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NYT’s The Mini Crossword Answers and Hints
Across
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The solution "SMASH" refers to a powerful overhead shot in tennis, typically executed when the ball is hit high above the player's head and forcefully driven downward into the opponent's court. It matches the clue "Overhead tennis shot" because the smash is a classic, aggressive overhead stroke in the sport.
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The answer is PASTA because in Disney's Lady and the Tramp, the iconic romantic scene features the two dogs sharing a plate of spaghetti, a type of pasta. The dish is the setting for their famous kiss, making PASTA the perfect solution.
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The clue "How some solve print crosswords" hints at a solving method. INPEN is the solution because some solvers prefer completing printed crosswords using a pen, which suggests confidence or permanence (as corrections aren't easily made like with a pencil). The clue playfully points to this solving style.
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The clue "Work with dough" refers to the process of manipulating dough in baking. "KNEAD" is a verb meaning to press, fold, and stretch dough to develop its structure and texture, directly aligning with the clue. This straightforward, literal interpretation makes it the correct answer.
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The Bronx Bombers is a nickname for the New York Yankees, a Major League Baseball team based in the Bronx. "Informally" signals a shorter or casual term, and YANKS is a common abbreviation for Yankees, making it the correct answer.
Down
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The clue "Like hair in a mohawk, often" refers to the characteristic appearance of a mohawk hairstyle. Mohawks typically feature hair that stands upright, creating a sharp and pointed texture. The term "SPIKY" accurately describes this distinct, upward, and edgy look, perfectly fitting the clue.
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MANNA is the answer because, in the Book of Exodus, manna refers to the miraculous food provided by God to the Israelites during their journey through the desert. It is described as "bread from heaven," sustaining them when no other sustenance was available.
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ASPEN is the correct answer because it is a prominent ski town in Colorado, famous for its luxurious resorts and world-class ski slopes. As a popular winter destination, it’s widely recognized and often featured in puzzles referencing skiing or Colorado towns.
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The answer is STEAK because steak is a classic entrée typically served with its own knife due to its texture, requiring a sharp blade to cut it properly. The clue’s phrasing hints at a main course ("entrée") inherently linked to a knife, making steak the fitting solution.
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The answer is "HANDS" because a typical human hand has five digits: four fingers and a thumb. The clue uses "typically" to account for rare variations, but the standard anatomical expectation aligns with this solution.
Today’s Game Difficulty
Normal
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Hit a roadblock solving today's NYT The Mini? Lady Puzzle is happy to lend a hand. Click her for hints, reveal the entire puzzle, uncover squares one by one, or explore clue answers. Whatever solving style you prefer, this is your go-to tool for finishing NYT's The Mini Crossword!
Today’s NYT Mini Highlights
Today's Tricky Wordplay
Here's what caught our attention today:
What is NYT The Mini Crossword?
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.
Today's NYT Puzzle Guides by LadyPuzzle Pro
- Today's Wordle
- Connections Hint Today
- NYT Crossword Answers Today
- Strands Answers Today
- Spelling Bee Hints
- Connections Sports Edition (The Athletic)
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 a 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.