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Foul-smelling - NYT The Mini Clue

Across

  • The phrase "Uncle Sam" is a traditional personification of the U.S. government, often depicted as a figure in patriotic imagery. The clue "Uncle ___" directly points to "Sam" as the missing part of this iconic term.

  • The answer "SPACE" fits the clue "It's full of stars" because outer space contains countless stars, such as those in galaxies and constellations. The clue is straightforward, describing the vast, star-filled expanse beyond Earth's atmosphere.

  • The answer "ZEBRA" fits the clue "It's full of stripes" because zebras are animals known for their distinctive black-and-white striped patterns. The clue is straightforward, describing a key physical feature of zebras, making it the perfect fit.

  • The American Revolutionary War began with the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. Therefore, APRIL is the month when the revolution officially started, making it the correct answer to the clue.

  • The clue "4th of July sales promotions, e.g." refers to how businesses advertise sales during holidays like the 4th of July. "Promotions" suggests advertisements, which are often shortened to "ADS." Thus, ADS is the correct answer, as they represent marketing efforts commonly seen for holiday sales.

Down

  • The answer "SABRA" fits because Sabra is a widely recognized brand specializing in hummus and other Mediterranean-style foods. The clue specifies "Big brand," which emphasizes its prominence in the hummus market. Sabra is a go-to name for many hummus consumers, making it a perfect solution here.

  • The answer "ACRID" fits "Foul-smelling" because it refers to something with a sharp, unpleasant, or harsh odor. The term is often associated with smells that are strong and irritating, like smoke or chemicals, aligning perfectly with the clue’s description.

  • The clue "Breakfast, lunch and dinner" refers to the three main eating occasions of the day, collectively known as MEALS. The plural form matches the clue's list format, aligning perfectly as the solution.

  • The answer is SZA because she collaborated with Kendrick Lamar on the song "All the Stars," which was featured in the Black Panther soundtrack. Though Lamar performed the Super Bowl halftime show solo, SZA is the featured vocalist on this song, making her the correct answer.

  • The term "Lively energy" directly corresponds to "PEP," as it denotes enthusiasm, vigor, or spirited energy. "PEP" is often used to describe someone's liveliness or drive, making it a concise and fitting answer for the clue.

Today’s Game Difficulty

2 / 5
Easy

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Solving today’s NYT Mini Puzzle and stuck on the 5-letter answer to the Foul-smelling 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.

Foul-smelling Answer Explained

The answer is ACRID.

“Foul-smelling” made me think of a bunch of possible adjectives: “stinky,” “rank,” “musty.” But most of those are a bit more informal or don’t have the same harsh, chemical tone as acrid. ACRID is a very crossword-y word—sharp, bitter, and unpleasant, often used to describe smoke or burning rubber. It’s got that smart, SAT-vocab feel. Once I remembered the tone the clue implied—sharp and nose-burning more than earthy or rotten, ACRID became the obvious fit.

Now that you've cracked the 2D Foul-smelling 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 fun and festive Friday Mini from Joel Fagliano for the 4th of July! The puzzle includes a patriotic clue that nods to American Independence Day, adding a celebratory touch. Overall, it’s a light and lively solve, with straightforward cluing and a mix of everyday topics, perfect for a holiday brain break.

Here’s what caught our attention today:

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.

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