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Sunday, September 27, 2026

Trivia Week 4 NYT Mini September 27, 2026 Solutions & Guide

NYT Mini Answers September 27, 2026 - Trivia Week 4 Special

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 27, 2026 — NYT Mini Crossword Grid - Sunday, September 27, 2026

Puzzle Statistics
Detail	Information
Date	September 27, 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

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	25. That's saying something!
2 Across	68. Straightaway driving contests
3 Across	21. DeVore who co-founded one of the first U.S. agencies for nonwhite models in 1946
4 Across	47. Test room
5 Across	40. Where many papyrus plants grow
6 Across	119. Like wheat beers
7 Across	44. Press a case?
8 Across	23. Was almost out of supplies
9 Across	66. ... transport)(Bigwig's ...
10 Across	85. Return to an earlier topic of conversation ... or what six answers in this puzzle literally do

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: "25. That's saying something!"

Hints:

Pattern-wise it looks like: O_____Y
Kicks off with 'O' and wraps up with 'Y'.
It's a 7-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ORATORY

2 Across: "68. Straightaway driving contests"

Hints:

First letter's a 'D', last letter's a 'S'.
This one runs 9 letters long.
Blank it out and you get: D_______S

Answer:

Click to reveal

DRAGRACES

3 Across: "21. DeVore who co-founded one of the first U.S. agencies for nonwhite models in 1946"

Hints:

Pattern-wise it looks like: O_____A
First letter's a 'O', last letter's a 'A'.
It's a 7-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

OPHELIA

4 Across: "47. Test room"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

LAB

5 Across: "40. Where many papyrus plants grow"

Hints:

It's a 4-letter word.
Pattern-wise it looks like: N__E
Kicks off with 'N' and wraps up with 'E'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

NILE

6 Across: "119. Like wheat beers"

Hints:

It's a 6-letter word.
Blank it out and you get: Y____Y
You could also think of it as "zesty."

Answer:

Click to reveal

YEASTY

7 Across: "44. Press a case?"

Hints:

This one runs 3 letters long.
Kicks off with 'S' and wraps up with 'E'.
'process' points in the same direction.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SUE

8 Across: "23. Was almost out of supplies"

Hints:

It's a 6-letter word.
Kicks off with 'R' and wraps up with 'W'.
If that helps, the shape is: R____W

Answer:

Click to reveal

RANLOW

9 Across: "66. ... transport)(Bigwig's ..."

Hints:

First letter's a 'P', last letter's a 'O'.
Count on 12 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

PERSONALLIMO

10 Across: "85. Return to an earlier topic of conversation ... or what six answers in this puzzle literally do"

Hints:

Blank it out and you get: L______K
It's a 8-letter word.
Kicks off with 'L' and wraps up with 'K'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

LOOPBACK

Down Clues - 10 Total

These run top to bottom in the grid.

Down Clues List
Number	Clue
1 Down	4. "Jackie Brown" star Pam
2 Down	104. Twin sister of Sherri on "The Simpsons"
3 Down	118. Forerunner of the DVD player
4 Down	76. Lefty, to a righty
5 Down	31. Clothing brand named for perceived generational differences in the '60s
6 Down	10. Faith with five pillars
7 Down	12. Assumed ownership over
8 Down	8. Have a spring in one's step
9 Down	87. Purportedly calming compound in some gummies, in brief
10 Down	120. "when r u coming?"

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

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

1 Down: "4. "Jackie Brown" star Pam"

Hints:

Pattern-wise it looks like: G___R
Starts with 'G', ends with 'R'.
You're looking for 5 letters.

Answer:

Click to reveal

GRIER

2 Down: "104. Twin sister of Sherri on "The Simpsons""

Hints:

If that helps, the shape is: T___I
Kicks off with 'T' and wraps up with 'I'.
This one runs 5 letters long.

Answer:

Click to reveal

TERRI

3 Down: "118. Forerunner of the DVD player"

Hints:

Count on 3 letters here.
Short form / acronym territory here.
First letter's a 'V', last letter's a 'R'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

VCR

4 Down: "76. Lefty, to a righty"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

LIB

5 Down: "31. Clothing brand named for perceived generational differences in the '60s"

Hints:

This one runs 3 letters long.
Short form / acronym territory here.
'breach' points in the same direction.

Answer:

Click to reveal

GAP

6 Down: "10. Faith with five pillars"

Hints:

Pattern-wise it looks like: I___M
Count on 5 letters here.
Kicks off with 'I' and wraps up with 'M'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ISLAM

7 Down: "12. Assumed ownership over"

Hints:

Starts with 'C', ends with 'D'.
You're looking for 7 letters.

Answer:

Click to reveal

COOPTED

8 Down: "8. Have a spring in one's step"

Hints:

Count on 6 letters here.
In plain terms: a proud stiff pompous gait.
First letter's a 'P', last letter's a 'E'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

PRANCE

9 Down: "87. Purportedly calming compound in some gummies, in brief"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

CBD

10 Down: "120. "when r u coming?""

Hints:

This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
Starts with 'E', ends with 'A'.
This one runs 3 letters long.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ETA

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:	A bit tricky

Common Questions About Trivia Week 4

When does the Trivia Week 4 Mini go live?

Typically drops the evening before, around 10 PM ET.

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?

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?

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

Thursday, September 10, 2026

NYT Mini Trivia Week 2 September 10, 2026 - Hints & Answers

NYT Mini Answers September 10, 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 September 10, 2026 — NYT Mini Crossword Grid - Thursday, September 10, 2026

Puzzle Statistics
Detail	Information
Date	September 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

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	10. Shell in the water
2 Across	23. More apt to cut in line, say
3 Across	15. Who's that woman in Paris?
4 Across	16. Red-haired outdoorsman in Genesis
5 Across	33. Literary name that's a letter short of its holder's occupation
6 Across	32. Targets for hawks
7 Across	31. Cleared of dust, say
8 Across	51. Grou_ of _or_oises?
9 Across	38. Horror director Aster
10 Across	60. Skin-care brand with a "cheer"-ful sounding name

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: "10. Shell in the water"

Hints:

Pattern-wise it looks like: H__L
Kicks off with 'H' and wraps up with 'L'.
In plain terms: dry outer covering of a fruit or seed or nut.

Answer:

Click to reveal

HULL

2 Across: "23. More apt to cut in line, say"

Hints:

'pushful' points in the same direction.
Count on 7 letters here.
If that helps, the shape is: P_____R

Answer:

Click to reveal

PUSHIER

3 Across: "15. Who's that woman in Paris?"

Hints:

This one runs 4 letters long.
If that helps, the shape is: E__E
Kicks off with 'E' and wraps up with 'E'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ELLE

4 Across: "16. Red-haired outdoorsman in Genesis"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

ESAU

5 Across: "33. Literary name that's a letter short of its holder's occupation"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

POE

6 Across: "32. Targets for hawks"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

MICE

7 Across: "31. Cleared of dust, say"

Hints:

Starts with 'S', ends with 'T'.
You're looking for 5 letters.
'span' points in the same direction.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SWEPT

8 Across: "51. Grou_ of _or_oises?"

Hints:

This one runs 10 letters long.
Kicks off with 'P' and wraps up with 'D'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

PEASINAPOD

9 Across: "38. Horror director Aster"

Hints:

Short form / acronym territory here.
First letter's a 'A', last letter's a 'I'.
Count on 3 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ARI

10 Across: "60. Skin-care brand with a "cheer"-ful sounding name"

Hints:

You're looking for 4 letters.
Pattern-wise it looks like: O__Y
First letter's a 'O', last letter's a 'Y'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

OLAY

Down Clues - 10 Total

These run top to bottom in the grid.

Down Clues List
Number	Clue
1 Down	36. Pitching staff?
2 Down	11. Min_sc_le q_antity?
3 Down	12. Reposed
4 Down	9. Go clunk
5 Down	4. Despair
6 Down	3. Something you might search for in vein?
7 Down	53. Completely savage
8 Down	24. Incautious
9 Down	47. Say again
10 Down	1. Winter coat?

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

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

1 Down: "36. Pitching staff?"

Hints:

Starts with 'A', ends with 'Y'.
This one runs 8 letters long.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ADAGENCY

2 Down: "11. Min_sc_le q_antity?"

Hints:

Kicks off with 'U' and wraps up with 'H'.
It's a 11-letter word.
Blank it out and you get: U_________H

Answer:

Click to reveal

USEINAPINCH

3 Down: "12. Reposed"

Hints:

First letter's a 'L', last letter's a 'N'.
Close enough in meaning: lie.
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

LAIN

4 Down: "9. Go clunk"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

KEELOVER

5 Down: "4. Despair"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

LOSEHOPE

6 Down: "3. Something you might search for in vein?"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

ORE

7 Down: "53. Completely savage"

Hints:

You're looking for 3 letters.
Basically, cooking utensil consisting of a wide metal vessel.
First letter's a 'P', last letter's a 'N'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

PAN

8 Down: "24. Incautious"

Hints:

Starts with 'U', ends with 'Y'.
This one runs 6 letters long.
Blank it out and you get: U____Y

Answer:

Click to reveal

UNWARY

9 Down: "47. Say again"

Hints:

First letter's a 'E', last letter's a 'O'.
It's a 4-letter word.
Short form / acronym territory here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ECHO

10 Down: "1. Winter coat?"

Hints:

In plain terms: water frozen in the solid state.
First letter's a 'I', last letter's a 'E'.
You're looking for 3 letters.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ICE

How to Solve the NYT Mini Crossword Faster

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

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 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?

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?

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

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.

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

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	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

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:	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.

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

NYT Mini Trivia Week 1 September 02, 2026 - Hints & 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 September 02, 2026 — NYT Mini Crossword Grid - Wednesday, September 02, 2026

Puzzle Statistics
Detail	Information
Date	September 02, 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

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	20. Multicolored implements in many art drawers
2 Across	28. Muscular part of a marathoner
3 Across	34. Make sure not to miss it!
4 Across	52. Munificent man
5 Across	1. "Melts in your mouth" candies ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme
6 Across	14. Mama Morton of "Chicago," for one
7 Across	38. Marauder's Map encryption phrase in "Harry Potter"
8 Across	24. Maroon and mahogany, for two
9 Across	17. Much of Mali
10 Across	15. Meaning of "mono-"

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: "20. Multicolored implements in many art drawers"

Hints:

First letter's a 'M', last letter's a 'S'.
Pattern-wise it looks like: M__________S
It's a 12-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

MAGICMARKERS

2 Across: "28. Muscular part of a marathoner"

Hints:

Kicks off with 'L' and wraps up with 'G'.
Short form / acronym territory here.
You could also think of it as "pegleg."

Answer:

Click to reveal

LEG

3 Across: "34. Make sure not to miss it!"

Hints:

Close enough in meaning: remind.
You're looking for 3 letters.
Starts with 'C', ends with 'E'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

CUE

4 Across: "52. Munificent man"

Hints:

This one runs 6 letters long.
Kicks off with 'S' and wraps up with 'R'.
Blank it out and you get: S____R

Answer:

Click to reveal

SHARER

5 Across: "1. "Melts in your mouth" candies ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme"

Hints:

Count on 6 letters here.
Starts with 'M', ends with 'S'.
If that helps, the shape is: M____S

Answer:

Click to reveal

MANDMS

6 Across: "14. Mama Morton of "Chicago," for one"

Hints:

If that helps, the shape is: M____N
Kicks off with 'M' and wraps up with 'N'.
Count on 6 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

MATRON

7 Across: "38. Marauder's Map encryption phrase in "Harry Potter""

Hints:

You're looking for 15 letters.
First letter's a 'M', last letter's a 'D'.
If that helps, the shape is: M_____________D

Answer:

Click to reveal

MISCHIEFMANAGED

8 Across: "24. Maroon and mahogany, for two"

Hints:

Blank it out and you get: S____S
Close enough in meaning: shadow.
First letter's a 'S', last letter's a 'S'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SHADES

9 Across: "17. Much of Mali"

Hints:

Think of it this way — the world's largest desert (3.
You're looking for 6 letters.
First letter's a 'S', last letter's a 'A'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SAHARA

10 Across: "15. Meaning of "mono-""

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

ONE

Down Clues - 10 Total

These run top to bottom in the grid.

Down Clues List
Number	Clue
1 Down	62. Musician Cooke who sang "You Send Me"
2 Down	56. Miniature maze runners
3 Down	58. Medical mass
4 Down	10. Musters support for, as a mission
5 Down	8. Marmot or marmoset
6 Down	48. Military groups that meet in battle
7 Down	27. Map word in Marseille
8 Down	3. Maximum degree in math
9 Down	57. Major misfortunes
10 Down	5. Maxims discouraging misconduct

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

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

1 Down: "62. Musician Cooke who sang "You Send Me""

Hints:

Starts with 'S', ends with 'M'.
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
You're looking for 3 letters.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SAM

2 Down: "56. Miniature maze runners"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

MICE

3 Down: "58. Medical mass"

Hints:

'clog' points in the same direction.
Starts with 'C', ends with 'T'.
Count on 4 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

CLOT

4 Down: "10. Musters support for, as a mission"

Hints:

You could also think of it as "punt."
Kicks off with 'B' and wraps up with 'S'.
This one runs 5 letters long.

Answer:

Click to reveal

BACKS

5 Down: "8. Marmot or marmoset"

Hints:

You could also think of it as "fauna."
Kicks off with 'A' and wraps up with 'L'.
It's a 6-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ANIMAL

6 Down: "48. Military groups that meet in battle"

Hints:

Kicks off with 'A' and wraps up with 'S'.
It's a 6-letter word.
You could also think of it as "USA."

Answer:

Click to reveal

ARMIES

7 Down: "27. Map word in Marseille"

Hints:

Kicks off with 'I' and wraps up with 'I'.
Short form / acronym territory here.
It's a 3-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ICI

8 Down: "3. Maximum degree in math"

Hints:

This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
'n-th' points in the same direction.
Kicks off with 'N' and wraps up with 'H'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

NTH

9 Down: "57. Major misfortunes"

Hints:

You could also think of it as "ailment."
Count on 4 letters here.
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ILLS

10 Down: "5. Maxims discouraging misconduct"

Hints:

'moral' points in the same direction.
You're looking for 6 letters.
First letter's a 'M', last letter's a 'S'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

MORALS

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:	A bit tricky

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?

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

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.

Thursday, September 3, 2026

Trivia Week 1 Manual for NYT Mini September 03, 2026

Quick NYT Mini Crossword September 03, 2026 (Trivia Week 1) - Solutions

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 03, 2026 — NYT Mini Crossword Grid - Thursday, September 03, 2026

Puzzle Statistics
Detail	Information
Date	September 03, 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	5. She's possessive
2 Across	69. Emmy-winning role for Tina Fey
3 Across	1. Things that have icons
4 Across	17. Show with the classic episodes "The Puffy Shirt" and "The Little Kicks"
5 Across	59. Luxuriates outdoors, in a way
6 Across	23. Successes for sluggers, for short
7 Across	36. "Please give this high priority!"
8 Across	34. Reached a payment date
9 Across	21. On, in French
10 Across	13. She can speak more than 20 languages

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: "5. She's possessive"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

HER

2 Across: "69. Emmy-winning role for Tina Fey"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

LIZ

3 Across: "1. Things that have icons"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

APPS

4 Across: "17. Show with the classic episodes "The Puffy Shirt" and "The Little Kicks""

Hints:

Starts with 'S', ends with 'D'.
You're looking for 8 letters.
Pattern-wise it looks like: S______D

Answer:

Click to reveal

SEINFELD

5 Across: "59. Luxuriates outdoors, in a way"

Hints:

Count on 6 letters here.
Kicks off with 'G' and wraps up with 'S'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

GLAMPS

6 Across: "23. Successes for sluggers, for short"

Hints:

You could also think of it as "rbi."
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
Count on 4 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

RBIS

7 Across: "36. "Please give this high priority!""

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

ASAP

8 Across: "34. Reached a payment date"

Hints:

Blank it out and you get: C_____E
Kicks off with 'C' and wraps up with 'E'.
You're looking for 7 letters.

Answer:

Click to reveal

CAMEDUE

9 Across: "21. On, in French"

Hints:

This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
Kicks off with 'S' and wraps up with 'R'.
Close enough in meaning: Tyre.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SUR

10 Across: "13. She can speak more than 20 languages"

Hints:

This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
First letter's a 'S', last letter's a 'I'.
Pattern-wise it looks like: S__I

Answer:

Click to reveal

SIRI

Down Clues - 10 Total

These run top to bottom in the grid.

Down Clues List
Number	Clue
1 Down	26. Sketches
2 Down	53. Polyhymnia or Clio
3 Down	46. Skilled performer
4 Down	47. 2, 4, 6 and 8, e.g.
5 Down	12. Cause of a squeaky voice, maybe
6 Down	63. Skeleton, say
7 Down	4. Confess, say
8 Down	11. Place for storing belongings in a 32-Across
9 Down	28. Leave a mark
10 Down	18. Factor in a clothing purchase

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

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

1 Down: "26. Sketches"

Hints:

'tipple' points in the same direction.
First letter's a 'D', last letter's a 'S'.
Count on 6 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

DRAFTS

2 Down: "53. Polyhymnia or Clio"

Hints:

'mull' points in the same direction.
You're looking for 4 letters.
Starts with 'M', ends with 'E'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

MUSE

3 Down: "46. Skilled performer"

Hints:

Kicks off with 'A' and wraps up with 'E'.
If that helps, the shape is: A_____E
This one runs 7 letters long.

Answer:

Click to reveal

ARTISTE

4 Down: "47. 2, 4, 6 and 8, e.g."

Hints:

Basically, how long something has existed.
Pattern-wise it looks like: A__S
Short form / acronym territory here.

Answer:

Click to reveal

AGES

5 Down: "12. Cause of a squeaky voice, maybe"

Hints:

You're looking for 6 letters.
Starts with 'H', ends with 'M'.
You could also think of it as "He."

Answer:

Click to reveal

HELIUM

6 Down: "63. Skeleton, say"

Hints:

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

Answer:

Click to reveal

SLED

7 Down: "4. Confess, say"

Hints:

Basically, deliver by singing.
Short form / acronym territory here.
Close enough in meaning: tattle.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SING

8 Down: "11. Place for storing belongings in a 32-Across"

Hints:

Close enough in meaning: snug.
Think of it this way — a small compartment.
It's a 9-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal

CUBBYHOLE

9 Down: "28. Leave a mark"

Hints:

Short form / acronym territory here.
You're looking for 4 letters.
Kicks off with 'S' and wraps up with 'R'.

Answer:

Click to reveal

SCAR

10 Down: "18. Factor in a clothing purchase"

Hints:

'outfit' points in the same direction.
This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
Basically, a display of bad temper.

Answer:

Click to reveal

FIT

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:	Medium

Common Questions About Trivia Week 1

When does the Trivia Week 1 Mini go live?

Typically drops the evening before, around 10 PM ET.

How long should Trivia Week 1 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 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?

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

Search Clues

Sunday, September 27, 2026

Trivia Week 4 NYT Mini September 27, 2026 Solutions & Guide

About Today's Puzzle

Today's Trivia Week 4 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: "25. That's saying something!"

2 Across: "68. Straightaway driving contests"

3 Across: "21. DeVore who co-founded one of the first U.S. agencies for nonwhite models in 1946"

4 Across: "47. Test room"

5 Across: "40. Where many papyrus plants grow"

6 Across: "119. Like wheat beers"

7 Across: "44. Press a case?"

8 Across: "23. Was almost out of supplies"

9 Across: "66. ... transport)(Bigwig's ..."

10 Across: "85. Return to an earlier topic of conversation ... or what six answers in this puzzle literally do"

Down Clues - 10 Total

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

1 Down: "4. "Jackie Brown" star Pam"

2 Down: "104. Twin sister of Sherri on "The Simpsons""

3 Down: "118. Forerunner of the DVD player"

4 Down: "76. Lefty, to a righty"

5 Down: "31. Clothing brand named for perceived generational differences in the '60s"

6 Down: "10. Faith with five pillars"

7 Down: "12. Assumed ownership over"

8 Down: "8. Have a spring in one's step"

9 Down: "87. Purportedly calming compound in some gummies, in brief"

10 Down: "120. "when r u coming?""

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 4

When does the Trivia Week 4 Mini go live?

How long should Trivia Week 4 take me?

Is Trivia Week 4 free to play?

What actually makes someone good at Trivia Week 4?

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

Thursday, September 10, 2026

NYT Mini Trivia Week 2 September 10, 2026 - Hints & Answers

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: "10. Shell in the water"

2 Across: "23. More apt to cut in line, say"

3 Across: "15. Who's that woman in Paris?"

4 Across: "16. Red-haired outdoorsman in Genesis"

5 Across: "33. Literary name that's a letter short of its holder's occupation"

6 Across: "32. Targets for hawks"

7 Across: "31. Cleared of dust, say"

8 Across: "51. Grou_ of _or_oises?"

9 Across: "38. Horror director Aster"

10 Across: "60. Skin-care brand with a "cheer"-ful sounding name"

Down Clues - 10 Total

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

1 Down: "36. Pitching staff?"

2 Down: "11. Min_sc_le q_antity?"

3 Down: "12. Reposed"

4 Down: "9. Go *clunk*"

5 Down: "4. Despair"

6 Down: "3. Something you might search for in vein?"

7 Down: "53. Completely savage"

8 Down: "24. Incautious"

9 Down: "47. Say again"

10 Down: "1. Winter coat?"

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

4 Down: "9. Go clunk"