The clue "TikTok or Tinder" refers to both being examples of software applications commonly used on smartphones. The abbreviation for an application is "APP," making it the correct and concise answer.
4ABA???✨ See Why
ABA is the solution because it stands for the American Bar Association, a professional organization for lawyers in the United States. The clue "Lawyers' org." directly hints at an association or group related to lawyers, making ABA the fitting answer.
7Place with Bunsen burners and beakers, in briefCHEMLAB???????✨ See Why
The clue "Place with Bunsen burners and beakers, in brief" hints at a shortened term for a location where these items are used. Bunsen burners and beakers are standard tools in a chemistry laboratory, often abbreviated as "CHEMLAB." The "in brief" indicates the abbreviation.
9Product that can be sampled with a spray on the wristCOLOGNE???????✨ See Why
The clue refers to a product commonly sprayed on the wrist for testing, which is perfume or fragrance. COLOGNE, a type of scented product, fits perfectly as it is typically sprayed on pulse points, like the wrist, to sample its aroma.
10Visibly muscularTONED?????✨ See Why
The solution "TONED" fits the clue "Visibly muscular" because it describes a well-defined, firm appearance of muscles, achieved through exercise or fitness. "Visibly" emphasizes the physical appearance, which aligns with "TONED" being a term for muscles that are noticeable but not overly bulky.
11Groceries carrierTOTEBAG???????✨ See Why
The answer "TOTEBAG" fits because a tote bag is a practical and reusable container commonly used to carry groceries. The clue "Groceries carrier" directly describes its function, making "TOTEBAG" the logical solution. The word is also consistent with straightforward language and common knowledge.
13EGOTRIP???????✨ See Why
The clue "Self-indulgent 'journey'" with a pun indicated by the quotation marks suggests a figurative interpretation. "Ego trip" is a phrase describing a self-indulgent activity or behavior centered on self-importance, metaphorically resembling a personal "journey" focused on one's ego. Hence, EGOTRIP is the fitting answer.
14AOL alternativeMSN???✨ See Why
The clue "AOL alternative" suggests another well-known online service similar to AOL. MSN (Microsoft Network) was a competing internet service and web portal during the same era, offering email, messaging, and news. Both services were popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s, making MSN a fitting alternative.
15Things that phone users might accidentally tap on webpagesADS???✨ See Why
The answer "ADS" fits because ads (advertisements) are often embedded within webpages and can be accidentally tapped by phone users due to their placement or size. This is a common frustration when browsing on smaller screens, making "ADS" a logical solution for the clue.
Down
1Sports org. that now includes schools from Texas and California, strangely enoughACC???✨ See Why
The ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) is a collegiate sports organization traditionally focused on the eastern U.S. Despite its name, it has recently expanded to include schools from Texas and California, notably far from the Atlantic coast. The "strangely enough" indicates this geographic inconsistency, justifying ACC as the answer.
2Hobbyists with cameras, informallyPHOTOGS???????✨ See Why
The answer "PHOTOGS" is a casual, shortened term for "photographers," who often engage in photography as a hobby. The clue specifies "informally," signaling a colloquial or abbreviated form, making "PHOTOGS" the perfect fit for hobbyists who enjoy using cameras.
3Big name in exercise bikesPELOTON???????✨ See Why
PELOTON is the answer because it is a popular brand known for its high-tech exercise bikes and fitness equipment. The phrase "Big name" points to a widely recognized brand, and Peloton has become synonymous with at-home cycling workouts and virtual fitness classes.
4ALGEBRA???????✨ See Why
The clue "Solve for x" subject refers to a mathematical topic where finding the value of "x" in an equation is a fundamental task. This is a hallmark of ALGEBRA, a branch of math focused on solving equations involving variables like "x". Hence, the answer is ALGEBRA.
5Temporary fix, so to speakBANDAID???????✨ See Why
The clue "Temporary fix, so to speak" uses wordplay. A "BANDAID" is a literal temporary fix for a wound, but it’s also metaphorically used to describe a quick, short-term solution that doesn't address deeper issues. The phrase "so to speak" hints at this figurative interpretation.
6Pres. LincolnABE???✨ See Why
The clue "Pres. Lincoln" refers to Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States. "ABE" is a common and widely recognized nickname for Abraham Lincoln, making it the succinct and fitting answer to this crossword clue.
8MONET?????✨ See Why
The answer "MONET" is a pun on the phrase "Show me the money." At an art museum, this playfully references Claude Monet, a famous artist. The question mark in the clue signals this wordplay, linking art (Monet) and the familiar phrase.
11President pro ___TEM???✨ See Why
The term "President pro __" is short for "President pro tempore," a senior member of the Senate—typically the longest-serving senator of the majority party—who presides over the Senate in the Vice President's absence. "Pro tempore" is often abbreviated to "pro tem," giving us the answer "TEM."
12Road trip assistance, for shortGPS???✨ See Why
The answer "GPS" fits because it refers to the Global Positioning System, which provides navigation assistance, essential for road trips. The clue specifies "for short," indicating an abbreviation, aligning perfectly with "GPS." It's a clear and concise way to help travelers find their routes.
Solving today’s NYT Mini Puzzle and stuck on the 3-letter answer to the Sports org. that now includes schools from Texas and California, strangely enough 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.
Sports org. that now includes schools from Texas and California, strangely enough Answer Explained
The answer is ACC.
This clue plays with geography. The ACC is the Atlantic Coast Conference, so you'd expect East Coast schools. But the twist is real: in recent college sports reshuffling, schools from way outside the East (like in Texas and California) have joined. That shift is what makes this clue work. If you’re not up on recent NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) changes, this might trip you up. The answer ACC doesn’t feel intuitive when thinking about the West, but it reflects how much college conferences have changed in recent years. It’s a current-events clue disguised as a trivia one.
Now that you've cracked the 1D Sports org. that now includes schools from Texas and California, strangely enough 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
This Saturday Mini by Sam Ezersky, the editor of Spelling Bee, is a 7x7 grid—slightly larger than the usual Mini, as is typical on Saturdays. What stands out here is the high clue count: many of the answers are short (3- and 4-letter entries), which means more clues than usual (18), and that gives solvers more footholds early on. The cluing is tighter and less deceptive than what we often see from Sam, who’s known for some of the trickiest Minis in the rotation. That said, there’s still some cleverness sprinkled in. The topics span classic children's books, fast food slang, an artsy museum abbreviation, and some playful everyday vocabulary. There’s wordplay, but it’s not too layered. Overall, a solid Saturday challenge that feels a bit more approachable than Sam’s usual curveballs.
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.
Leaderboards
It’s an additional social resource provided by NYT. You can add friends (up to 100 invitees) to track daily completion and compete.