Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and leans on crisp trivia, direct definitions, and one neat verbal twist. Settle in for a compact grid with lively 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: 5x5
Total Clues: 10 (5 Across, 5 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 4D is the trickiest clue because its dairy-specific meaning is less familiar than the everyday sense of the same target.
Gimme Clue: 1A is the clearest gimme, since the insurance brand's duck mascot supplies an immediate sound association.
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. Noise heard in an Aflac commercial
Hint: Think of the sound made by the duck mascot in those insurance commercials. Five letters, starts with Q.
6A. ___ Fester, "Wednesday" character played by Fred Armisen
Hint: Recall the Addams family relative portrayed by Fred Armisen in the Netflix series. Five letters, starts with U.
7A. Total moron
Hint: The clue wants a blunt insult for someone behaving very foolishly. Five letters, starts with I.
8A. Total, as expenses
Hint: Think of the verb phrase used when expenses add up to a stated amount. Five letters, starts with R.
9A. Containers for some basement parties
Hint: Picture the large drink containers tapped at an informal party. Four letters, starts with K.
Down Hints
1D. Unique mannerism
Hint: Think of an individual habit or trait that gives someone a distinctive manner. Five letters, starts with Q.
2D. Excessive, as criticism or punishment
Hint: Look for an adjective meaning beyond what is reasonable or warranted. Five letters, starts with U.
3D. Scoring 100% on
Hint: Think of what you are doing when you earn full marks on a test. Five letters, starts with A.
4D. Lumps in non-homogenized milk
Hint: Picture the soft lumps that can form in milk that has not been homogenized. Five letters, starts with C.
5D. Kind of high-fat, low-carb diet
Hint: Think of the eating plan centered on high fat intake and sharply limited carbohydrates. Four letters, starts with K.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Noise heard in an Aflac commercial
Answer: QUACK
6A. ___ Fester, "Wednesday" character played by Fred Armisen
Answer: UNCLE
7A. Total moron
Answer: IDIOT
8A. Total, as expenses
Answer: RUNTO
9A. Containers for some basement parties
Answer: KEGS
Down Answers
1D. Unique mannerism
Answer: QUIRK
2D. Excessive, as criticism or punishment
Answer: UNDUE
3D. Scoring 100% on
Answer: ACING
4D. Lumps in non-homogenized milk
Answer: CLOTS
5D. Kind of high-fat, low-carb diet
Answer: KETO
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 1A, “Noise heard in an Aflac commercial,” is QUACK, the pair that best defines the grid. It turns a familiar advertising cue into a clean, playful opening entry.
Wordplay Winner: 8A wins the wordplay prize with RUNTO. “Total” initially reads like a noun or adjective, but “as expenses” redirects it to the verb phrase used when costs add up to an amount.
Quick Fill: KETO is the fastest confident fill because its diet clue is highly specific. Its crossings with QUACK, UNCLE, IDIOT, and RUNTO secure the grid's right edge.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Enter highly specific references first, such as KETO and UNCLE, then use their letters to settle broader definitions like UNDUE and QUIRK.
When a clue reads oddly, test a different grammatical role. RUNTO opens immediately once “total” is read as a verb rather than a noun or adjective.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The grid treated solvers fairly, pairing direct anchors with just enough semantic misdirection to keep the fill lively. RUNTO supplied the sharpest turn.
See you at the next grid.
