NY Times Crossword
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NYT’s The Mini Crossword Answers and Hints
Across
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In the Mario video games, Bowser is the primary antagonist and is commonly depicted as the final challenge or leader of enemies in various levels. The term "BOSS" refers to a powerful enemy or leader in gaming, making it an apt description for Bowser.
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The clue "It's made to measure" refers to an object specifically designed for measuring. A RULER is a tool with marked units (inches, centimeters, etc.) used to measure lengths, aligning perfectly with the clue's straightforward hint. Thus, RULER is the correct answer.
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The answer "ATARI" fits because in the board game Go, "atari" is a term used when a stone or group of stones is in immediate danger of being captured, similar to "check" in chess. The video game company Atari adopted this term, reflecting a strategy-focused, competitive theme.
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The answer is SITUP because it is an exercise similar to a crunch, both targeting abdominal muscles. While a crunch involves a partial lifting of the upper body, a sit-up engages a fuller range of motion by lifting the torso completely upright, making it a logical counterpart to a crunch.
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The clue "Unwelcome message on a graded paper" suggests something a teacher might write to signal a student needs to address issues with their work. "SEE ME" is a common phrase teachers use to request a meeting about concerns, making it a fitting, direct solution to the clue.
Down
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The answer "BRASS" fits because it commonly precedes "knuckles" (brass knuckles, a weapon) and "tacks" (brass tacks, a phrase meaning getting to the essentials). This plays on the versatile use of "brass" as a modifier in both contexts.
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The clue "Pop-up button?" is a playful reference. The question mark signals wordplay, and "pop-up" hints at something protruding. An "OUTIE" is a type of belly button that "pops out" rather than being indented, making it a clever pun and fitting answer.
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SLATE is the solution because traditional blackboards were often made from slate, a fine-grained, durable rock that provides a smooth, erasable writing surface. This material was widely used in classrooms before modern whiteboards became popular. The clue references this classic, historical use of slate.
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SERUM is the solution because it refers to a concentrated, lightweight skincare product rich in active ingredients, often used in cosmetics to target specific skin concerns, such as hydration or anti-aging. Its highly potent formula and liquid form make it a common example of a "concentrated form" in the beauty industry.
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The answer "RIPE" fits the clue "Ready to eat, as fruit" because fruit that is mature and fully developed is considered ripe, which makes it ready and ideal for eating. This clue directly describes the state of fruit's readiness for consumption.
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
This Friday Mini by Wyna Liu is a delightful blend of themes, seamlessly combining gaming, schooling, and everyday concepts into a clever and cohesive puzzle. From retro gaming nods like ATARI to relatable school moments with SEEME, and even playful word associations like OUTIE, it’s a testament to Wyna’s unique style. Smart and fun!
Today's Tricky Wordplay
Here's what caught our attention today:
- Bowser in the Mario games, e.g.
- Video game company named after a term in the board game Go
- Unwelcome message on a graded paper
- Word before knuckles or tacks
- Pop-up button?
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 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.