The clue "Workout facilities" straightforwardly refers to places designed for exercise and physical fitness. GYMS is the correct answer because it is a common term for such spaces where people engage in workouts, including weightlifting, cardio, and group fitness activities.
5LEAK????✨ See Why
This clue uses wordplay. A “pipe dream” is a fantasy, but the clue says “just the opposite,” so we’re looking for a real-life pipe problem. That points to a LEAK, something you don’t want coming from a pipe.
6In good spiritsJOLLY?????✨ See Why
The clue "In good spirits" refers to being cheerful or happy. "JOLLY" directly means jovial, merry, or showing high spirits, making it a fitting synonym for the clue. No wordplay or special indicators are present, so the straightforward synonym works perfectly here.
7Up to the taskABLE????✨ See Why
The phrase "Up to the task" means being competent or capable of handling something. The word ABLE directly aligns with this definition, as it describes someone who has the skill, ability, or competence to complete a task effectively. The clue and answer share synonymous meanings.
8Headache-inducing situationMESS????✨ See Why
The answer "MESS" fits because a messy situation is often chaotic or disorganized, leading to frustration or stress—commonly associated with a "headache." This clue uses a straightforward comparison between disarray and the mental toll it can cause. Thus, MESS aptly describes a headache-inducing scenario.
Down
1Boston newspaperGLOBE?????✨ See Why
The answer "GLOBE" refers to The Boston Globe, a prominent newspaper based in Boston. The clue uses the city's name directly, and "Globe" is well-known as part of the newspaper's title, making it the straightforward solution.
2TALKS LIKE THISYELLS?????✨ See Why
The clue "TALKS LIKE THIS" suggests a manner of speaking, emphasized by the all-caps format resembling shouting. This aligns with the idea of speaking loudly or forcefully, which is accurately described by the answer "YELLS." The clue’s format acts as a visual hint for the solution.
3Mallard ducks with green heads, e.g.MALES?????✨ See Why
Male mallard ducks are identifiable by their vibrant green heads, a key characteristic that distinguishes them from females, who have brown plumage. The clue describes this example of sexual dimorphism, with "e.g." signaling a specific category—MALES being the appropriate classification.
4SKY???✨ See Why
The clue "Drone's zone" refers to where drones, like aerial vehicles, typically operate. Drones fly in the open air, which is commonly referred to as the "sky." Thus, the answer is SKY, highlighting the primary area where drones are active.
6Rock outJAM???✨ See Why
The phrase "Rock out" is a playful clue with a hint of wordplay. "Rock out" can refer to playing or enjoying music energetically, which aligns with the musical concept of a "JAM" session, where musicians play together freely. Thus, JAM fits as a synonym for "Rock out."
Solving today’s NYT Mini Puzzle and stuck on the 5-letter answer to the In good spirits 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.
In good spirits Answer Explained
The answer is JOLLY.
At first, I read “in good spirits” and thought about alcohol, maybe something like “TIPSY” or “BUZZED.” But then I remembered that “spirits” can also mean mood, not just drinks. “In good spirits” as a phrase often means cheerful or happy. So the answer is JOLLY, which fits that mood perfectly. It’s also worth noting that many solvers might try “HAPPY” first, which fits perfectly but that's not the right answer for today's grid. This clue teaches us that the same phrase can have multiple meanings fand crossword writers love to play with that ambiguity.
Now that you've cracked the 6A In good spirits 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 Thursday Mini by Joel Fagliano has a mix of wordplay and straightforward clues. There’s a visual pun in all caps, a clever reversal with “pipe dream,” and a few entries that rely on outside knowledge like duck biology and newspapers. Solid mix of tone and topics.
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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