Across	55. Traditional Passover dish
10 Across	19. Mothers in cotes

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: "37. Give credit to"

Hints:

This one runs 4 letters long.
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
Kicks off with 'C' and wraps up with 'E'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

CITE

2 Across: "42. It's meant to be believed"

Hints:

Starts with 'I', ends with 'M'.
Short form / acronym territory here.
Count on 3 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ISM

3 Across: "43. Rich"

Hints:

You could also think of it as "monied."
If that helps, the shape is: M_____D
It's a 7-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

MONEYED

4 Across: "34. "One _" (Elizabeth Bishop poem that repeats the line "The _ of losing isn't hard to master")"

Hints:

Short form / acronym territory here.
It's a 3-letter word.
Starts with 'A', ends with 'T'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ART

5 Across: "31. Party leader?"

Hints:

First letter's a 'H', last letter's a 'T'.
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
Count on 4 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

HOST

6 Across: "21. Silicon Valley V.I.P."

Hints:

Kicks off with 'T' and wraps up with 'O'.
It's a 7-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

TECHCEO

7 Across: "50. ___ bowl"

Hints:

Starts with 'A', ends with 'I'.
Short form / acronym territory here.
You're looking for 4 letters.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ACAI

8 Across: "54. ___ mess (British dessert)"

Hints:

Starts with 'E', ends with 'N'.
Short form / acronym territory here.
This one runs 4 letters long.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ETON

9 Across: "55. Traditional Passover dish"

Hints:

Pattern-wise it looks like: S________E
Starts with 'S', ends with 'E'.
You're looking for 10 letters.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SEDERPLATE

10 Across: "19. Mothers in cotes"

Hints:

You're looking for 4 letters.
Starts with 'E', ends with 'S'.
Blank it out and you get: E__S

Answer:

Click to reveal

EWES

Down Clues - 10 Total

These run top to bottom in the grid.

Down Clues List
Number	Clue
1 Down	47. Material theorized as a possible cause of ancient Rome's decline, given its widespread use
2 Down	26. Plant parts that develop as a seedling grows
3 Down	14. Just gets (by)
4 Down	2. Line of passengers?
5 Down	35. Relative of turquoise
6 Down	1. Academy figure
7 Down	12. Tunnel (into)
8 Down	40. Like the herbs on a 55-Across
9 Down	31. Poison classification
10 Down	9. Like someone performing a monologue, maybe

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

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

1 Down: "47. Material theorized as a possible cause of ancient Rome's decline, given its widespread use"

Hints:

If that helps, the shape is: L__D
In plain terms: an advantage held by a competitor in a race.
Short form / acronym territory here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

LEAD

2 Down: "26. Plant parts that develop as a seedling grows"

Hints:

Starts with 'T', ends with 'S'.
It's a 10-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

TRUELEAVES

3 Down: "14. Just gets (by)"

Hints:

If that helps, the shape is: E__S
Short form / acronym territory here.
Count on 4 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

EKES

4 Down: "2. Line of passengers?"

Hints:

Count on 10 letters here.
First letter's a 'A', last letter's a 'E'.
Blank it out and you get: A________E

Answer:

Click to reveal

AREWETHERE

5 Down: "35. Relative of turquoise"

Hints:

Short form / acronym territory here.
It's a 4-letter word.
Pattern-wise it looks like: C__N

Answer:

Click to reveal

CYAN

6 Down: "1. Academy figure"

Hints:

You could also think of it as "plebe."
Think of it this way — a military trainee (as at a military academy).
Kicks off with 'C' and wraps up with 'T'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

CADET

7 Down: "12. Tunnel (into)"

Hints:

Pattern-wise it looks like: B__E
Basically, a person who evokes boredom.
Count on 4 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

BORE

8 Down: "40. Like the herbs on a 55-Across"

Hints:

You could also think of it as "acrid."
First letter's a 'B', last letter's a 'R'.
This one runs 6 letters long.

Answer:

Click to reveal

BITTER

9 Down: "31. Poison classification"

Hints:

If that helps, the shape is: H_______L
You're looking for 9 letters.
Starts with 'H', ends with 'L'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

HAIRMETAL

10 Down: "9. Like someone performing a monologue, maybe"

Hints:

Blank it out and you get: S_____T
Starts with 'S', ends with 'T'.
It's a 7-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SPOTLIT

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:	45 seconds
Difficulty:	Easy

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?

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 3 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 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.

Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Today's Trivia Week 2 NYT Mini Crossword October 13, 2026 Answers

NYT Mini Puzzle Trivia Week 2 October 13, 2026 - Solved

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 13, 2026 — NYT Mini Crossword Grid - Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Puzzle Statistics
Detail	Information
Date	October 13, 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

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

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	43. Jennifer who wrote "A Visit From the Goon Squad"
2 Across	56. –
3 Across	5. Spongy wetlands
4 Across	21. Shindig for someone to announce whether they're having a boy or a girl
5 Across	36. Shindig for someone settling into a new home
6 Across	31. Go downhill fast
7 Across	17. Optional mission in a video game
8 Across	67. –
9 Across	14. Engrave
10 Across	63. Lunchroom

Hints and Answers for Across Clues

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

1 Across: "43. Jennifer who wrote "A Visit From the Goon Squad""

Hints:

This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
First letter's a 'E', last letter's a 'N'.
It's a 4-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

EGAN

2 Across: "56. –"

Hints:

Think of it this way — a plumbing fixture that sprays water over you.
Close enough in meaning: lavish.
First letter's a 'S', last letter's a 'R'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SHOWER

3 Across: "5. Spongy wetlands"

Hints:

Close enough in meaning: bog.
Count on 4 letters here.
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

BOGS

4 Across: "21. Shindig for someone to announce whether they're having a boy or a girl"

Hints:

It's a 6-letter word.
First letter's a 'G', last letter's a 'R'.
'sex' points in the same direction.

Answer:

Click to reveal

GENDER

5 Across: "36. Shindig for someone settling into a new home"

Hints:

You're looking for 5 letters.
First letter's a 'H', last letter's a 'E'.
'firm' points in the same direction.

Answer:

Click to reveal

HOUSE

6 Across: "31. Go downhill fast"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

SKI

7 Across: "17. Optional mission in a video game"

Hints:

Starts with 'S', ends with 'T'.
Count on 9 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SIDEQUEST

8 Across: "67. –"

Hints:

Starts with 'P', ends with 'Y'.
Close enough in meaning: company.
Basically, an organization to gain political power.

Answer:

Click to reveal

PARTY

9 Across: "14. Engrave"

Hints:

This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
You could also think of it as "engrave."
In plain terms: make an etching of.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ETCH

10 Across: "63. Lunchroom"

Hints:

Pattern-wise it looks like: C_______A
Starts with 'C', ends with 'A'.
This one runs 9 letters long.

Answer:

Click to reveal

CAFETERIA

Down Clues - 10 Total

These run top to bottom in the grid.

Down Clues List
Number	Clue
1 Down	21. Boss, in Britain
2 Down	54. "Take me ___"
3 Down	3. High-def flat screen, for short
4 Down	41. Those going along with others' unhealthy habits
5 Down	24. Major Iraqi port city
6 Down	53. Second-largest city in Northern Ireland
7 Down	39. "'Tis entirely likely"
8 Down	47. Negative connector
9 Down	44. Item worn with a hazmat suit
10 Down	11. Longtime Yankee slugger, familiarly

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

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

1 Down: "21. Boss, in Britain"

Hints:

It's a 3-letter word.
First letter's a 'G', last letter's a 'V'.
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

GUV

2 Down: "54. "Take me ___""

Hints:

Starts with 'A', ends with 'M'.
Count on 5 letters here.
Pattern-wise it looks like: A___M

Answer:

Click to reveal

ASIAM

3 Down: "3. High-def flat screen, for short"

Hints:

First letter's a 'L', last letter's a 'V'.
If that helps, the shape is: L___V
Count on 5 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

LCDTV

4 Down: "41. Those going along with others' unhealthy habits"

Hints:

This one runs 8 letters long.
First letter's a 'E', last letter's a 'S'.
If that helps, the shape is: E______S

Answer:

Click to reveal

ENABLERS

5 Down: "24. Major Iraqi port city"

Hints:

'Basia' points in the same direction.
Pattern-wise it looks like: B___A
You're looking for 5 letters.

Answer:

Click to reveal

BASRA

6 Down: "53. Second-largest city in Northern Ireland"

Hints:

Count on 5 letters here.
Pattern-wise it looks like: D___Y
Starts with 'D', ends with 'Y'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

DERRY

7 Down: "39. "'Tis entirely likely""

Hints:

First letter's a 'I', last letter's a 'Y'.
This one runs 8 letters long.

Answer:

Click to reveal

IDARESAY

8 Down: "47. Negative connector"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

NOR

9 Down: "44. Item worn with a hazmat suit"

Hints:

Starts with 'G', ends with 'K'.
Blank it out and you get: G_____K
Count on 7 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

GASMASK

10 Down: "11. Longtime Yankee slugger, familiarly"

Hints:

This one runs 4 letters long.
First letter's a 'A', last letter's a 'D'.
Pattern-wise it looks like: A__D

Answer:

Click to reveal

AROD

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:	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?

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.

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.

Search Clues

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?

Saturday, October 17, 2026

Complete Solutions for NYT Mini Trivia Week 3 October 17, 2026

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: "37. Give credit to"

2 Across: "42. It's meant to be believed"

3 Across: "43. Rich"

4 Across: "34. "One ___" (Elizabeth Bishop poem that repeats the line "The ___ of losing isn't hard to master")"

5 Across: "31. Party leader?"

6 Across: "21. Silicon Valley V.I.P."

7 Across: "50. ___ bowl"

8 Across: "54. ___ mess (British dessert)"

9 Across: "55. Traditional Passover dish"

10 Across: "19. Mothers in cotes"

Down Clues - 10 Total

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

1 Down: "47. Material theorized as a possible cause of ancient Rome's decline, given its widespread use"

2 Down: "26. Plant parts that develop as a seedling grows"

3 Down: "14. Just gets (by)"

4 Down: "2. Line of passengers?"

5 Down: "35. Relative of turquoise"

6 Down: "1. Academy figure"

7 Down: "12. Tunnel (into)"

8 Down: "40. Like the herbs on a 55-Across"

9 Down: "31. Poison classification"

10 Down: "9. Like someone performing a monologue, maybe"

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

4 Across: "34. "One _" (Elizabeth Bishop poem that repeats the line "The _ of losing isn't hard to master")"