The answer "CCS" refers to "carbon copies" in email communication. Including someone as a CC (carbon copy) on an email keeps them "in the loop" by ensuring they receive the message and stay informed, even if it's not directly addressed to them.
4They're kept in the loopBELTS?????✨ See Why
The clue "They're kept in the loop" utilizes a bit of wordplay. A belt is literally threaded through loops on pants to keep it in place. The phrase "kept in the loop" here cleverly refers to the belt being physically held by the loops.
6Love to piecesADORE?????✨ See Why
The clue "Love to pieces" translates to an intense or fervent form of love. The word "ADORE" means to deeply love, cherish, or regard someone or something with affectionate admiration, aligning perfectly with the clue's sentiment. Thus, ADORE is the fitting solution.
7CrazeMANIA?????✨ See Why
The clue "Craze" refers to an intense enthusiasm or obsession for something, which aligns perfectly with the definition of "MANIA." "Mania" is often used to describe a frenzy or extreme excitement, making it a fitting synonym for "Craze."
8Single weightlifting unitREP???✨ See Why
In weightlifting, a "rep," short for repetition, refers to one complete motion of an exercise (e.g., a single lift or movement). The clue "Single weightlifting unit" directly describes this term, making REP the correct answer.
Down
1Type of wood in Horace Slughorn's wand in the Harry Potter booksCEDAR?????✨ See Why
CEDAR is the answer because in the Harry Potter series, Horace Slughorn’s wand is described as being made of cedar wood. This matches the clue explicitly, as it asks for the specific type of wood used in his wand, directly referencing the books' details.
2What might have you seeing double?CLONE?????✨ See Why
The clue "What might have you seeing double?" is wordplay. A clone is an exact duplicate of something, effectively creating a copy, or "double." This clever phrasing hints at reproduction or duplication, which aligns perfectly with the idea of cloning. Hence, the answer is CLONE.
3Cartoonist's creationSTRIP?????✨ See Why
The answer "STRIP" refers to a "comic strip," which is a form of art and storytelling commonly created by cartoonists. Cartoonists design sequences of drawings, usually displayed in a linear format, to depict humor or storytelling, fitting perfectly as their "creation."
4"Ka-POW!"BAM???✨ See Why
The clue "Ka-POW!" is written in quotes, signaling a nonverbal sound effect. "BAM," like "Ka-POW," is an onomatopoeic word used to represent the sound of a sudden impact or explosion, commonly seen in comic books. It perfectly captures the same dramatic effect as "Ka-POW!"
5The Caribbean, e.g.SEA???✨ See Why
The clue "The Caribbean, e.g." refers to what the Caribbean is categorized as geographically. The Caribbean is a large body of saltwater connected to the Atlantic Ocean, making it a SEA. The abbreviation "e.g." (for example) indicates that the answer describes what the Caribbean represents.
Solving today’s NYT Mini Puzzle and stuck on the 5-letter answer to the They're kept in the loop 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.
They're kept in the loop Answer Explained
The answer is BELTS.
This one’s clever because it plays on the same phrase as the previous clue—“kept in the loop,” but with a totally different meaning. This time, it’s literal: we’re talking about something that goes in a loop and gets kept there. BELTS fit the bill perfectly. They loop through belt loops on pants and stay there to do their job. The wording “they’re kept” also hints that the answer is plural. You might briefly think of “ROPES” or “TIES,” but BELTS makes the most sense once you read it through with that physical loop in mind.
Now that you've cracked the 4A They're kept in the loop 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
Today’s Wednesday Mini by Ian Livengood is tight and clever. It uses a fun double take on “keeping in the loop,” once with email lingo, once literally with clothing. There’s also a touch of pop culture, fitness, and magical trivia. A mix of modern and classic themes packed into a small grid.
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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