The "D" in "D.J." stands for "Disc," as D.J. abbreviates "Disc Jockey." A disc refers to records or CDs traditionally played by DJs to mix and play music. This solves the clue through its direct reference to the role of a D.J. in music.
5Yet to tie the knotUNWED?????✨ See Why
The clue "Yet to tie the knot" refers to someone who has not gotten married. "Tie the knot" is a phrase meaning to marry, so "unwed" directly describes someone who is not currently married or has not married yet. Thus, the answer is UNWED.
7Clothing material that becomes 3-Down after "doubling" a letterSUEDE?????✨ See Why
This one’s a clever two-part clue. First, “clothing material” points to SUEDE, a soft leather used in jackets and shoes. But then the clue says it becomes 3-Down after “doubling” a letter. That clue is “Stockholm resident,” and the answer there is SWEDE. Replacing the U in SUEDE with a double U (literally a W) leads to SWEDE.
8Like the motion of the oceanTIDAL?????✨ See Why
The answer "TIDAL" fits because it describes the ocean's movement, which is governed by tides. Tides cause regular, rhythmic rising and falling of ocean levels, perfectly aligning with the clue's description of the motion of the ocean. This makes "TIDAL" a natural and accurate choice.
9Actress GarrTERI????✨ See Why
The answer is TERI because Teri Garr is a well-known actress, recognized for roles in films like Young Frankenstein and Tootsie. The clue directly references her last name, making TERI the fitting solution based on her first name. No additional wordplay or hints are involved here.
Down
1
"___ in the Wind" (Kansas classic)
DUST????✨ See Why
The answer is DUST because "Dust in the Wind" is a famous song by the American rock band Kansas. The clue explicitly references this classic, and the blank indicates the missing word in the title.
2People of the ArcticINUIT?????✨ See Why
The clue "People of the Arctic" refers to the Indigenous group traditionally inhabiting Arctic regions of Canada, Greenland, and Alaska, known as the INUIT. The term "Inuit" means "the people" in their native language. This clue directly defines the answer without wordplay or misdirection.
3Stockholm residentSWEDE?????✨ See Why
Stockholm is the capital of Sweden, and a resident of Sweden is called a Swede. The clue directly references Stockholm as a city in Sweden, leading to the answer "SWEDE."
4Traditional wood for a hope chestCEDAR?????✨ See Why
CEDAR is traditionally used for hope chests because it is naturally resistant to insects and decay, making it ideal for storing keepsakes and clothing. Its pleasant aroma also repels moths, protecting stored items like linens from damage. This practical and durable quality aligns with the clue's description.
6Where one looks for loxDELI????✨ See Why
The answer is "DELI" because a deli, short for delicatessen, is a shop known for selling specialty foods like cured meats, cheeses, and smoked fish, including lox (thinly sliced, cured salmon). The clue plays on the expectation that lox is commonly found in such establishments.
Solving today’s NYT Mini Puzzle and stuck on the 5-letter answer to the People of the Arctic clue? Don’t worry—Lady Puzzle Pro has you covered! Whether you want the answer right away, revealed letter by letter, or this wordplay seems too puzzling, keep reading for the explanation.
People of the Arctic Answer Explained
The answer is INUIT.
This one’s asking for a group of Indigenous people native to the Arctic. The answer is INUIT, who primarily live in Canada, Greenland, and Alaska. It’s important to know that “Eskimo” used to be used more broadly, but Inuit is now the preferred and more accurate term for certain northern Indigenous peoples, especially in Canada. Words like “Yupik” or “Aleut” might also seem possible, but INUIT is the most commonly used five-letter group fitting this clue. Knowing a bit of cultural geography helps here.
Now that you've cracked the 2D People of the Arctic clue, you're one step closer to completing today’s Mini Puzzle! If you're still stuck on other clues, don't worry—we've got you covered. Explore more NYT Mini crossword answers right here, or check out our tools for solving the NYT Crossword, Connections, or Strands.
Today’s NYT Mini Highlights
A breezy Monday Mini from Tracy Bennett, Wordle editor, and a bit easier than her usual. Topics include materials, music, geography, and a clever letter-doubling twist. Clean and accessible.
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.
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.
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 check become blue.
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