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Tuesday, September 8, 2026

NYT Mini Puzzle Trivia Week 2 September 08, 2026 - Solved

Today's Trivia Week 2 NYT Mini Crossword September 08, 2026 Answers

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 September 08, 2026 — NYT Mini Crossword Grid - Tuesday, September 08, 2026

Puzzle Statistics
Detail	Information
Date	September 08, 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

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

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

How to Solve This One Fast

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

Quick Facts

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	62. ___ dish (lab item)
2 Across	51. Sound from a pound
3 Across	20. Smooths (over)
4 Across	67. Colleges, to Aussies
5 Across	5. Long (for)
6 Across	14. Trims, say
7 Across	26. "This American Life" host Glass
8 Across	43. Chopped down
9 Across	56. Pompadour or pigtails
10 Across	37. CVS rival ... or a phonetic hint to the answers on this puzzle's perimeter

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: "62. ___ dish (lab item)"

Hints:

Kicks off with 'P' and wraps up with 'I'.
It's a 5-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

PETRI

2 Across: "51. Sound from a pound"

Hints:

Kicks off with 'A' and wraps up with 'F'.
Count on 3 letters here.
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ARF

3 Across: "20. Smooths (over)"

Hints:

Close enough in meaning: polish.
Pattern-wise it looks like: G_____S
It's a 7-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

GLOSSES

4 Across: "67. Colleges, to Aussies"

Hints:

First letter's a 'U', last letter's a 'S'.
Count on 4 letters here.
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

UNIS

5 Across: "5. Long (for)"

Hints:

Short form / acronym territory here.
'yen' points in the same direction.
You're looking for 4 letters.

Answer:

Click to reveal

PINE

6 Across: "14. Trims, say"

Hints:

Starts with 'E', ends with 'S'.
Close enough in meaning: delete.
This one runs 5 letters long.

Answer:

Click to reveal

EDITS

7 Across: "26. "This American Life" host Glass"

Hints:

Short form / acronym territory here.
First letter's a 'I', last letter's a 'A'.
Close enough in meaning: Provos.

Answer:

Click to reveal

IRA

8 Across: "43. Chopped down"

Hints:

Pattern-wise it looks like: H__N
Basically, make or shape as with an axe.
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

HEWN

9 Across: "56. Pompadour or pigtails"

Hints:

Kicks off with 'H' and wraps up with 'O'.
Pattern-wise it looks like: H____O
'coif' points in the same direction.

Answer:

Click to reveal

HAIRDO

10 Across: "37. CVS rival ... or a phonetic hint to the answers on this puzzle's perimeter"

Hints:

It's a 9-letter word.
Pattern-wise it looks like: W_______S
Starts with 'W', ends with 'S'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

WALGREENS

Down Clues - 10 Total

These run top to bottom in the grid.

Down Clues List
Number	Clue
1 Down	7. Diarist Anaïs
2 Down	25. "This one's on me!"
3 Down	48. Some speech impediments
4 Down	29. Cry of frustration
5 Down	8. ___ Sketch (classic drawing toy)
6 Down	33. Did the backstroke, say
7 Down	2. Totally ban
8 Down	40. Froth seen at the beach
9 Down	63. The first "T" in TNT
10 Down	11. Army leader

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

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

1 Down: "7. Diarist Anaïs"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

NIN

2 Down: "25. "This one's on me!""

Hints:

Starts with 'M', ends with 'T'.
Count on 7 letters here.
Blank it out and you get: M_____T

Answer:

Click to reveal

MYTREAT

3 Down: "48. Some speech impediments"

Hints:

Starts with 'L', ends with 'S'.
If that helps, the shape is: L___S
Count on 5 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

LISPS

4 Down: "29. Cry of frustration"

Hints:

Pattern-wise it looks like: A__H
Short form / acronym territory here.
First letter's a 'A', last letter's a 'H'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ARGH

5 Down: "8. ___ Sketch (classic drawing toy)"

Hints:

Blank it out and you get: E___A
First letter's a 'E', last letter's a 'A'.
Count on 5 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ETCHA

6 Down: "33. Did the backstroke, say"

Hints:

Basically, travel through water.
You could also think of it as "drown."
If that helps, the shape is: S__M

Answer:

Click to reveal

SWAM

7 Down: "2. Totally ban"

Hints:

If that helps, the shape is: A_____H
Count on 7 letters here.
Starts with 'A', ends with 'H'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ABOLISH

8 Down: "40. Froth seen at the beach"

Hints:

Count on 7 letters here.
Blank it out and you get: S_____M
First letter's a 'S', last letter's a 'M'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SEAFOAM

9 Down: "63. The first "T" in TNT"

Hints:

Short form / acronym territory here.
Starts with 'T', ends with 'I'.
Count on 3 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

TRI

10 Down: "11. Army leader"

Hints:

Starts with 'G', ends with 'L'.
You're looking for 7 letters.
Basically, a general officer of the highest rank.

Answer:

Click to reveal

GENERAL

How to Solve the NYT Mini Crossword Faster

Some habits that speed things up over time:

Step-by-Step Strategy

Read it all first: Go through every clue once before writing anything down — it primes your brain even on the ones you skip.
Grab the short ones: Two and three letter answers (things like "IT" or "ON") are usually the easiest place to start.
Use the crossings: Once a couple of words are in, the crossing letters do a lot of the work for you on the harder ones.
Watch for question marks: A "?" at the end of a clue almost always signals a pun rather than a literal answer.
Keep the regulars in mind: ERA, ORE, ATE, ICE — these turn up often enough that it's worth remembering them.

Letter Tips That Really Help

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

Time Goals to Aim For

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

Puzzle Numbers and Facts

Today's Puzzle by the Numbers
Total Clues:	20
Grid Size:	5 boxes across, 5 boxes down
Total Squares:	25
Average Time:	58 seconds
Difficulty:	Medium

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?

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?

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

What actually makes someone good at Trivia Week 2?

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

Does Trivia Week 2 get harder as the week goes on?

Difficulty shifts through the week; expect Monday to be gentle and Saturday to bite a bit more.

Thursday, October 8, 2026

NYT Mini Puzzle Trivia Week 2 October 08, 2026 - Solved

NYT Mini Answers October 08, 2026 - Trivia Week 2 Special

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 08, 2026 — NYT Mini Crossword Grid - Thursday, October 08, 2026

Puzzle Statistics
Detail	Information
Date	October 08, 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

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	30. Audacious, informally
2 Across	49. Dessert
3 Across	52. Deciduous tree often found in regions dominated by conifers
4 Across	21. Place-holding letters on a schedule
5 Across	54. Just a number, they say
6 Across	9. How low can they go?
7 Across	29. Time to go fast?
8 Across	55. Long-lasting birth control option, in brief
9 Across	46. Expand, as dough
10 Across	33. "Midnight Cowboy" con man

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: "30. Audacious, informally"

Hints:

First letter's a 'B', last letter's a 'Y'.
It's a 6-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

BALLSY

2 Across: "49. Dessert"

Hints:

If that helps, the shape is: H_______K
You're looking for 9 letters.
First letter's a 'H', last letter's a 'K'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

HAIRYBACK

3 Across: "52. Deciduous tree often found in regions dominated by conifers"

Hints:

It's a 5-letter word.
Pattern-wise it looks like: A___N
Starts with 'A', ends with 'N'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ASPEN

4 Across: "21. Place-holding letters on a schedule"

Hints:

Count on 3 letters here.
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
Starts with 'T', ends with 'A'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

TBA

5 Across: "54. Just a number, they say"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

AGE

6 Across: "9. How low can they go?"

Hints:

Blank it out and you get: B___I
You could also think of it as "bass."
Starts with 'B', ends with 'I'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

BASSI

7 Across: "29. Time to go fast?"

Hints:

This one runs 4 letters long.
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
If that helps, the shape is: L__T

Answer:

Click to reveal

LENT

8 Across: "55. Long-lasting birth control option, in brief"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

IUD

9 Across: "46. Expand, as dough"

Hints:

This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
Think of it this way — a growth in strength or number or importance.
First letter's a 'R', last letter's a 'E'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

RISE

10 Across: "33. "Midnight Cowboy" con man"

Hints:

Kicks off with 'R' and wraps up with 'O'.
This one runs 5 letters long.

Answer:

Click to reveal

RATSO

Down Clues - 10 Total

These run top to bottom in the grid.

Down Clues List
Number	Clue
1 Down	10. Making money or becoming famous, maybe
2 Down	62. Counterpart of a sire, on a horse farm
3 Down	4. Matchmaker in "Fiddler on the Roof"
4 Down	11. Smolder
5 Down	5. Like many summertime coffee orders
6 Down	37. Units of electric charge
7 Down	12. Penalty box in hockey, slangily
8 Down	59. Signifier of no value, in many programming languages
9 Down	31. Remote sensing technology that uses lasers
10 Down	13. Unbroken

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

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

1 Down: "10. Making money or becoming famous, maybe"

Hints:

This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
It's a 3-letter word.
You could also think of it as "bearing."

Answer:

Click to reveal

AIM

2 Down: "62. Counterpart of a sire, on a horse farm"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

DAM

3 Down: "4. Matchmaker in "Fiddler on the Roof""

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

YENTE

4 Down: "11. Smolder"

Hints:

Pattern-wise it looks like: S____E
It's a 6-letter word.
'boil' points in the same direction.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SEETHE

5 Down: "5. Like many summertime coffee orders"

Hints:

Count on 4 letters here.
Think of it this way — decorate with frosting.
First letter's a 'I', last letter's a 'D'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ICED

6 Down: "37. Units of electric charge"

Hints:

If that helps, the shape is: F______S
First letter's a 'F', last letter's a 'S'.
You could also think of it as "Faraday."

Answer:

Click to reveal

FARADAYS

7 Down: "12. Penalty box in hockey, slangily"

Hints:

Starts with 'S', ends with 'N'.
Pattern-wise it looks like: S____N
This one runs 6 letters long.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SINBIN

8 Down: "59. Signifier of no value, in many programming languages"

Hints:

First letter's a 'N', last letter's a 'L'.
Think of it this way — a quantity of no importance.
Short form / acronym territory here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

NIL

9 Down: "31. Remote sensing technology that uses lasers"

Hints:

First letter's a 'L', last letter's a 'R'.
Blank it out and you get: L___R
You're looking for 5 letters.

Answer:

Click to reveal

LIDAR

10 Down: "13. Unbroken"

Hints:

Pattern-wise it looks like: I____T
This one runs 6 letters long.
Starts with 'I', ends with 'T'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

INTACT

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:	52 seconds
Difficulty:	Medium

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?

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?

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

Does Trivia Week 2 get harder as the week goes on?

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

Tuesday, October 6, 2026

NYT Mini Puzzle Trivia Week 1 October 06, 2026 - Solved

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 06, 2026 — NYT Mini Crossword Grid - Tuesday, October 06, 2026

Puzzle Statistics
Detail	Information
Date	October 06, 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

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	42. Attend without a date
2 Across	65. Peeved
3 Across	57. May honoree
4 Across	67. With 68-Across, posable plaything ... or a verbal hint to each half of 4-, 7- and 10-Down and 46-Across
5 Across	30. Who said "Revolutions are the locomotives of history"
6 Across	23. Urged (on)
7 Across	46. Strategic disk game played on a vertical board
8 Across	26. Rear of a boat
9 Across	24. One of six, supposedly, for a seer
10 Across	20. Pale and sickly

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: "42. Attend without a date"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

GOSTAG

2 Across: "65. Peeved"

Hints:

Count on 7 letters here.
First letter's a 'I', last letter's a 'T'.
If that helps, the shape is: I_____T

Answer:

Click to reveal

INASNIT

3 Across: "57. May honoree"

Hints:

Starts with 'M', ends with 'M'.
Count on 3 letters here.
'mamma' points in the same direction.

Answer:

Click to reveal

MOM

4 Across: "67. With 68-Across, posable plaything ... or a verbal hint to each half of 4-, 7- and 10-Down and 46-Across"

Hints:

Count on 6 letters here.
Starts with 'A', ends with 'N'.
Close enough in meaning: fulfill.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ACTION

5 Across: "30. Who said "Revolutions are the locomotives of history""

Hints:

First letter's a 'M', last letter's a 'X'.
This one runs 4 letters long.
You could also think of it as "Groucho."

Answer:

Click to reveal

MARX

6 Across: "23. Urged (on)"

Hints:

Basically, throw eggs at.
If that helps, the shape is: E___D
You're looking for 5 letters.

Answer:

Click to reveal

EGGED

7 Across: "46. Strategic disk game played on a vertical board"

Hints:

Starts with 'C', ends with 'R'.
It's a 11-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

CONNECTFOUR

8 Across: "26. Rear of a boat"

Hints:

First letter's a 'S', last letter's a 'N'.
Think of it this way — the rear part of a ship.
Close enough in meaning: rear.

Answer:

Click to reveal

STERN

9 Across: "24. One of six, supposedly, for a seer"

Hints:

Kicks off with 'S' and wraps up with 'E'.
Think of it this way — a general conscious awareness.
You're looking for 5 letters.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SENSE

10 Across: "20. Pale and sickly"

Hints:

If that helps, the shape is: P___Y
First letter's a 'P', last letter's a 'Y'.
Close enough in meaning: spiky.

Answer:

Click to reveal

PEAKY

Down Clues - 10 Total

These run top to bottom in the grid.

Down Clues List
Number	Clue
1 Down	2. Currency in Mumbai
2 Down	45. Starbucks keepsake, perhaps
3 Down	58. Preset camera option
4 Down	37. "Zip it!"
5 Down	10. Surf with one's toes off the front of the board
6 Down	48. Loops in, digitally
7 Down	13. Joseph called "Father of the Symphony"
8 Down	49. Secure tightly
9 Down	29. Unapproachable
10 Down	21. Coin dated with the year of its country's imperial era

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

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

1 Down: "2. Currency in Mumbai"

Hints:

Count on 5 letters here.
First letter's a 'R', last letter's a 'E'.
If that helps, the shape is: R___E

Answer:

Click to reveal

RUPEE

2 Down: "45. Starbucks keepsake, perhaps"

Hints:

Kicks off with 'M' and wraps up with 'G'.
Basically, the quantity that can be held in a mug.
'smiler' points in the same direction.

Answer:

Click to reveal

MUG

3 Down: "58. Preset camera option"

Hints:

Count on 4 letters here.
Think of it this way — how something is done or how it happens.
Kicks off with 'M' and wraps up with 'E'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

MODE

4 Down: "37. "Zip it!""

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

SHH

5 Down: "10. Surf with one's toes off the front of the board"

Hints:

You're looking for 7 letters.
Kicks off with 'H' and wraps up with 'N'.
Blank it out and you get: H_____N

Answer:

Click to reveal

HANGTEN

6 Down: "48. Loops in, digitally"

Hints:

It's a 3-letter word.
Starts with 'C', ends with 'S'.
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

CCS

7 Down: "13. Joseph called "Father of the Symphony""

Hints:

First letter's a 'H', last letter's a 'N'.
Count on 5 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

HAYDN

8 Down: "49. Secure tightly"

Hints:

Starts with 'T', ends with 'S'.
You could also think of it as "tie up."
If that helps, the shape is: T___S

Answer:

Click to reveal

TRUSS

9 Down: "29. Unapproachable"

Hints:

First letter's a 'A', last letter's a 'F'.
Pattern-wise it looks like: A___F
This one runs 5 letters long.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ALOOF

10 Down: "21. Coin dated with the year of its country's imperial era"

Hints:

You're looking for 3 letters.
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
You could also think of it as "yearn."

Answer:

Click to reveal

YEN

How to Solve the NYT Mini Crossword Faster

Here's what tends to work if you solve these regularly:

Step-by-Step Strategy

Read it all first: Go through every clue once before writing anything down — it primes your brain even on the ones you skip.
Grab the short ones: Two and three letter answers (things like "IT" or "ON") are usually the easiest place to start.
Use the crossings: Once a couple of words are in, the crossing letters do a lot of the work for you on the harder ones.
Watch for question marks: A "?" at the end of a clue almost always signals a pun rather than a literal answer.
Keep the regulars in mind: ERA, ORE, ATE, ICE — these turn up often enough that it's worth remembering them.

Letter Tips That Really Help

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

Time Goals to Aim For

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

Puzzle Numbers and Facts

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 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?

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

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

Difficulty shifts through the week; expect Monday to be gentle and Saturday to bite a bit more.

Saturday, August 29, 2026

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

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

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

About Today's Puzzle

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

Puzzle Statistics
Detail	Information
Date	August 29, 2026
Grid Size	5 x 5 squares
Total Clues	20 clues
Across Clues	10 clues
Down Clues	10 clues
Average Solve Time	Under 1 minute

Today's Trivia Week 4 NYT Mini Crossword Grid Layout

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

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

How to Solve This One Fast

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

Quick Facts

Squares in the grid: 25
How long it takes: usually under a minute once you're warmed up
Best moment for it: any short break
Overall difficulty: easy-going by design

Across Clues - 10 Total

These run left to right across the grid.

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

Hints and Answers for Across Clues

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

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

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

BIORE

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

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

LAND

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

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

PIG

4 Across: "49. Relative of house music"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

TECHNO

5 Across: "37. Court session, perhaps"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

TENNISLESSON

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

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

ABCS

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

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

EWING

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

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

LOGARITHM

9 Across: "58. Come off as"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

SEEM

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

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

TRY

Down Clues - 10 Total

These run top to bottom in the grid.

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

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

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

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

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

WILSON

2 Down: "9. ___ legs"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

HIND

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

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

DEALTIN

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

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

AIDOCTOR

5 Down: "45. Shockingly unconventional"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

OUTRE

6 Down: "25. Makes sense of"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

PARSES

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

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

SORANDOM

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

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

STPAT

9 Down: "6. Breaking character?"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

BULLINACHINASHOP

10 Down: "46. Stepped-on instrument"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

SCALE

How to Solve the NYT Mini Crossword Faster

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

Step-by-Step Strategy

Read it all first: Go through every clue once before writing anything down — it primes your brain even on the ones you skip.
Grab the short ones: Two and three letter answers (things like "IT" or "ON") are usually the easiest place to start.
Use the crossings: Once a couple of words are in, the crossing letters do a lot of the work for you on the harder ones.
Watch for question marks: A "?" at the end of a clue almost always signals a pun rather than a literal answer.
Keep the regulars in mind: ERA, ORE, ATE, ICE — these turn up often enough that it's worth remembering them.

Letter Tips That Really Help

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

Time Goals to Aim For

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

Puzzle Numbers and Facts

Today's Puzzle by the Numbers
Total Clues:	20
Grid Size:	5 boxes across, 5 boxes down
Total Squares:	25
Average Time:	1 minute 10 seconds
Difficulty:	A bit tricky

Common Questions About Trivia Week 4

When does the Trivia Week 4 Mini go live?

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

How long should Trivia Week 4 take me?

Anywhere from 30 seconds to a couple of minutes is typical. Don't stress if you're on the slower end at first.

Is Trivia Week 4 free to play?

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

What actually makes someone good at Trivia Week 4?

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

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

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

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

NYT Mini Trivia Week 1 September 01, 2026 - Hints & Answers

NYT Mini Puzzle Trivia Week 1 September 01, 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 September 01, 2026 — NYT Mini Crossword Grid - Tuesday, September 01, 2026

Puzzle Statistics
Detail	Information
Date	September 01, 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

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	6. Informed
2 Across	33. Shakespearean father of three
3 Across	16. Burden to bear
4 Across	60. Secluded valley
5 Across	36. Out of patience, with "up"
6 Across	49. Dabble in
7 Across	26. https://www.hot-dog.org?
8 Across	44. Plants that have been around on Earth for 375+ million years
9 Across	25. Noted magnate on the Titanic
10 Across	45. O'Hare posting, for short

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: "6. Informed"

Hints:

Close enough in meaning: narrate.
It's a 4-letter word.
Kicks off with 'T' and wraps up with 'D'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

TOLD

2 Across: "33. Shakespearean father of three"

Hints:

Blank it out and you get: L__R
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
Starts with 'L', ends with 'R'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

LEAR

3 Across: "16. Burden to bear"

Hints:

In plain terms: an onerous or difficult concern.
You could also think of it as "burden."
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ONUS

4 Across: "60. Secluded valley"

Hints:

Starts with 'D', ends with 'L'.
In plain terms: a small wooded hollow.
You could also think of it as "dingle."

Answer:

Click to reveal

DELL

5 Across: "36. Out of patience, with "up""

Hints:

'flow' points in the same direction.
It's a 3-letter word.
Basically, any federal law-enforcement officer.

Answer:

Click to reveal

FED

6 Across: "49. Dabble in"

Hints:

Pattern-wise it looks like: P____T
Kicks off with 'P' and wraps up with 'T'.
You're looking for 6 letters.

Answer:

Click to reveal

PLAYAT

7 Across: "26. https://www.hot-dog.org?"

Hints:

Kicks off with 'S' and wraps up with 'K'.
It's a 11-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SAUSAGELINK

8 Across: "44. Plants that have been around on Earth for 375+ million years"

Hints:

Starts with 'F', ends with 'S'.
Blank it out and you get: F___S
You're looking for 5 letters.

Answer:

Click to reveal

FERNS

9 Across: "25. Noted magnate on the Titanic"

Hints:

This one runs 5 letters long.
First letter's a 'A', last letter's a 'R'.
If that helps, the shape is: A___R

Answer:

Click to reveal

ASTOR

10 Across: "45. O'Hare posting, for short"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

ETA

Down Clues - 10 Total

These run top to bottom in the grid.

Down Clues List
Number	Clue
1 Down	42. Distinct stretch of years
2 Down	7. Andy Taylor's boy on old TV
3 Down	8. Cry on a tennis court
4 Down	30. Wife of Jacob
5 Down	43. Think back on
6 Down	55. Preceding night
7 Down	34. Fishing pole
8 Down	22. Locale of Coca-Cola's headquarters: Abbr.
9 Down	48. "Norma" or "Tosca"
10 Down	2. Dracula, for one

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

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

1 Down: "42. Distinct stretch of years"

Hints:

Count on 3 letters here.
Short form / acronym territory here.
'epoch' points in the same direction.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ERA

2 Down: "7. Andy Taylor's boy on old TV"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

OPIE

3 Down: "8. Cry on a tennis court"

Hints:

First letter's a 'L', last letter's a 'T'.
'permit' points in the same direction.
This one runs 3 letters long.

Answer:

Click to reveal

LET

4 Down: "30. Wife of Jacob"

Hints:

If that helps, the shape is: L__H
Short form / acronym territory here.
It's a 4-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

LEAH

5 Down: "43. Think back on"

Hints:

Count on 6 letters here.
'think' points in the same direction.
Kicks off with 'R' and wraps up with 'L'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

RECALL

6 Down: "55. Preceding night"

Hints:

You could also think of it as "evening."
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
First letter's a 'E', last letter's a 'E'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

EVE

7 Down: "34. Fishing pole"

Hints:

You're looking for 3 letters.
'pole' points in the same direction.
Short form / acronym territory here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ROD

8 Down: "22. Locale of Coca-Cola's headquarters: Abbr."

Hints:

This one runs 3 letters long.
Short form / acronym territory here.
Kicks off with 'A' and wraps up with 'L'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ATL

9 Down: "48. "Norma" or "Tosca""

Hints:

Blank it out and you get: O___A
Starts with 'O', ends with 'A'.
You're looking for 5 letters.

Answer:

Click to reveal

OPERA

10 Down: "2. Dracula, for one"

Hints:

It's a 5-letter word.
Basically, the total number counted.
You could also think of it as "bet."

Answer:

Click to reveal

COUNT

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:	58 seconds
Difficulty:	Normal

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?

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

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

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

Search Clues

Tuesday, September 8, 2026

NYT Mini Puzzle Trivia Week 2 September 08, 2026 - Solved

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: "62. ___ dish (lab item)"

2 Across: "51. Sound from a pound"

3 Across: "20. Smooths (over)"

4 Across: "67. Colleges, to Aussies"

5 Across: "5. Long (for)"

6 Across: "14. Trims, say"

7 Across: "26. "This American Life" host Glass"

8 Across: "43. Chopped down"

9 Across: "56. Pompadour or pigtails"

10 Across: "37. CVS rival ... or a phonetic hint to the answers on this puzzle's perimeter"

Down Clues - 10 Total

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

1 Down: "7. Diarist Anaïs"

2 Down: "25. "This one's on me!""

3 Down: "48. Some speech impediments"

4 Down: "29. Cry of frustration"

5 Down: "8. ___ Sketch (classic drawing toy)"

6 Down: "33. Did the backstroke, say"

7 Down: "2. Totally ban"

8 Down: "40. Froth seen at the beach"

9 Down: "63. The first "T" in TNT"

10 Down: "11. Army leader"

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 2

When does the Trivia Week 2 Mini go live?

How long should Trivia Week 2 take me?

Is Trivia Week 2 free to play?

What actually makes someone good at Trivia Week 2?

Does Trivia Week 2 get harder as the week goes on?

Thursday, October 8, 2026

NYT Mini Puzzle Trivia Week 2 October 08, 2026 - Solved

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: "30. Audacious, informally"

2 Across: "49. Dessert"

3 Across: "52. Deciduous tree often found in regions dominated by conifers"

4 Across: "21. Place-holding letters on a schedule"

5 Across: "54. Just a number, they say"

6 Across: "9. How low can they go?"

7 Across: "29. Time to go fast?"

8 Across: "55. Long-lasting birth control option, in brief"

9 Across: "46. Expand, as dough"

10 Across: "33. "Midnight Cowboy" con man"

Down Clues - 10 Total

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

1 Down: "10. Making money or becoming famous, maybe"

2 Down: "62. Counterpart of a sire, on a horse farm"

3 Down: "4. Matchmaker in "Fiddler on the Roof""

4 Down: "11. Smolder"

5 Down: "5. Like many summertime coffee orders"

6 Down: "37. Units of electric charge"

7 Down: "12. Penalty box in hockey, slangily"

8 Down: "59. Signifier of no value, in many programming languages"

9 Down: "31. Remote sensing technology that uses lasers"

10 Down: "13. Unbroken"

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 2