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Like Mini crosswords ... and a phonetic description of this puzzle? - NYT The Mini Clue
Across
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The clue references compass directions. WSW (west-southwest) is 247.5° on a compass. The direction opposite to it is 180° away, which is 67.5°, corresponding to ENE (east-northeast). ENE is the precise direction opposite of WSW on a compass.
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The answer "SPEW" fits because it means to eject forcefully in a stream, often associated with liquids or gases. This matches the imagery of lava erupting from a volcano in a forceful, uncontrolled manner. The clue's phrasing, "Shoot out," directly aligns with this definition of "SPEW."
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The clue "In what place?" directly asks for a word used to inquire about a location. "WHERE" is the question word in English specifically used to ask for a location or place, making it the perfect fit for this straightforward clue.
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The clue "Plants you didn't plant, perhaps" uses a pun, indicated by the question mark. WEEDS fit because they are plants that grow unintentionally or without being planted deliberately, often considered undesirable. The "perhaps" acknowledges the idea that these plants were not intentionally cultivated.
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This clue has a question mark, which signals wordplay. Mini crosswords are usually simple, so EASY makes sense. But there’s more: “a phonetic description of this puzzle?” refers to how “EASY” sounds like “E-Z.” That ties into the grid itself (E’s are circled), highlighting how E-heavy the puzzle is. It’s a fun layered pun: the puzzle is both easy to solve and literally full of E’s.
Down
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The answer is "EPEES" because epees are a type of sword used in fencing. Fencing involves three weapons: foil, saber, and epee. The epee is distinct for its heavier weight and larger guard and is used in modern fencing competitions, making it a correct fit for "Fencing swords."
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The clue "Prone to geeking out" describes someone enthusiastic about niche interests or hobbies, often linked to intellectual or "geeky" pursuits. "NERDY" perfectly fits this characterization, as it refers to someone who exhibits passionate, detail-oriented fascination, often associated with "geeking out." The clue directly aligns with this definition.
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The clue plays with wordplay: "EWES" (female sheep) sounds like "U’s," a vowel that is missing from the puzzle, making it a playful pun. The question mark hints at the playful, indirect connection between the animals and the sound of the missing vowel.
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The answer is SHEA because the Beatles performed at Shea Stadium in New York City on August 15, 1965, in one of the most famous concerts of their career. Shea Stadium was home to the New York Mets and hosted many historical events before its demolition in 2009.
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WWE stands for World Wrestling Entertainment, the professional wrestling organization where Hulk Hogan and John Cena became major stars. Both are iconic figures in WWE history, making it the correct answer for this clue referring to their organization.
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Solving today’s NYT Mini Puzzle and stuck on the 4-letter answer to the Like Mini crosswords ... and a phonetic description of this puzzle? 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.
Like Mini crosswords ... and a phonetic description of this puzzle? Answer Explained
The answer is EASY.
This clue ends in a question mark, which signals wordplay or a pun. First, the surface meaning: Mini crosswords are short and usually less difficult, so EASY fits. But then there’s that second layer: “a phonetic description of this puzzle?” When I think about how the word “EASY” sounds—“E-Z”—I (like many Es, see the circles) and that ties to the puzzle itself, which is packed with the letter E and missing the vowel U entirely. So it’s a play on the sound and structure of the grid: an E-heavy puzzle that’s “E-Z” to solve.
Now that you've cracked the 7A Like Mini crosswords ... and a phonetic description of this puzzle? 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 clever Thursday Mini by Christina Iverson that lives up to its meta answer: EASY (but only if you solve it across)! The downs are trickier, making the pun land perfectly. Another layer? The puzzle avoids a certain vowel (hinted at in one clue), and all the circled letters are Es. Turns out it’s an E-heavy grid with a missing U. A compact but layered construction!
Here’s what caught our attention today:
- Direction opposite of WSW
- Shoot out, as lava from a volcano
- Fencing swords
- Prone to geeking out
- Farm animals that sound like vowels not seen in this puzzle?
- Stadium at which the Beatles performed an iconic 1965 concert
- Org. for Hulk Hogan and John Cena
About NYT The Mini
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.
Leaderboards
It’s an additional social resource provided by NYT. You can add friends (up to 100 invitees) to track daily completion and compete.