Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and a repeated-letter thread ties together a lively mix of familiar clues. Settle in and see where the crossings lead.
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: 5x5
Total Clues: 10 (5 Across, 5 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 6D is the trickiest clue: its description points to a sharper adjective than the everyday phrasing suggests.
Gimme Clue: 1A is the gimme: the airport setting makes its target easy to picture.
Theme Spotted: A doubled-letter thread.
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Items on an airport carousel
Hint: Think of luggage circling after a flight. Four letters, starts with B.
5A. Animal whose name has a doubled letter seen repeatedly in this puzzle
Hint: Picture a woolly South American pack animal whose name repeats a consonant. Five letters, starts with L.
7A. Josh ___, 2024 N.F.L. M.V.P.
Hint: The clue wants the football player's surname. Five letters, starts with A.
8A. Nabisco wafer brand
Hint: Think of the round wafers often layered into banana pudding. Five letters, starts with N.
9A. Small hill
Hint: Picture a low, rounded rise in the landscape. Five letters, starts with K.
Down Hints
1D. Versatile Scrabble tile
Hint: Think of the Scrabble tile that can stand in for any letter. Five letters, starts with B.
2D. 100% committed
Hint: In poker, this describes committing every chip to the pot. Five letters, starts with A.
3D. Pico de ___ (salsa variety)
Hint: Complete the salsa's name with the Spanish word for rooster. Five letters, starts with G.
4D. Aroma
Hint: Think of what your nose detects when coffee is brewing. Five letters, starts with S.
6D. Overly fussy about details
Hint: Look for an adjective describing someone obsessively exacting about details. Four letters, starts with A.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Items on an airport carousel
Answer: BAGS
5A. Animal whose name has a doubled letter seen repeatedly in this puzzle
Answer: LLAMA
7A. Josh ___, 2024 N.F.L. M.V.P.
Answer: ALLEN
8A. Nabisco wafer brand
Answer: NILLA
9A. Small hill
Answer: KNOLL
Down Answers
1D. Versatile Scrabble tile
Answer: BLANK
2D. 100% committed
Answer: ALLIN
3D. Pico de ___ (salsa variety)
Answer: GALLO
4D. Aroma
Answer: SMELL
6D. Overly fussy about details
Answer: ANAL
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 5A, “Animal whose name has a doubled letter seen repeatedly in this puzzle,” gives LLAMA. Its paired Ls point to the same pair in answers including ALLEN, NILLA, KNOLL, GALLO and SMELL.
Wordplay Winner: 1D's “Versatile Scrabble tile” is BLANK. The clue describes its function: it can represent any letter.
Quick Fill: 1A, BAGS, is the fastest confident fill. It gives opening crossings to BLANK, ALLIN, GALLO and SMELL.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Start with a concrete clue such as 1A, then use its crossings to test the Down entries. When a clue points to a repeated letter, as 5A does, check that pattern against the crossing answers.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The grid offers a clear foothold, then rewards a closer look at LLAMA's repeated letters.
See you at the next grid.
