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NYT’s The Mini Crossword Answers and Hints

Across

  • FDR refers to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the only U.S. president to serve four terms (1933–1945). He was elected during the Great Depression and led the country through World War II. The U.S. Constitution was later amended to limit presidents to two terms, ensuring his record remains unique.

  • The answer "HIE" is correct because in Shakespearean English, "hie" means to hasten or hurry. It was commonly used in Elizabethan language, aligning with the time period of Shakespeare's works. This clue directly points to the archaic term for "hurry," fitting the context perfectly.

  • IRELAND is the answer because it is the only country with a musical instrument—the harp—as its official national emblem. The Irish harp has deep cultural and historical significance, symbolizing Ireland's rich musical and artistic heritage. This sets it apart from other nations, which typically use animals, plants, or symbols.

  • The clue "Big name in rum" refers to BACARDI, one of the most famous and widely recognized rum brands globally. Founded in 1862, Bacardi is a leading producer of rum and a household name in the spirits industry, making it a fitting answer to this clue.

  • The answer is CARDIB because Cardi B, a prominent female rapper, holds the record for the most Billboard #1 hits (five) among female rappers. These include chart-topping singles like "Bodak Yellow" and "I Like It," solidifying her landmark musical achievements in this category.

  • The answer "SUNDIAL" fits because it is an ancient device used to track time by the position of the sun's shadow on a marked surface. This tool predates mechanical clocks, making it an early and effective method for measuring hours in history.

  • The answer "ALT" completes the familiar keyboard command "Ctrl-Alt-Del." This key combination is commonly used on computers to open a task manager or restart the system. The clue directly references this well-known sequence, making "ALT" the correct answer.

  • The solution "NNE" (North-Northeast) is the compass point directly opposite "SSW" (South-Southwest). Compass directions are 180 degrees apart when opposite, so moving directly opposite SSW on the compass gives you NNE. This directional pairing is common in orientation/clue-solving contexts.

  • The clue "Used to be" refers to something in the past, indicating a past-tense state of being. "Was" is the past tense of the verb "to be," making it the correct and fitting solution. It's a straightforward linguistic connection.

  • Jupiter and Saturn are referred to as "gas giants" because they are massive planets primarily composed of hydrogen and helium, both gases. The word "primarily" in the clue highlights their dominant gas-based composition, making GAS the fitting solution for this clue.

Down

  • The answer "FIB" fits the clue "Small lie" because a "fib" refers to a minor, harmless untruth, aligning perfectly with the idea of a "small lie." It's a straightforward synonym that reflects the clue's meaning directly.

  • The answer is DRACULA because Count von Count, a vampire character on "Sesame Street," is a playful parody of the famed vampire Count Dracula. Both share characteristics like fangs, Transylvanian accents, and a fascination with counting—though von Count humorously focuses on numbers instead of blood.

  • The answer "RECANTS" fits because it means to formally withdraw or take back a statement or testimony, often in a legal or public setting. The clue "Takes back, as testimony" directly describes this action of retracting or disavowing a previous declaration.

  • The answer is HARDING because Warren G. Harding served as the U.S. president from 1921 to 1923, fitting the timeline specified in the clue for a 1920s president.

  • The answer is INDIANA because the W.N.B.A. team called the Indiana Fever is based in Indianapolis, which is in the state of Indiana. The clue directly references the team's home location.

  • The clue "Weed gummies" refers to cannabis-infused gummy candies. These are commonly known as EDIBLES because they are edible forms of marijuana, consumed by eating rather than smoking. The clue is straightforward, directly pointing to the term used for THC-infused consumables.

  • The answer "LARD" fits because it is a type of fat commonly used as cooking grease. Derived from pig fat, it is often melted and used in frying, baking, or as a shortening, making it a direct match for the clue "Cooking grease".

  • The answer "SAW" works for the clue "Observed" because "saw" can mean to perceive or take notice of something visually, which aligns with the definition of "observed." Both relate to seeing or watching something happen.

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Today’s NYT Mini Highlights

Today’s Saturday Mini (a bigger 7x7) packs plenty of variety and a nice challenge. Two different U.S. presidents anchor the grid, each from very different eras, giving the puzzle a historical thread. But that’s not the only theme, there’s also a splash of Shakespearean English, some science with planets and elements, music references old and new, and even a nod to food culture. The mix keeps solvers hopping between trivia, wordplay, and general knowledge, making for a lively weekend solve.

Today's Tricky Wordplay

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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.

For years, the Mini was free to play daily without a subscription. However, starting August 27, 2025, it became subscriber-only. This change has frustrated many fans, especially as the Mini had grown more ambitious, incorporating themes, wordplay tricks, linked clues, and even echoing entries from the Daily Crossword. In hindsight, these evolutions may have been the Times’ way of positioning the Mini closer to its flagship puzzle.
Here on our page, access is still free, and we also feature the most complete Mini archive and solving resources available anywhere.

We also offer a fresh daily game, Word of Fortune, inspired by Mini-style clues and blending features from other favorites: players must guess a single word from a clue, with the option to spin a wheel for letter hints.

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

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.

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