Extinct flightless pigeons (don't worry, you've heard of this answer!)
DODOS
The dodo was a famously extinct, flightless pigeon native to Mauritius. Known for its lack of predators before human arrival, it couldn't adapt to hunting and invasive species, leading to its extinction by the late 1600s. The clue emphasizes its renown with “don’t worry, you’ve heard of this answer!”
Across
The answer is "BAD" because it refers to Bad Bunny, the stage name of Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio. He is a globally renowned Puerto Rican musician known for his contributions to reggaeton and Latin trap music, making "Bad" the fitting word to complete the clue.
4UnaccompaniedALONE?????✨ See Why
The clue "Unaccompanied" directly translates to being by oneself or without company. The word ALONE precisely captures this definition, meaning solitary or without accompaniment, making it the perfect match for the clue.
7Date circled in blue on a Google CalendarTODAY?????✨ See Why
On Google Calendar, the current date is highlighted or circled in blue to indicate "TODAY." This visual cue helps users quickly identify the present day on their schedule, aligning perfectly with the clue's description of a "Date circled in blue."
8Kitchen appliance with burnersSTOVE?????✨ See Why
The answer is STOVE because it is a common kitchen appliance equipped with burners used for cooking or heating food. Burners are the heat-producing components typically found on the surface of a stove, making it a fitting solution for this clue.
9The "S" of GPS: Abbr.SYS???✨ See Why
The solution "SYS" refers to "System," which is the "S" in "GPS," an abbreviation for "Global Positioning System." The clue specifies "Abbr.," indicating the answer is a shortened form, fitting the context of GPS.
Down
1Takes a turn at the plateBATS????✨ See Why
The clue "Takes a turn at the plate" refers to baseball terminology. A "turn at the plate" means a player's opportunity to bat during their team's inning. Therefore, the answer "BATS" fits perfectly, as it describes the action of hitting (or attempting to hit) the ball during that turn.
2Tons and tonsALOT????✨ See Why
The clue "Tons and tons" refers to an informal expression meaning "a large amount." The phrase "a lot" is commonly used to convey this idea, and writing it as ALOT, in line with crossword conventions, fits the space and tone perfectly.
3Extinct flightless pigeons (don't worry, you've heard of this answer!)DODOS?????✨ See Why
The dodo was a famously extinct, flightless pigeon native to Mauritius. Known for its lack of predators before human arrival, it couldn't adapt to hunting and invasive species, leading to its extinction by the late 1600s. The clue emphasizes its renown with “don’t worry, you’ve heard of this answer!”
5Dark shade of blueNAVY????✨ See Why
The answer "NAVY" refers to navy blue, a dark shade of blue. This color is traditionally associated with naval uniforms, which are often this deep blue hue, making it a fitting solution for the clue "Dark shade of blue."
6Googly ___EYES????✨ See Why
The phrase "Googly ___" refers to "googly eyes," which are small, wobbly, adhesive eyes often used for crafts. The clue relies on word association, and "eyes" completes the common phrase perfectly. The playful nature of "googly" hints at this whimsical, figurative connection.
Solving today’s NYT Mini Puzzle and stuck on the 5-letter answer to the Extinct flightless pigeons (don't worry, you've heard of this answer!) 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.
Extinct flightless pigeons (don't worry, you've heard of this answer!) Answer Explained
The answer is DODOS.
The clue refers to "extinct flightless pigeons," and the answer is "DODOS." Dodos were large, flightless birds that lived on Mauritius, an island in the Indian Ocean, and became extinct in the late 1600s due to hunting and habitat destruction after humans arrived. The phrase "don't worry, you've heard of this answer!" cleverly alludes to the fact that dodos are famously recognized as a symbol of extinction. The plural form of the clue matches the plural form in the answer, satisfying the rule for agreement in number.
Now that you've cracked the 3D Extinct flightless pigeons (don't worry, you've heard of this answer!) 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
Just finished today’s Thursday Mini by Joel Fagliano, and it felt smooth at first, but a couple of spots tripped me up more than I expected. Everything was flowing nicely until I hit SYS and DODOS. “DODOS” should’ve been an easy plural, but I hesitated for a second, second-guessing the clue. And “SYS” really slowed me down; it’s one of those crosswordy abbreviations that makes sense after the fact (“S” in GPS), but didn’t click right away. The rest filled in cleanly, but those two entries made it a bit more interesting than your typical quick Thursday run.
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.
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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.
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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.
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In-game Help
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