The answer "STAVE" fits because "stave off" is a phrase meaning to fend off or repel something, often an undesirable situation or threat. The clue's parentheses signal a synonym or closely related term, making "stave" the perfect match.
Across
The answer is MASON because a mason is a skilled worker who constructs or repairs structures like walls using bricks and a thick mix, typically mortar or cement, to bind them together. The clue directly describes their task of applying this mix to bricks.
6Volvos or VWsAUTOS?????✨ See Why
The clue "Volvos or VWs" refers to types of vehicles. Both Volvo and Volkswagen (VW) are well-known car brands. The word "autos" is a short form of "automobiles," which simply means cars. Thus, AUTOS is the correct answer as it broadly encompasses both brands.
7"Wow, that's wild!"CRAZY?????✨ See Why
The clue "Wow, that's wild!" is in quotes, signaling a colloquial or expressive phrase. "Crazy" aligns perfectly as a slang term often used to describe something astonishing, wild, or unbelievable, capturing the same tone as the clue's exclamation. It's a conversational match.
8Peaceful placeHAVEN?????✨ See Why
The answer "HAVEN" suits the clue "Peaceful place" because a haven is commonly defined as a safe, calm, and secure refuge—exactly what a peaceful place represents. The word encapsulates a location offering tranquility and protection, making it an apt match for this straightforward clue.
9Key above ~ on a MacESC???✨ See Why
On a Mac keyboard, the "Esc" (Escape) key is located in the top-left corner, directly above the tilde (~) key. The clue references this specific physical placement, making "ESC" the correct answer.
Down
1___ 1 (speed of sound)MACH????✨ See Why
The term "MACH" is used in aerodynamics to describe the speed of an object relative to the speed of sound. "MACH 1" specifically refers to traveling at the exact speed of sound. The blank in the clue signals "MACH" as the prefix, making it the correct answer.
2Emanating glowAURA????✨ See Why
The answer "AURA" fits "Emanating glow" because an aura refers to an intangible, often luminous, radiance or energy surrounding a person, place, or object. It directly aligns with the idea of something glowing or emanating a subtle light or presence. This definition captures the essence of the clue.
3Fend (off)STAVE?????✨ See Why
The answer "STAVE" fits because "stave off" is a phrase meaning to fend off or repel something, often an undesirable situation or threat. The clue's parentheses signal a synonym or closely related term, making "stave" the perfect match.
4Seeps slowlyOOZES?????✨ See Why
The word "oozes" means to flow or seep out slowly, such as a liquid or substance that moves gradually. This matches the clue "Seeps slowly," as it directly describes the same slow, steady action. The term is fitting and consistent with the clue's straightforward language.
5Boy band with the 2000 hit "It's Gonna Be Me"NSYNC?????✨ See Why
NSYNC is the correct answer because it is a famous boy band from the late 1990s and early 2000s. Their hit song "It's Gonna Be Me," released in 2000, topped the charts and is closely associated with the group, making them the solution to this clue.
Solving today’s NYT Mini Puzzle and stuck on the 5-letter answer to the Fend (off) 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.
Fend (off) Answer Explained
The answer is STAVE.
The clue "Fend (off)" leads to the answer "STAVE." The word "STAVE" means to ward off or repel something, aligning perfectly with "Fend (off)." The use of "Fend (off)" suggests an action or effort to keep something at bay, making "STAVE" the right fit. Additionally, the parenthetical "(off)" reinforces the sense of actively pushing something away, directly linked to the definition of "STAVE." The wording matches the context, ensuring a straightforward connection between the clue and the answer.
Now that you've cracked the 3D Fend (off) 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
I just wrapped up today’s Tuesday NYT Mini by Ian Livengood, the editor of The Midi and PIPS , and it struck a nice balance; it was quick but not entirely mindless. A couple of clues slowed me down in a good way, especially STAVE. It’s one of those words that feels familiar, but the “fend (off)” meaning isn’t the first definition that comes to mind, so it took a second to click. I also appreciated the small nostalgic hit with NSYNC. Cluing them via “It’s Gonna Be Me” is pretty classic at this point, but it still lands; early-2000s pop culture has a way of sticking with you, whether you expect it or not. The grid had a nice mix overall, with straightforward entries to get you going and just enough curveballs to keep it engaging. Definitely felt like a smooth, well-edited Tuesday solve.
Here’s what caught our attention today:
About NYT The Mini
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.