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NYT’s The Mini Crossword Answers and Hints

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Whatever solving style you prefer, this is your go-to tool for finishing NYT's The Mini Crossword!

Today’s NYT Mini Highlights with Answers Explained

Wyna Liu’s Sunday puzzle brings a refreshing mix of creativity and challenge that perfectly showcases her constructing flair. The grid features clever wordplay and intriguing themes that engage solvers from start to finish. Whether you're a seasoned player or a newcomer, this puzzle invites everyone to flex their mental muscles and enjoy the solving experience. It's a delightful way to spend a Sunday!

One of Franklin's certainties in life

The answer is TAXES.
This clue refers to the famous quote by Benjamin Franklin, stating that nothing is certain except death and taxes. It's a straightforward reference, making it easy for many solvers to connect the dots. If you found this one tricky, don’t worry—who hasn’t felt a bit overwhelmed by tax season? Just remember, even Franklin knew the struggle of financial responsibilities!

When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's

The answer is AMORE.
This clue is a delightful nod to the classic song "That's Amore" by Dean Martin. The lyric paints a vivid picture, making it a memorable phrase for many solvers. If you were stumped, just think of romantic scenes with a sprinkle of Italian charm—now you can’t help but smile at the thought of love and pizza!

Smokin' hot

The answer is SEXY.
This straightforward clue taps into the familiar slang for attractiveness. The phrase smokin' hot is often used to describe someone who is particularly appealing. If this one slipped by, don’t sweat it—it can be a little subjective! Just remember, confidence can make anyone feel sexy, no matter the context!

Search for : "google" :: make a copy of : ""

The answer is XEROX.
This clue presents an analogy that plays with brand names becoming verbs. Just as to Google something means to search online, to Xerox something means to make a copy. This clever connection highlights how brand names can dominate our vocabulary. If this puzzled you, don’t fret! Just think of the last time you needed a copy—and you’ll be right back on track!

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

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.