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Concern for dentists and nuclear physicists - NYT The Mini Clue
Across
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The clue plays on the double meaning of "decay." For dentists, decay refers to tooth decay or cavities, which are a common concern. For nuclear physicists, decay refers to radioactive decay, the process by which unstable atoms lose energy. Hence, "DECAY" connects both fields.
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The clue "Get married in a hurry" hints at skipping formalities or a traditional wedding. The term ELOPE specifically means to run away and marry quickly, often in secret, perfectly matching the idea of a rushed marriage.
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The answer is BIBLE because it is widely recognized as the best-selling book in history. With billions of copies distributed globally over centuries, it holds this record due to its religious significance and cultural impact across Christianity and Judaism. The straightforward clue highlights this factual distinction.
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A torus is a 3D geometric shape resembling a doughnut. Mathematically, it’s generated by rotating a circle around an axis outside the circle, creating the familiar "hole-in-the-middle" structure seen in doughnuts. Hence, "Doughnut's shape, mathematically" perfectly matches with TORUS.
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The clue "Secret collection" hints at something hidden or kept in reserve. "STASH" fits as it refers to a hidden supply or hoard of items, often kept secret. The wordplay here connects the idea of secrecy with the act of stashing something away.
Down
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The Lannister family from Game of Thrones is famously associated with the phrase "A Lannister always pays his debts," symbolizing their reputation for fulfilling obligations, whether financial or personal. "Debts" fits the blank as it completes this iconic saying exactly as it is quoted in the series.
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The answer is ELIOT because T.S. Eliot was a renowned 20th-century poet, famous for works like The Waste Land and The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock. The clue directly references his initials, "T.S.," making ELIOT the fitting solution.
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The answer is COBRA because cobras are snakes known for their signature "hood," created by extending their neck ribs. Additionally, they hiss as a defense mechanism, aligning perfectly with the clue description "Hisser with a hood."
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The solution "APLUS" represents the best-possible test grade in many grading systems, where "A" is the top grade and "plus" enhances it further, indicating exceptional performance. The clue is direct, with no wordplay, simply asking for the highest test score descriptor.
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The clue "Oof, that makes me cringe!" mimics an exclamation or reaction, signaling the answer is a verbal expression. "YEESH" is an informal interjection used to show discomfort, awkwardness, or embarrassment—perfectly capturing the sentiment of cringing at something unpleasant or awkward.
Today’s Game Difficulty
Easy
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Solving today’s NYT Mini Puzzle and stuck on the 5-letter answer to the Concern for dentists and nuclear physicists 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.
Concern for dentists and nuclear physicists Answer Explained
The answer is DECAY.
This one relies on understanding two very different meanings of the same word. Dentists are concerned with tooth decay, or cavities. Nuclear physicists, meanwhile, study radioactive decay, when unstable atoms break down over time. When I see a clue with two professions or disciplines like this, I pause and look for a word that could plausibly apply to both, but in different contexts. That’s a common crossword trick. Other ideas might’ve been “erosion” or “damage,” but those don’t fit quite as cleanly across both worlds. Once I thought of DECAY, it felt just right.
Now that you've cracked the 1A Concern for dentists and nuclear physicists 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 Tuesday Mini from Sam Ezersky, surprisingly gentle for the Spelling Bee editor! All answers are five-letter words, giving the grid a tidy, uniform feel. Clues touch on everything from dental health to math, classic literature, reptiles, and a Game of Thrones quote. No major trickery here, just solid clue-writing and a clean solve.
Here’s what caught our attention today:
- Get married in a hurry
- Doughnut's shape, mathematically
- Secret collection
- Hisser with a hood
- "Oof, that makes me cringe!"
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.
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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.
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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.
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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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