Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and a familiar tune, a sea creature pun, and direct definitions give the grid its bounce. Settle in and enjoy the crossings.
How The Mini Works
The Mini is a compact version of the classic NYT Crossword, typically featuring a 5x5 grid with five Across and five Down clues. Saturdays expand to a larger grid with more clues. Solve the intersecting words, and when the grid is complete, you'll hear a satisfying chime. No streak tracking here, but the built-in timer lets you compete against yourself or challenge friends.
New puzzles drop at 10 p.m. EST on weekdays and Saturdays. Sunday's Mini arrives earlier at 6 p.m. EST on Saturday.
Quick Scan
In a rush? Here's the at-a-glance breakdown for today's puzzle:
Grid Size: 7x7
Total Clues: 18 (7 Across, 11 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 9A is the trickiest clue: its sunny setting points to a specific marking rather than a general change in skin color.
Gimme Clue: 6D is the gimme: its distinctive molecular shape leaves little room for doubt.
Theme Spotted: None today, straight trivia and wordplay.
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Alphabet song lyric before "Now I know my ABCs"
Hint: For 1A, sing the final run of letters immediately before the song's closing line. Seven letters, starts with W.
8A. Sea creature whose name sounds like "Ah, baloney!"
Hint: For 8A, think of a shellfish whose name echoes an exasperated dismissal of nonsense. Seven letters, starts with A.
9A. Skin markings after a sunny day on the links
Hint: For 9A, picture the uneven sun exposure left by a day playing on a course. Seven letters, starts with G.
10A. Gen ___ (member of the "MTV generation")
Hint: For 10A, supply the generational tag linked to the era of music television. Three letters, starts with X.
11A. Medieval weapon
Hint: For 11A, picture a medieval weapon with a blade fixed to a long shaft. Seven letters, starts with P.
15A. Fasting intermittently, say
Hint: For 15A, describe someone following a structured eating regimen. Seven letters, starts with O.
16A. Phrases differently
Hint: For 16A, think of changing the phrasing while keeping the meaning. Seven letters, starts with R.
Down Hints
1D. Shake, like a dog's tail
Hint: For 1D, picture the side-to-side motion of an excited dog's tail. Three letters, starts with W.
2D. Gaming console with a number in its name
Hint: For 2D, recall Microsoft's home gaming console whose name includes a numeral. Seven letters, starts with X.
3D. Prestigious J.D. program in New Haven, Conn.
Hint: For 3D, look to the New Haven university's program that grants a J.D. Seven letters, starts with Y.
4D. Creamy pasta sauce
Hint: For 4D, think of the rich, pale sauce served over fettuccine. Seven letters, starts with A.
5D. "Believe it or ___ ..."
Hint: For 5D, finish the familiar expression about whether a claim is true. Three letters, starts with N.
6D. Double-helix molecule
Hint: For 6D, think of the genetic material shaped like a twisted ladder. Three letters, starts with D.
7D. Buddhism branch associated with gardens
Hint: For 7D, name the Buddhist tradition evoked by raked stone gardens. Three letters, starts with Z.
11D. "___ favor" (basic Spanish phrase)
Hint: For 11D, complete the polite Spanish request used when asking a favor. Three letters, starts with P.
12D. What snowboarders try to catch
Hint: For 12D, picture the space beneath a rider during a snowboard jump. Three letters, starts with A.
13D. Crossed (out)
Hint: For 13D, think of marking text for removal with a stroke through it. Three letters, starts with X.
14D. Creatures on U.F.O.s, for short
Hint: For 14D, the clue points to imagined visitors from beyond Earth, in abbreviated form. Three letters, starts with E.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Alphabet song lyric before "Now I know my ABCs"
Answer: WXYANDZ
8A. Sea creature whose name sounds like "Ah, baloney!"
Answer: ABALONE
9A. Skin markings after a sunny day on the links
Answer: GOLFTAN
10A. Gen ___ (member of the "MTV generation")
Answer: XER
11A. Medieval weapon
Answer: POLEAXE
15A. Fasting intermittently, say
Answer: ONADIET
16A. Phrases differently
Answer: REWORDS
Down Answers
1D. Shake, like a dog's tail
Answer: WAG
2D. Gaming console with a number in its name
Answer: XBOXONE
3D. Prestigious J.D. program in New Haven, Conn.
Answer: YALELAW
4D. Creamy pasta sauce
Answer: ALFREDO
5D. "Believe it or ___ ..."
Answer: NOT
6D. Double-helix molecule
Answer: DNA
7D. Buddhism branch associated with gardens
Answer: ZEN
11D. "___ favor" (basic Spanish phrase)
Answer: POR
12D. What snowboarders try to catch
Answer: AIR
13D. Crossed (out)
Answer: XED
14D. Creatures on U.F.O.s, for short
Answer: ETS
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 1A, 'Alphabet song lyric before "Now I know my ABCs",' yields WXYANDZ. Spelling out the sung conjunction turns a familiar lyric into the grid's most distinctive entry.
Wordplay Winner: 8A's ABALONE wins the wordplay: said aloud, the shellfish's name echoes 'Ah, baloney!'
Quick Fill: 6D's DNA is a confident fill from 'Double-helix molecule.' It crosses the top three Across entries, WXYANDZ, ABALONE, and GOLFTAN, anchoring that part of the grid.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Take the short science and phrase completions first: DNA at 6D and NOT at 5D help pin down WXYANDZ, ABALONE, and GOLFTAN.
Use the long Downs XBOXONE, YALELAW, and ALFREDO to settle XER and POLEAXE when those Across clues resist a first pass.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The grid rewards both recall and a good ear: WXYANDZ sets up the crossings, while ABALONE supplies the grin.
See you at the next grid.
