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NYT’s The Mini Crossword Answers and Hints
Across
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The clue "Places to store shovels and leaf blowers" refers to structures commonly used for outdoor tool storage. SHEDS are small buildings designed specifically for storing such equipment, including shovels, leaf blowers, and other gardening or yard tools, making it the logical and straightforward solution.
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The answer is "WAX" because Babybel cheese is famously coated in a layer of red wax to protect and preserve it, as well as to maintain its freshness and shape. This distinctive wax coating is an iconic feature of Babybel cheese.
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The answer is ALIEN because "Alien vs. Predator" is a 2004 sci-fi film featuring a battle between extraterrestrial creatures from the Alien film franchise and the Predators. The blank in the clue directly refers to the title, making ALIEN the correct fit.
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The answer "LAG" describes a common issue with streaming where there is a delay or slowdown in data transmission, causing interruptions or glitches in playback. The term fits perfectly as a concise, literal explanation for the problem mentioned in the clue.
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The clue "Docking spots" refers to locations where boats or ships are secured. PIERS are structures extending from the shore into the water, commonly used for docking and mooring vessels. Thus, "PIERS" is the appropriate answer as they are literal docking spots.
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The answer "TWANG" refers to the distinctive nasal or resonant sound commonly associated with Southern American accents. It's a defining vocal characteristic in speech patterns from the Southern U.S., making "Feature of a Southern accent" an apt clue.
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The answer is YAM because yams and sweet potatoes are often confused due to their similar appearance. While they're botanically different, they look alike with their starchy, tuberous forms, making YAM the fitting solution to this clue.
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The answer "PRIMO" fits because "primo" is a slang term meaning excellent, first-rate, or top-notch. It originates from the Italian word for "first" and is often used informally in English to describe something of the highest quality, matching the clue perfectly.
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The clue "Greenskeeper's roll of grass" points to SOD because sod is pre-grown grass sold in rolls to cover lawns or golf greens. "Roll" cleverly hints at its rolled-up form when prepared for landscaping, making it essential for a greenskeeper's work.
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The clue "Campfire remnants" directly points to what is left after a campfire burns out. When wood or other materials combust in a fire, the residue left behind is "ASHES," making it the perfect answer. It is a literal interpretation of the clue.
Down
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SWAMP is the nickname for the Florida Gators' football stadium, officially known as Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The term reflects Florida's geography and the intense, sweltering environment the stadium creates, which is said to give the Gators a home-field advantage. Fans often refer to it as "The Swamp."
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HAL is the villainous AI from the film "2001: A Space Odyssey". HAL 9000, the onboard computer, becomes hostile, turning against the crew. The clue directly refers to this iconic antagonist, whose name is widely recognized in pop culture as a symbol of rogue artificial intelligence.
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The word "EXILE" directly means being forced to leave or being cast out from one's country, fitting the clue. It denotes banishment or expulsion, aligning with the idea of being removed from a homeland. The clue explicitly points to this definition without requiring additional wordplay.
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The clue mentions "Uptown Funk" and "Downtown," which are titles of popular musical pieces. The plural phrasing "for two" indicates more than one of a similar item. Both are SONGS, making this the correct answer. The clue directly describes what these items are.
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The phrase "Can I bend your ___ for a second?" is a common idiom where "bend your ear" means to talk to someone, often at length. The question mark signals wordplay, hinting at the figurative use of "ear" as someone’s attention for conversation. Thus, EAR fits perfectly.
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The term "Type A" refers to a personality type characterized by ambition, competitiveness, and high energy, often driving individuals to be goal-oriented and intense. The clue directly describes these traits, making TYPEA the appropriate answer.
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The answer is WAR because War is a straightforward card game designed for two players. The rules are simple: players compare the top cards of their decks, and the higher card wins. It requires no strategy or special skills, making it a quintessential "simple-to-play" game.
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The AMISH are a traditional Christian sect known for their simple, rural lifestyle, eschewing modern technology and conveniences to uphold their values of humility and community. This aligns perfectly with the clue "Simple-living sect," as the Amish epitomize this way of life.
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The term "stock" refers to the inventory a shop owner holds for sale. "Goods" is a fitting synonym for items or products kept in stock by a shop owner, making it the correct answer.
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The answer is MOE because Moe Szyslak is the bartender and owner of Moe's Tavern, a recurring character and central figure in "The Simpsons" series. He is well-known as the local barkeep where Homer and friends frequently gather.
Today’s Game Difficulty
Hard
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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 Friday Mini is something truly special: a double-sized grid shaped like a domino tile, with two Minis stacked vertically. The circled letters even spell out DOMINOES, tying the whole concept together. It’s a rare visual twist for the Mini, and the fact that it comes from Ian Livengood, the editor of the recently launched game Pips, makes the nod extra satisfying. The puzzle isn’t just gimmick, either: the clues run tougher than usual, giving the Friday spot a real bite. A bigger grid, a clever theme, and a playful cross-reference to another word game, a double treat for solvers.
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 Pips Today - Hints & Solutions
- 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.