The clue "Airport in Queens, familiarly" refers to John F. Kennedy International Airport, commonly abbreviated as JFK. Located in Queens, New York, JFK is one of the major airports in the US. "Familiarly" hints at using its well-known abbreviation rather than the full name.
4Greek goddess of the earthGAIA????✨ See Why
The answer is GAIA because in Greek mythology, Gaia (or Gaea) is the primordial goddess personifying the Earth itself. She is often referred to as the "Mother Earth," the origin of all life and a key figure in Greek cosmology, making her the perfect fit for the clue.
5Lively and excitingBUZZY?????✨ See Why
The term "BUZZY" describes something generating buzz, excitement, or lively conversation, like a trendy event or topic. It perfectly aligns with "Lively and exciting," encapsulating the vibrant energy often associated with things creating a lot of attention or enthusiasm.
6Tease playfullyRAZZ????✨ See Why
The solution "RAZZ" means to tease or mock someone in a playful, lighthearted manner. It aligns with the clue's tone, as "tease playfully" suggests gentle or humorous banter, which is exactly what "RAZZ" conveys. It’s a slang term often used for good-natured ribbing.
7Minnesota senator KlobucharAMY???✨ See Why
The answer is AMY because Amy Klobuchar is a well-known U.S. senator representing the state of Minnesota. The clue directly references her by last name and title, making "AMY" the correct first name to complete the answer.
Down
1D.J. ___ Jeff, onetime musical partner of Will SmithJAZZY?????✨ See Why
The answer "JAZZY" refers to DJ Jazzy Jeff, the stage name of Jeffrey Allen Townes, who was Will Smith's musical partner in the hip-hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. They were well-known in the late '80s and '90s for their hits like "Summertime."
2Emit bubblesFIZZ????✨ See Why
The word "FIZZ" refers to the sound and action of carbonated or bubbly substances, like soda or sparkling water. To "emit bubbles" directly describes this fizzy behavior, making FIZZ the perfect fit for the clue. It succinctly captures both the sound and the action.
3KAY???✨ See Why
The clue "Sure," slangily, reflects casual or informal speech. "KAY" is a phonetic spelling of "OK," which is a common slang response meaning "sure" or "all right." The slangy tone of the clue aligns with the informal nature of the answer.
4Westernmost territory of the U.S.GUAM????✨ See Why
GUAM is the westernmost territory of the U.S. because it lies in the western Pacific Ocean, closer to Asia than the U.S. mainland. As an unincorporated U.S. territory, GUAM is the furthest west in terms of longitude among all U.S. territories.
5Undergarment itemBRA???✨ See Why
The clue "Undergarment item" directly refers to a piece of clothing worn under outer garments. A bra is a common undergarment item specifically designed to provide support and coverage for the chest, making it the fitting solution for this straightforward definition.
Missed solving yesterday's NYT The Mini or playing in a different timezone? We've got you covered. Meet Lady Puzzle, our charming avatar ready to assist! Click her for hints, reveal the entire puzzle, uncover squares one by one, or explore clue answers. No matter your solving style, this is your ultimate tool for completing NYT's The Mini.
Below is a selection of the most intriguing clues from yesterday’s NYT Mini Puzzle. These stood out for their clever wordplay, the things they taught us, or just the fun challenge they brought. Whether you missed them or only want to see why they caught our attention, here are our favorite clues that made solving yesterday’s puzzle fun and rewarding.
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.
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.