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NYT’s The Mini Crossword Answers and Hints
Across
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PHIL is the answer because Punxsutawney Phil is the famous groundhog in the U.S. tradition of Groundhog Day. Every February 2nd in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, Phil predicts whether there will be six more weeks of winter based on whether he sees his shadow.
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The clue refers to specific bird varieties: "great blue" and "great white," which are well-known types of herons. The great blue heron and great white heron are large, wading birds commonly found near water. Thus, the answer "HERON" perfectly matches the description in the clue.
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The answer "IMAGE" fits because a P.R. (public relations) firm's main job is to manage and improve an entity's public perception or reputation. "Rehabilitated" here implies restoring or polishing a tarnished reputation, which aligns perfectly with the concept of repairing an "IMAGE."
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The answer LATEX fits because it is a natural rubber material commonly used to make both party balloons and hospital gloves. Its flexibility, elasticity, and durability make it ideal for inflating into balloons and crafting gloves that ensure a protective, snug fit in medical settings.
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The answer is NEST because many animals, such as birds, build their homes using sticks, twigs, and other materials. The clue uses "say" to indicate a general example, and a nest is a common type of "home" constructed in this way.
Down
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The answer is PHIL because Bill Murray's character in the film "Groundhog Day" is named Phil Connors. He is a cynical weatherman who finds himself reliving the same day repeatedly. The blank in the clue directly refers to his first name.
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The answer "HEMAN" fits "Muscled guy" because it refers to He-Man, the famously muscular superhero from the 1980s animated series He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. He-Man embodies strength and physical power, making him a fitting reference for this clue.
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The answer "IRATE" fits the clue "So, so angry" because "irate" directly describes someone who is extremely angry or furious, aligning with the intensity implied by "so, so angry." It is a precise, single-word synonym for strong anger.
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LOGES are small, private seating areas in theaters, often offering better views and more exclusivity. These features make them more expensive than regular seats, justifying "Pricey sections of theaters" as the clue. The term originates from French, meaning "boxes" or "seats in a theater."
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The answer "NEXT" fits because it mimics what a worker might call out when ready to assist the following customer in line. The exclamation point suggests a conversational, spoken response, matching the situational context of a service setting.
Today’s Game Difficulty
Normal
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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 Sunday 5x5 NYT Mini by Ian Livengood has a fun mix of pop culture, nature, and wordplay. The Groundhog Day references stand out, with two clues tied to the movie's main character. There’s also a nice balance between straightforward definitions (like for an angry mood or a muscled guy) and trickier clues, such as the one about theater sections. A quick but 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.