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NYT’s The Mini Crossword Answers and Hints
Across
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The palm tree emoji often symbolizes relaxation or tropical destinations, commonly associated with a vacation. "Informally" hints at a casual term, making "vacay" (a shortened, slang form of "vacation") a fitting answer to what the emoji might suggest in a relaxed, workplace Slack context.
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The clue "Skirt" is a play on words, indicated by its simplicity. "Skirt" can mean to physically go around or avoid something. This aligns with the definition of EVADE, which means to dodge or avoid something, often cleverly or intentionally. It’s a figurative use of "skirt".
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The clue refers to an app used for jotting down information. "Notes" is an iPhone app specifically designed for jotting quick thoughts, lists, or ideas, directly aligning with the clue. The word "jotting" hints at writing or taking quick notes, making "NOTES" the fitting answer.
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The answer is TITLE because C.E.O. (Chief Executive Officer), C.F.O. (Chief Financial Officer), and C.T.O. (Chief Technology Officer) are professional roles or positions, each referred to by a specific title. The clue describes the formal designation of these roles in an organization.
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The clue "Requirements for pink or purple hair" points to the processes or tools used to achieve such colors. "DYES" is the solution because hair dyes are the essential products used to color hair in vibrant shades like pink or purple. It directly fits the context.
Down
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The clue "Let off a little steam" uses wordplay. To "vent" means to release or let out emotions, frustrations, or anger—akin to releasing steam. Additionally, a "vent" is a physical opening that allows the escape of steam or air, perfectly fitting the clue's metaphorical and literal sense.
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The clue "Skirt" functions as a verb here, meaning to bypass or go around something, which aligns with the definition of AVOID. Essentially, to "skirt" a problem or situation is to AVOID dealing with it directly. This wordplay explains the solution.
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The clue refers to a pun. "Me-ow" hints at behavior stereotypically associated with a cat. "Like a remark" suggests a characteristic, and "catty" describes someone making spiteful or sly comments—like a sharp or "hissing" remark, akin to a cat's demeanor. Hence, "CATTY" fits perfectly.
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The answer is ADELE because she famously performed and recorded the theme song "Skyfall" for the 2012 James Bond film of the same name. Her powerful vocals in the song earned her an Academy Award, a Grammy, and a Golden Globe. This makes her directly tied to the clue.
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The clue "Positive R.S.V.P.s" hints at responses to an invitation. A "positive" reply to an RSVP is an agreement to attend, often phrased as "yes." Pluralizing it matches "R.S.V.P.s," hence the answer is "YESES," representing multiple affirmative replies.
Today’s Game Difficulty
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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
Today's Friday Mini is another fun one from Wyna Liu, the mind behind Connections, and you can feel her signature style here too. It’s her second Mini this week, and again she sneaks in a clever little twist: the clue “Skirt” appears twice, each time leading to a different meaning. That kind of layered wordplay is very Wyna — short clues, packed with possibilities.
The puzzle also dips into work titles, emojis, tech tools, and even a bold hair color clue. It's a sharp mix of everyday references with just enough trickiness to make you pause, a great Friday brain boost.
Today's Tricky Wordplay
Here's what caught our attention today:
- What a palm tree emoji on Slack might indicate, informally
- Skirt
- C.E.O., C.F.O. or C.T.O.
- Let off a little steam
- Like a remark that might elicit a "me-ow"
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.