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NYT’s The Mini Crossword Answers and Hints
Across
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The answer "RUST" is a metaphor for the effects of inactivity or lack of practice. Just as metal rusts when unused, skills or abilities can "rust" or deteriorate without regular use or practice, making this a fitting figurative description.
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The answer is INCH because the width of an adult thumb is commonly close to about an inch, making it a rough yet practical measurement approximation. This clue plays on everyday observations to connect the size of a thumb with the standard unit of measurement.
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The answer is DIARY because a diary typically contains private, personal entries or written reflections that are not meant to be shared publicly. The word "entries" in the clue refers to the pages or written thoughts in the diary, making it a fitting solution.
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In disc golf, players aim to throw discs into a basket, often navigating natural obstacles. A tree is a common hazard on courses, blocking shots or deflecting discs. The clue directly links the sport and the difficulty trees can pose, making TREE the fitting answer.
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The answer is EYES because the emoji of two wide-open eyes often conveys curiosity or being intrigued, as if someone is attentively observing or awaiting more details. The question mark in the clue signals playful interpretation, referencing the emoji’s nonverbal expression of interest or fascination.
Down
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The answer "RID" fits the clue "Dispose (of)" because "rid" means to eliminate or get rid of something. The phrase "dispose of" is synonymous with this action, making "RID" a concise and accurate solution to the clue.
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The clue "Bring together" directly defines the word UNITE. To "unite" means to join, combine, or bring elements together into a whole, making it a precise match for the clue. No wordplay or special indicators are involved here; it’s a straightforward synonym.
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The clue "Like graveyards at night" evokes an eerie and unsettling atmosphere, often associated with fear or spookiness. The word "SCARY" perfectly captures this mood, as graveyards at night are stereotypically quiet, dark, and ominous, provoking feelings of fear or unease.
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The answer is THREE because the New York Times crossword requires a minimum of three letters for any valid answer. This is a standard rule of construction in the puzzle to ensure all answers meet a minimum length for clarity and quality.
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The clue "Totally with you!" is in quotation marks, signaling a spoken or conversational phrase. "YES" is a direct way to express complete agreement or alignment with someone, matching the sentiment of being "totally with you" in a supportive or agreeable way.
Today’s Game Difficulty
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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 Friday Mini by Joel Fagliano is clever but approachable. It mixes everyday language with a few fun twists—think emojis, metaphors, and even a nod to crossword structure. A couple clues play on double meanings, making it just tricky enough for a 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.