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NYT’s The Mini Crossword Answers and Hints
Across
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The clue "Computing platform?" includes a question mark, signaling wordplay. Here, "platform" is figurative, suggesting something that supports computing. A DESK is a literal platform where one commonly places devices like computers or laptops, making it a pun on the physical support for computing tasks.
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Campanelle, which translates to "little bells" in Italian, is a type of pasta shaped like small, fluted bells. Since the clue indicates a bell-shaped variety, the answer is PASTA, referring to its form and classification within Italian cuisine.
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The clue refers to Carson Daly, a television personality known for hosting on NBC's Today show. His first name, "Carson," is the solution, as it directly identifies "Daly" from the clue who is associated with Today.
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The clue "Kickstarter supporters" refers to people who financially support projects on the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter. A common term for such supporters is "BACKERS," as they "back" or fund these projects to help them succeed. Hence, "BACKERS" is the correct answer.
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ARMENIA is the answer because it is a landlocked country in the South Caucasus, bordered directly by Georgia to the north and Azerbaijan to the east. The clue references geographic proximity, and ARMENIA fits this description as a neighboring country without access to the sea.
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The clue "Sneaks a peek" describes a quick, discreet look. The word "glances" means brief or casual views, aligning perfectly with "sneaks a peek." Both suggest subtle or fleeting ways of looking, making "GLANCES" the fitting solution.
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The clue "Had a feeling about" directly relates to perceiving or intuitively recognizing something, which aligns with the word "SENSED." To "sense" something is to feel or detect it, making SENSED the correct past-tense form and a perfect match for this clue.
Down
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The clue "Grows dim" directly relates to something losing brightness or clarity. The verb "darkens" means to become darker or less light, matching the clue perfectly. It’s a straightforward definition-based connection, as "darkens" is the process of diminishing light or brightness.
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The answer is ESSENCE because ESSENCE is a renowned magazine primarily focusing on African-American women, covering topics like fashion, culture, and lifestyle. Its 50th anniversary issue celebrated this milestone with supermodel Naomi Campbell on the cover, showcasing an iconic figure aligning with its legacy and mission.
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The clue "Legendary, as one's past" suggests a well-known or celebrated history. "Legendary" implies something remarkable or famous, while "as one's past" ties it to history. "STORIED" fits as it describes something rich in stories or fame, often used to denote a glorified or notable past.
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The University of Kansas, a state school in Kansas, has the mascot "Jayhawk" and its students chant "Rock Chalk, Jayhawk!" at sporting events. This clue directly points to the school and the state it's located in, making "KANSAS" the correct answer.
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The answer is PACMAN because Pac-Man is a classic arcade game character known for navigating a maze and eating "pellets" (small dots) while avoiding ghosts. The clue directly describes this behavior, making PACMAN the perfect fit for the solution.
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The answer is CARLE because Eric Carle is the celebrated author and illustrator of the beloved children's book "The Very Hungry Caterpillar". His distinct collage art style and storytelling have made this book a classic since its publication in 1969.
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The solution is BAGS because golf bags, which hold clubs and accessories, are typically strapped to golf carts for convenience during play. The clue, "Items strapped to a golf cart," directly refers to this common practice on the golf course. Thus, BAGS fits perfectly.
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Hit a roadblock solving today's NYT The Mini? Lady Puzzle is happy to lend a hand. Click her for hints, reveal the entire puzzle, uncover squares one by one, or explore clue answers. Whatever solving style you prefer, this is your go-to tool for finishing NYT's The Mini Crossword!
Today’s NYT Mini Highlights
This 7 x 7 Saturday Mini by Ian Livengood has a little bit of everything—food, geography, pop culture, and even some arcade nostalgia. A couple of clues might trip solvers up if they’re not up on their trivia, but overall, it’s a fun mix that keeps you thinking without being too tricky. A solid, satisfying solve!
Today's Tricky Wordplay
Here's what caught our attention today:
What is NYT The Mini Crossword?
NYT The Mini Crossword is a compact version of the New York Times Crossword puzzle. Usually 5 x 5, with larger grids on Saturdays, it offers mid-week equivalent difficulty clues with no progression over the week. It is accessible to anyone with or without a New York Times account. You can play it on nytimes.com/crosswords, The New York Times Games app (iOS and Android), and the Play tab of the New York Times News app. Games and All Access Subscribers can solve past Mini Crossword puzzles in the archive.
For years, the Mini was free to play daily without a subscription. However, starting August 27, 2025, it became subscriber-only. This change has frustrated many fans, especially as the Mini had grown more ambitious, incorporating themes, wordplay tricks, linked clues, and even echoing entries from the Daily Crossword. In hindsight, these evolutions may have been the Times’ way of positioning the Mini closer to its flagship puzzle.
Here on our page, access is still free, and we also feature the most complete Mini archive and solving resources available anywhere.
We also offer a fresh daily game, Word of Fortune, inspired by Mini-style clues and blending features from other favorites: players must guess a single word from a clue, with the option to spin a wheel for letter hints.
Daily Availability
Puzzles are accessible the evening before the publish date. Weekday and Saturday puzzles: 10 p.m. EST the previous day. Sunday puzzles: 6 p.m. EST on Saturday.
Today's NYT Puzzle Guides by LadyPuzzle Pro
- Today's Wordle
- Connections Hint Today
- NYT Pips Today - Hints & Solutions
- NYT Crossword Answers Today
- Strands Answers Today
- Spelling Bee Hints
- Connections Sports Edition (The Athletic)
How to Play - Features and Tips
Fill white squares with letters to form intersecting words or phrases by solving clues in Across and Down columns. Read our guide to NYT Mini Mastery to learn how to read the different types of clues. Successfully completed puzzle triggers music and a congratulatory message.
Keyboard Shortcuts
- Arrow keys: Change direction within the same square, move in the direction of the arrow, jump back to the first blank in the word, or jump to the next clue.
- Spacebar: Clear the current square, advance, or toggle between Across and Down.
- Backspace (Delete on Macs): Remove words or a letter from a word.
- Tab key: Jump to the next clue.
- Shift + Tab keys: Jump to the previous clue.
- Escape: Enter Rebus mode.
- Pen and Pencil Modes. Switch between pen and pencil modes by selecting the respective icon. Letters in pen mode are black; in pencil mode, gray.
Letter Colors
Black: Default pen mode entries.
Gray: Pencil mode entries.
Blue: Confirmed letters with Check.
Mini Timer
Time your solving with the timer displayed above the puzzle. Pause/resume using the respective buttons. The timer restarts if the entire puzzle is cleared. Option to hide the timer in Puzzle settings.
In-game Help
- Reveal: Unveil correct letters for a square, answer, or the entire puzzle.
- Check: Verify correctness.
The answers you get using help are marked with a red triangle in the upper right-hand corner of the box while those confirmed with a check become blue.
Leaderboards
It’s an additional social resource provided by NYT. You can add friends (up to 100 invitees) to track daily completion and compete.