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Friday, August 15, 2025

NYT Crossword ACROSS Clues Only | August 15 Horizontal Answers

NYT Crossword ACROSS Clues Only - Friday, August 15, 2025

Today's Across-Only Focus

Complete analysis of all 33 ACROSS clues from today's New York Times crossword puzzle. This across-only format helps solvers focus exclusively on horizontal entries, perfect for those who prefer to tackle one direction at a time.

Across Clues Statistics

Statistical Overview - Across Entries Only
Metric Value Details
Total Across Clues 33 All horizontal entries
Total Letters (Across) 191 Combined letter count
Average Word Length 5.8 Letters per answer
Shortest Answer 3 letters Minimum length
Longest Answer 15 letters Maximum length
Unique Letters Used 23 Distinct letters in across

Letter Frequency Analysis - Across Answers Only

Top 15 Most Frequent Letters in Today's Across Answers
E 25
13.09%
S 21
10.99%
A 17
8.9%
O 15
7.85%
T 14
7.33%
I 9
4.71%
N 9
4.71%
C 8
4.19%
D 8
4.19%
H 8
4.19%
L 8
4.19%
P 8
4.19%
R 8
4.19%
B 7
3.66%
M 7
3.66%

Difficulty Distribution of Across Clues

Difficulty Level Count Percentage Visual Representation
Easy 4 12.1%
Medium 20 60.6%
Hard 4 12.1%
Expert 5 15.2%

Complete List of Across Clues - All 33 Entries

Today's Across Clues with Comprehensive Hints
# Clue Length Category Hints & Tips Answer
1A 1. Like the culture depicted in Safiya Sinclair's best-selling memoir "How to Say Babylon" 5 General Knowledge
  • Pattern: R___A (First: R, Last: A)
  • Contains 2 vowels and 3 consonants
  • Related words: Rastafarian
Show Answer

RASTA

2A 6. English translation of the Dutch "klompen" 5 General Knowledge
  • Pattern: C___S (First: C, Last: S)
  • Contains 1 vowels and 4 consonants
  • Related words: choke off, clog up
Show Answer

CLOGS

3A 11. Robotic error message 14 Long Phrase
  • Pattern: D____________E (First: D, Last: E)
  • Contains 6 vowels and 8 consonants
  • Longer answer - might be a phrase
Show Answer

DOESNOTCOMPUTE

4A 15. Sooner rather than later 15 Long Phrase
  • Pattern: I_____________E (First: I, Last: E)
  • Contains 7 vowels and 8 consonants
  • Longer answer - might be a phrase
Show Answer

INTHENEARFUTURE

5A 17. Preps for a photo shoot, say 6 General Knowledge
  • Pattern: S____S (First: S, Last: S)
  • Contains 1 vowels and 5 consonants
  • Related words: mode, flair
Show Answer

STYLES

6A 18. Rest areas 4 General Knowledge
  • Pattern: S__S (First: S, Last: S)
  • Contains 1 vowels and 3 consonants
  • Related words: health spa, resort hotel
Show Answer

SPAS

7A 19. Engage in pugilism 3 Short Word
  • Pattern: B_X (First: B, Last: X)
  • Contains 1 vowels and 2 consonants
  • Related words: boxful, corner
Show Answer

BOX

8A 20. Rock alternative 5 General Knowledge
  • Pattern: P___R (First: P, Last: R)
  • Contains 2 vowels and 3 consonants
  • Related words: newspaper, composition
Show Answer

PAPER

9A 21. X, as in Mexico 4 General Knowledge
  • Pattern: B__O (First: B, Last: O)
  • Contains 2 vowels and 2 consonants
Show Answer

BESO

10A 22. In 4 General Knowledge
  • Pattern: C__C (First: C, Last: C)
  • Contains 1 vowels and 3 consonants
  • Related words: stylishness, smartness
Show Answer

CHIC

11A 23. Touching event? 4 Wordplay/Pun
  • Pattern: E__E (First: E, Last: E)
  • Contains 3 vowels and 1 consonants
  • Meaning: a fencing sword similar to a foil but with a heavier blade...
Show Answer

EPEE

12A 24. Forecast 4 General Knowledge
  • Pattern: B__E (First: B, Last: E)
  • Contains 2 vowels and 2 consonants
  • Related words: prognosticate, portend
Show Answer

BODE

13A 25. Some like it hot 5 General Knowledge
  • Pattern: S___E (First: S, Last: E)
  • Contains 3 vowels and 2 consonants
  • Meaning: flavorful relish or dressing or topping served as an accompaniment to food...
Show Answer

SAUCE

14A 26. Didn't follow 3 Short Word
  • Pattern: L_D (First: L, Last: D)
  • Contains 1 vowels and 2 consonants
  • Related words: go, pass
Show Answer

LED

15A 27. Itsy-bitsy 4 General Knowledge
  • Pattern: M__I (First: M, Last: I)
  • Contains 2 vowels and 2 consonants
  • Related words: miniskirt
Show Answer

MINI

16A 28. Like one part of the SAT 6 General Knowledge
  • Pattern: V____L (First: V, Last: L)
  • Contains 2 vowels and 4 consonants
  • Opposite of: numerical
Show Answer

VERBAL

17A 29. Typical yearbook photos 9 Entertainment
  • Pattern: H_______S (First: H, Last: S)
  • Contains 3 vowels and 6 consonants
  • Related words: headshot
Show Answer

HEADSHOTS

18A 31. Sisal and others 6 General Knowledge
  • Pattern: F____S (First: F, Last: S)
  • Contains 2 vowels and 4 consonants
  • Related words: roughage, fibre
Show Answer

FIBERS

19A 34. It can add up 4 General Knowledge
  • Pattern: M__H (First: M, Last: H)
  • Contains 1 vowels and 3 consonants
  • Related words: maths, mathematics
Show Answer

MATH

20A 35. A real piece of work 3 Short Word
  • Pattern: J_B (First: J, Last: B)
  • Contains 1 vowels and 2 consonants
  • Related words: farm out, business
Show Answer

JOB

21A 38. That feeling "when the world seems to shine like you've had too much wine" 5 General Knowledge
  • Pattern: A___E (First: A, Last: E)
  • Contains 3 vowels and 2 consonants
Show Answer

AMORE

22A 39. Word before piece and after peace 4 General Knowledge
  • Pattern: T__E (First: T, Last: E)
  • Contains 2 vowels and 2 consonants
  • Related words: clock time, clock
Show Answer

TIME

23A 40. Glazier's replacement 4 General Knowledge
  • Pattern: P__E (First: P, Last: E)
  • Contains 2 vowels and 2 consonants
  • Related words: superman, pane of glass
Show Answer

PANE

24A 41. Some sky lights, in brief 4 General Knowledge
  • Pattern: U__S (First: U, Last: S)
  • Contains 2 vowels and 2 consonants
  • Related words: UFO, unidentified flying object
Show Answer

UFOS

25A 42. Person with fire power 4 General Knowledge
  • Pattern: B__S (First: B, Last: S)
  • Contains 1 vowels and 3 consonants
  • Related words: Bos, foreman
Show Answer

BOSS

26A 43. Miso soup base 5 General Knowledge
  • Pattern: D___I (First: D, Last: I)
  • Contains 2 vowels and 3 consonants
Show Answer

DASHI

27A 44. Director's cry 3 Short Word
  • Pattern: C_T (First: C, Last: T)
  • Contains 1 vowels and 2 consonants
  • Related words: trim, cutting off
Show Answer

CUT

28A 45. One of four suits in a tarot deck 4 General Knowledge
  • Pattern: C__S (First: C, Last: S)
  • Contains 1 vowels and 3 consonants
  • Related words: loving cup, cup
Show Answer

CUPS

29A 46. Source of schadenfreude? 6 Wordplay/Pun
  • Pattern: G____N (First: G, Last: N)
  • Contains 2 vowels and 4 consonants
  • Related words: High German, German language
Show Answer

GERMAN

30A 47. "Let me handle this" 15 Long Phrase
  • Pattern: I_____________G (First: I, Last: G)
  • Contains 5 vowels and 10 consonants
  • Longer answer - might be a phrase
Show Answer

ILLDOTHETALKING

31A 50. Small businesses that generally don't require permits 14 Long Phrase
  • Pattern: L____________S (First: L, Last: S)
  • Contains 5 vowels and 9 consonants
  • Longer answer - might be a phrase
Show Answer

LEMONADESTANDS

32A 51. Sensitive subject? 5 Wordplay/Pun
  • Pattern: G___T (First: G, Last: T)
  • Contains 1 vowels and 4 consonants
Show Answer

GSPOT

33A 52. Figure on the $10,000 bill, the largest U.S. note ever in public circulation 5 General Knowledge
  • Pattern: C___E (First: C, Last: E)
  • Contains 2 vowels and 3 consonants
  • Related words: give chase, furrow
Show Answer

CHASE

Category Analysis of Across Clues

Clue Categories Distribution
Category Count Percentage Examples
General Knowledge 21 63.6% RASTA (5), CLOGS (5)
Long Phrase 4 12.1% DOESNOTCOMPUTE (14), INTHENEARFUTURE (15)
Short Word 4 12.1% BOX (3), LED (3)
Wordplay/Pun 3 9.1% EPEE (4), GERMAN (6)
Entertainment 1 3.0% HEADSHOTS (9)

Across-Only Solving Strategy

Why Focus on Across Clues First?

  1. Reading Direction: Natural left-to-right reading makes across clues more intuitive
  2. Pattern Recognition: Horizontal words are easier to visualize and recognize
  3. Common Phrases: Many across entries are familiar phrases or compound words
  4. Fill Strategy: Completing across entries provides multiple crossing letters for down clues
  5. Theme Entries: Long theme answers are typically placed across

Recommended Solving Order

  • Step 1: Scan all across clues for obvious answers (fill-in-blanks, short words)
  • Step 2: Fill in 3-4 letter words - they're usually common crossword entries
  • Step 3: Look for themed or related answers that might connect
  • Step 4: Use first/last letter hints to narrow down possibilities
  • Step 5: Work on longer answers using crossing letters from completed short answers

Letter Frequency Insights

Based on today's across answers, focus on words containing the most frequent letters. This can help you make educated guesses when you're stuck.

Common NYT Crossword Across Words

These frequently appear in across positions:

Length Common Words
3 Letters ERA, ORE, ATE, ETA, ALE, AGE, ARE, ACE, APE, ART
4 Letters AREA, ARIA, ANTE, ELSE, ERIE, IDEA, ORAL, OVER, ALOE, ASAP
5 Letters ARENA, ALONE, ASIDE, EMAIL, ENTER, ERROR, ERASE, OPERA, OCEAN, ATONE
6 Letters ARISES, ERASES, EASTER, ESTATE, EASIER, ORACLE, AERATE, STEREO
7+ Letters ATLARGE, ONEARMED, ALIENATE, REARENDS, REHEARSE, SEPARATE

About This Across-Only Format

This specialized format presents only the horizontal (across) clues from the NYT crossword, allowing solvers to focus on one direction at a time. Many solvers find this approach less overwhelming and more systematic than jumping between across and down clues.

Related Resources

Disclaimer: This educational analysis focuses on across clues only. Puzzles and clues © The New York Times. Generated: August 15, 2025 at 11:59 AM

Friday, September 4, 2026

NYT Mini Crossword Trivia Week 1 September 04, 2026 - Daily Answers

NYT Mini Trivia Week 1 September 04, 2026 - Hints & Answers

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

Popular Puzzles: January 21 2020 NYT Clues Solutions | November 16 2019 NYT Clues Solutions | December 26 2019 NYT Clues Solutions |

About Today's Puzzle

NYT Mini Crossword solutions for September 04, 2026
NYT Mini Crossword Grid - Friday, September 04, 2026
Puzzle Statistics
Detail Information
Date September 04, 2026
Grid Size 5 x 5 squares
Total Clues 20 clues
Across Clues 10 clues
Down Clues 10 clues
Average Solve Time Under 1 minute

Today's Trivia Week 1 NYT Mini Crossword Grid Layout

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

  1. Read through all the clues before filling in a single square.
  2. Start with anything three letters or shorter.
  3. Crossing letters are your best friend for the trickier answers.
  4. Question mark clues (?) almost always mean wordplay, not a literal answer.
  5. 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 53. Bit of filming
2 Across 49. Super, slangily
3 Across 46. Longtime Pixar character who saiys "I might be old, but I still got a spring in my step!"
4 Across 16. "Outta my way!"
5 Across 1. Result of a tense build-up?
6 Across 58. Cravings
7 Across 52. Follower of hand or home
8 Across 30. Agcy. concerned with declarations
9 Across 48. See 44-Across
10 Across 15. Kick off

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: "53. Bit of filming"

Hints:

  • Count on 4 letters here.
  • This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
  • Pattern-wise it looks like: T__E

Answer:

Click to reveal TAKE


2 Across: "49. Super, slangily"

Hints:

  • This one runs 5 letters long.
  • First letter's a 'H', last letter's a 'A'.
  • Blank it out and you get: H___A

Answer:

Click to reveal HECKA


3 Across: "46. Longtime Pixar character who saiys "I might be old, but I still got a spring in my step!""

Hints:

  • It's a 9-letter word.
  • If that helps, the shape is: S_______G
  • First letter's a 'S', last letter's a 'G'.

Answer:

Click to reveal SLINKYDOG


4 Across: "16. "Outta my way!""

Hints:

  • Basically, the act of deciding to do something.
  • First letter's a 'M', last letter's a 'E'.
  • 'travel' points in the same direction.

Answer:

Click to reveal MOVE


5 Across: "1. Result of a tense build-up?"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal JENGATOWER


6 Across: "58. Cravings"

Hints:

  • First letter's a 'Y', last letter's a 'S'.
  • This one runs 4 letters long.
  • Close enough in meaning: yearn.

Answer:

Click to reveal YENS


7 Across: "52. Follower of hand or home"

Hints:

  • If that helps, the shape is: M__E
  • This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
  • You're looking for 4 letters.

Answer:

Click to reveal MADE


8 Across: "30. Agcy. concerned with declarations"

Hints:

  • You're looking for 3 letters.
  • First letter's a 'I', last letter's a 'S'.
  • This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.

Answer:

Click to reveal IRS


9 Across: "48. See 44-Across"

Hints:

  • First letter's a 'L', last letter's a 'N'.
  • Count on 5 letters here.
  • 'Romance' points in the same direction.

Answer:

Click to reveal LATIN


10 Across: "15. Kick off"

Hints:

  • First letter's a 'I', last letter's a 'E'.
  • Think of it this way — commence officially.
  • It's a 10-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal INAUGURATE

Down Clues - 10 Total

These run top to bottom in the grid.

Down Clues List
Number Clue
1 Down 4. Neighbor of Sierra Leone
2 Down 9. Singer dubbed the "Matriarch of the Blues"
3 Down 10. Gun before the green, say
4 Down 8. Trounce
5 Down 5. In the past
6 Down 37. Start to congeal
7 Down 13. Adjective that becomes its own synonym after its first letter is dropped
8 Down 51. "Rude Boy" singer, to fans
9 Down 2. Captivates
10 Down 40. Clear

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

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


1 Down: "4. Neighbor of Sierra Leone"

Hints:

  • If that helps, the shape is: G____A
  • First letter's a 'G', last letter's a 'A'.
  • Think of it this way — a former British gold coin worth 21 shillings.

Answer:

Click to reveal GUINEA


2 Down: "9. Singer dubbed the "Matriarch of the Blues""

Hints:

  • Kicks off with 'E' and wraps up with 'S'.
  • It's a 9-letter word.
  • If that helps, the shape is: E_______S

Answer:

Click to reveal ETTAJAMES


3 Down: "10. Gun before the green, say"

Hints:

  • You're looking for 3 letters.
  • Basically, rate of revolution of a motor.
  • Short form / acronym territory here.

Answer:

Click to reveal REV


4 Down: "8. Trounce"

Hints:

  • This one runs 6 letters long.
  • Think of it this way — a forceful consequence; a strong effect.
  • First letter's a 'W', last letter's a 'P'.

Answer:

Click to reveal WALLOP


5 Down: "5. In the past"

Hints:

  • You could also think of it as "agone."
  • Kicks off with 'A' and wraps up with 'O'.
  • Basically, gone by; or in the past.

Answer:

Click to reveal AGO


6 Down: "37. Start to congeal"

Hints:

  • In plain terms: make thick or thicker.
  • You're looking for 7 letters.
  • Kicks off with 'T' and wraps up with 'N'.

Answer:

Click to reveal THICKEN


7 Down: "13. Adjective that becomes its own synonym after its first letter is dropped"

Hints:

  • Kicks off with 'E' and wraps up with 'T'.
  • You're looking for 7 letters.
  • 'malign' points in the same direction.

Answer:

Click to reveal EVILEST


8 Down: "51. "Rude Boy" singer, to fans"

Hints:

  • Count on 4 letters here.
  • First letter's a 'R', last letter's a 'I'.
  • Short form / acronym territory here.

Answer:

Click to reveal RIRI


9 Down: "2. Captivates"

Hints:

  • You could also think of it as "charm."
  • Pattern-wise it looks like: E_____S
  • This one runs 7 letters long.

Answer:

Click to reveal ENAMORS


10 Down: "40. Clear"

Hints:

  • 'plain' points in the same direction.
  • Starts with 'E', ends with 'T'.
  • Pattern-wise it looks like: E_____T

Answer:

Click to reveal EVIDENT

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

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

Letter Tips That Really Help

  • E is the most common letter in English, so it's worth guessing early.
  • Words ending in S are usually plurals.
  • Blanks ("___") in a clue mean the answer fits exactly into those spaces.
  • An abbreviation in the clue is a signal the answer's abbreviated too.

Time Goals to Aim For

Your Time Skill Level What It Means
Under 30 seconds Expert You've clearly got the puzzle's patterns down.
30-60 seconds Advanced Solid pace — you're solving quickly.
1-2 minutes Good Right where most regular solvers land.
Over 2 minutes Learning Totally fine — speed comes with reps.

Puzzle Numbers and Facts

Today's Puzzle by the Numbers
Total Clues: 20
Grid Size: 5 boxes across, 5 boxes down
Total Squares: 25
Average Time: 45 seconds
Difficulty: Easy

Common Questions About Trivia Week 1

When does the Trivia Week 1 Mini go live?

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

How long should Trivia Week 1 take me?

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

Is Trivia Week 1 free to play?

It's free to play, unlike the main NYT Crossword which sits behind a paywall.

What actually makes someone good at Trivia Week 1?

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 1 get harder as the week goes on?

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


About This Page: We put together hints and answers for the NYT Mini to help you learn the ropes and get faster over time. This site isn't affiliated with The New York Times.

Last Updated: September 04, 2026 at 08:05 AM

Search terms: NYT Mini Trivia Week, Trivia Week {week_num}, Mini crossword Trivia Week, Trivia Week answers, NYT Trivia Week, September 04 2026 mini crossword

Sunday, August 30, 2026

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

Trivia Week 4 August 30, 2026 NYT Mini Crossword Hints

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

Popular Puzzles: March 18 2020 NYT Clues Solutions | Todays NYT Mini Crossword October 01 | NYT Down Today November 15 2025 |

About Today's Puzzle

NYT Mini Crossword solutions for August 30, 2026
NYT Mini Crossword Grid - Sunday, August 30, 2026
Puzzle Statistics
Detail Information
Date August 30, 2026
Grid Size 5 x 5 squares
Total Clues 20 clues
Across Clues 10 clues
Down Clues 10 clues
Average Solve Time Under 1 minute

Today's Trivia Week 4 NYT Mini Crossword Grid Layout

It's a 5 by 5 grid today — five boxes across, five boxes down.

5x5 Crossword Grid Pattern
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Column 5
Row 1          
Row 2          
Row 3          
Row 4          
Row 5          

How to Solve This One Fast

  1. Skim every clue once before you write anything — your brain keeps chewing on the ones you don't solve right away.
  2. Knock out the short answers (3 letters or under) first.
  3. Lean on the crossing letters once a couple of words are in.
  4. A question mark in a clue usually means there's a pun coming.
  5. THE, AND, ARE, FOR, NOT — these little words show up constantly, keep them in your back pocket.

Quick Facts

  • Total squares: 25 (5 × 5)
  • Typical solve time: well under a minute for most regulars
  • Good time to play: on a coffee break
  • Difficulty: built to be approachable

Across Clues - 10 Total

These run left to right across the grid.

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

Hints and Answers for Across Clues

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


1 Across: "26. Discount Chinese e-tailer"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal TEMU


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

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal OCCAM


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

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal SOLDER


4 Across: "93. Discontinued Swedish cars"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal SAABS


5 Across: "31. Pink-slips"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal CANS


6 Across: "126. Instants"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal SECS


7 Across: "24. LIAM NEESON"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal SALMINEO


8 Across: "122. Submitted by the deadline"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal INONTIME


9 Across: "68. Turns on the waterworks"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal CRIES


10 Across: "124. Musician/actress Haim"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal ALANA

Down Clues - 10 Total

These run top to bottom in the grid.

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

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

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


1 Down: "67. Christmas presence?"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal MAGI


2 Down: "95. Withdraw from a union"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal SECEDE


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

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal MICA


4 Down: "29. Clear"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal ERASE


5 Down: "6. Like 666, popularly"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal SATANIC


6 Down: "94. Periods of 730 days"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal BIENNIA


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

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal JAH


8 Down: "32. Hit a ___"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal SNAG


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

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal ARIA


10 Down: "86. Hostile manner, informally"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal TUDE

How to Solve the NYT Mini Crossword Faster

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

Step-by-Step Strategy

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

Letter Tips That Really Help

  • E is the most common letter in English, so it's worth guessing early.
  • Words ending in S are usually plurals.
  • Blanks ("___") in a clue mean the answer fits exactly into those spaces.
  • An abbreviation in the clue is a signal the answer's abbreviated too.

Time Goals to Aim For

Your Time Skill Level What It Means
Under 30 seconds Expert You've clearly got the puzzle's patterns down.
30-60 seconds Advanced Solid pace — you're solving quickly.
1-2 minutes Good Right where most regular solvers land.
Over 2 minutes Learning Totally fine — speed comes with reps.

Puzzle Numbers and Facts

Today's Puzzle by the Numbers
Total Clues: 20
Grid Size: 5 boxes across, 5 boxes down
Total Squares: 25
Average Time: 45 seconds
Difficulty: Normal

Common Questions About Trivia Week 4

When does the Trivia Week 4 Mini go live?

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

How long should Trivia Week 4 take me?

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

Is Trivia Week 4 free to play?

It's free to play, unlike the main NYT Crossword which sits behind a paywall.

What actually makes someone good at Trivia Week 4?

Knowing the common short words, spotting wordplay quickly, and reading crossing letters well — that combination gets you most of the way there.

Does Trivia Week 4 get harder as the week goes on?

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


About This Page: We put together hints and answers for the NYT Mini to help you learn the ropes and get faster over time. This site isn't affiliated with The New York Times.

Last Updated: August 30, 2026 at 09:21 AM

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