Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and leans on crisp trivia, direct definitions, and a neat hidden-word turn. Come in ready to switch smoothly between factual recall and literal clue reading.
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: 4D is the trickiest clue because it asks you to inspect the middle of the quoted anatomy word instead of defining that word.
Gimme Clue: 4A is the easiest gimme, since the chessboard row count is a fixed piece of basic game knowledge.
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. Tool with teeth
Hint: Think of a toothed hand tool used for cutting wood. Three letters, starts with S.
4A. Number of rows on a chessboard
Hint: Picture the chessboard and count its horizontal ranks. Five letters, starts with E.
6A. Common Wordle starting word
Hint: Use the vowel-heavy farewell that has become a standard Wordle opener. Five letters, starts with A.
7A. Kick back
Hint: Think of what you do when you kick back and let tension go. Five letters, starts with R.
8A. Band's grouping of songs
Hint: Think of the performance block that groups a band's songs. Three letters, starts with S.
Down Hints
1D. French fries and coleslaw, for two
Hint: French fries and coleslaw share this menu role beside a main dish. Five letters, starts with S.
2D. Fleet of foot
Hint: Look for an adjective describing someone nimble and quick on their feet. Five letters, starts with A.
3D. Resource in the game Catan
Hint: In Catan, picture the golden grain resource harvested from fields. Five letters, starts with W.
4D. Body part in the heart of "heart"
Hint: Inspect the quoted anatomy word and isolate the body part hidden at its center. Three letters, starts with E.
5D. Attire for a black-tie wedding
Hint: Think of the abbreviated formal suit worn to a black-tie wedding. Three letters, starts with T.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Tool with teeth
Answer: SAW
4A. Number of rows on a chessboard
Answer: EIGHT
6A. Common Wordle starting word
Answer: ADIEU
7A. Kick back
Answer: RELAX
8A. Band's grouping of songs
Answer: SET
Down Answers
1D. French fries and coleslaw, for two
Answer: SIDES
2D. Fleet of foot
Answer: AGILE
3D. Resource in the game Catan
Answer: WHEAT
4D. Body part in the heart of "heart"
Answer: EAR
5D. Attire for a black-tie wedding
Answer: TUX
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: The standout pair is “Common Wordle starting word” and ADIEU. Its vowel-packed answer makes the reference immediately recognizable while anchoring the middle row.
Wordplay Winner: 4D, “Body part in the heart of ‘heart’,” wins with EAR because the answer is literally centered inside HEART.
Quick Fill: EIGHT was the fastest confident fill because its chessboard clue has a fixed factual answer. That completed row checks SIDES, AGILE, WHEAT, EAR, and TUX through the crossings.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Start with fixed facts such as EIGHT and WHEAT, then let their crossing letters settle flexible clues like RELAX and SET.
For hidden-word clues like EAR in “heart,” inspect the clue text literally before searching for a synonym.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
This grid played fair, with direct facts opening the crossings before EAR supplied the satisfying final wink.
See you at the next grid.
