Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and today's grid mixes everyday trivia with a visual punctuation trick and a tech-savvy clue. Come on in and let the familiar clues give you a foothold.
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: 2D is the trickiest clue because it asks you to describe the activity involving Claude, rather than identify the assistant.
Gimme Clue: 1A offers the clearest foothold, a direct request for the familiar term for a young bear.
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. Baby bear
Hint: 1A: Think of the animal term for a bear's youngster. Three letters, starts with C.
4A. Goes down in defeat
Hint: 4A: What does a competitor do when the opponent wins? Five letters, starts with L.
6A. ___-3 fatty acids, nutritious compounds found in salmon
Hint: 6A: Recall the Greek-letter term in the name of these fatty acids. Five letters, starts with O.
7A. Tech service with folders like "Sent," "Starred" and "Snoozed"
Hint: 7A: Those folder labels point to Google's email service. Five letters, starts with G.
8A. Total angel
Hint: 8A: Think of a religious designation used figuratively for an exceptionally kind person. Five letters, starts with S.
Down Hints
1D. Semicolon without the dot
Hint: 1D: Picture the punctuation mark and remove its upper element. Five letters, starts with C.
2D. Ask a question to Claude, e.g.
Hint: 2D: Describe the action of consulting an artificial-intelligence assistant. Five letters, starts with U.
3D. Start
Hint: 3D: Read the clue as a verb meaning to get underway. Five letters, starts with B.
4D. Fuel for a campfire
Hint: 4D: Think of substantial pieces of wood stacked for burning. Four letters, starts with L.
5D. Predominant taste of anchovies
Hint: 5D: Think of the seasoning responsible for that briny punch. Four letters, starts with S.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Baby bear
Answer: CUB
4A. Goes down in defeat
Answer: LOSES
6A. ___-3 fatty acids, nutritious compounds found in salmon
Answer: OMEGA
7A. Tech service with folders like "Sent," "Starred" and "Snoozed"
Answer: GMAIL
8A. Total angel
Answer: SAINT
Down Answers
1D. Semicolon without the dot
Answer: COMMA
2D. Ask a question to Claude, e.g.
Answer: USEAI
3D. Start
Answer: BEGIN
4D. Fuel for a campfire
Answer: LOGS
5D. Predominant taste of anchovies
Answer: SALT
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 2D, "Ask a question to Claude, e.g.," yields USE AI. It stands out because the named assistant supplies an example, while the answer describes the broader activity.
Wordplay Winner: 1D, "Semicolon without the dot," wins with COMMA. The clue turns punctuation into a visual subtraction puzzle: removing the upper dot leaves the lower mark.
Quick Fill: CUB at 1A is the fastest confident fill because "Baby bear" gives a direct definition. Its C, U and B supply the opening letters of COMMA, USE AI and BEGIN, giving the central Down entries an immediate foothold.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
For a clue ending in "e.g.," look for the broader action or category illustrated by the example. At 2D, that shift takes you from Claude's identity to USE AI.
When a clue describes removing part of a symbol, picture its shape before searching for synonyms. That makes the route from a semicolon to COMMA much more direct.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The direct definitions give this grid a welcoming feel, while COMMA and USE AI reward a change in perspective. A small visual trick and a neatly framed tech clue provide the satisfying finish.
See you at the next grid.
