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NYT’s The Mini Crossword Answers and Hints
Across
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MINI is often used to describe something small or diminutive. If the clue implies size (e.g., “Tiny car” or “Compact model”), MINI fits, referencing the Mini Cooper car or the general descriptor for small objects or versions. Always match context and wordplay!
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The clue "Breakfast sandwich option" refers to a common component of breakfast sandwiches. BACON fits perfectly as it's a popular choice, often paired with eggs, cheese, and bread. No wordplay or special indicators are present; it's a straightforward reference to a classic breakfast ingredient.
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The answer "OFOLD" fits because it is an archaic term meaning "from old times" or "of the past." The clue "From way back when" suggests something historical or ancient, making "OFOLD" a perfect match. Its old-fashioned phrasing aligns with the tone of the clue.
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"MINTY" is the solution because most toothpaste flavors are designed to freshen breath and are commonly mint-flavored. The clue “Like much toothpaste” straightforwardly indicates the flavor characteristic, making "MINTY" the fitting descriptive term.
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The answer is BASE because in baseball, first, second, and third are bases, but there is no fourth base. Instead, after third base, players reach home plate, not a "fourth base." Hence, BASE fits perfectly as the solution.
Down
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MAFIA is the solution because it’s a social party game where players take on secret roles as "mafiosos" or "villagers." Villagers discuss and accuse others to identify the mafiosos, while mafiosos deceive to avoid detection. The gameplay revolves around accusations and strategy, aligning with the clue's description.
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The clue "Total legends" refers to figures or symbols widely celebrated and revered. "Icons" aligns perfectly as it describes influential individuals or symbols that represent greatness and are regarded as legends in their field or society. Additionally, "total" emphasizes their significance and enduring impact.
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The solution is NOLTE because Nick Nolte is a well-known actor honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The clue explicitly references "Actor Nick," pointing directly to this prominent figure in the entertainment industry.
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The N.B.A.'s Pacers are based in Indianapolis, Indiana. "Familiarly" indicates a casual nickname, and Indianapolis is often shortened to "Indy." Hence, INDY is the answer, linking the Pacers to their home city.
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In comedy, to "bomb" means to perform poorly or fail to get laughs during a stand-up routine. The clue cleverly uses "Fail at stand-up" to describe this slang term, making BOMB the fitting answer.
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 Thursday Mini by Joel Fagliano packs a lot into its 5x5 grid! We get a fun mix of topics, everything from classic breakfast choices to toothpaste textures, old-timey phrases, and even a party game involving “villagers.” There’s a meta clue and some clever wordplay too, especially in the clue about rankings that’s not quite what it seems. A nice blend of pop culture, sports, and misdirection, classic Joel.
Today's Tricky Wordplay
Here's what caught our attention today:
- From way back when
- First, second or third, but not fourth
- Party game with accusations from "villagers"
- Actor Nick on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
- The N.B.A.'s Pacers, familiarly
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.