Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and leans on compact definitions, sly clue phrasing, brand trivia, and a repeated three-letter setup. Settle in for a crisp grid with several satisfying recognition moments.
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: 5D is the trickiest clue because it demands a specific piece of luxury bathroom-brand knowledge.
Gimme Clue: 6A is the clearest gimme, using a direct definition for the closing section of a song.
Theme Spotted: A repeated “Only three-letter” clue frame links 1A, 8A, and 4D.
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Only three-letter element
Hint: Scan the periodic table for the element whose English name has three letters. Three letters, starts with T.
4A. Hole food
Hint: Think of a sweet bakery treat defined by the empty space through its center. Five letters, starts with D.
6A. Section at the end of a song
Hint: Name the closing passage that follows the main body of a song. Five letters, starts with O.
7A. Emblem topping a coat of arms
Hint: Look for the heraldic emblem positioned above a coat of arms. Five letters, starts with C.
8A. Only three-letter zodiac sign
Hint: Run through the zodiac and find the sign whose English name has three letters. Three letters, starts with L.
Down Hints
1D. Visit, as a college
Hint: Picture a prospective student making a guided visit around a college campus. Four letters, starts with T.
2D. Something gathered by a spy
Hint: The target is information collected covertly for espionage purposes. Five letters, starts with I.
3D. Sip slowly
Hint: Think of drinking in small, slow mouthfuls rather than taking a quick gulp. Five letters, starts with N.
4D. Only three-letter Disney dwarf
Hint: Recall the Snow White dwarf identified by a medical nickname. Three letters, starts with D.
5D. Big name in high-end toilets
Hint: Think of the Japanese brand closely associated with upscale bathroom fixtures. Four letters, starts with T.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Only three-letter element
Answer: TIN
4A. Hole food
Answer: DONUT
6A. Section at the end of a song
Answer: OUTRO
7A. Emblem topping a coat of arms
Answer: CREST
8A. Only three-letter zodiac sign
Answer: LEO
Down Answers
1D. Visit, as a college
Answer: TOUR
2D. Something gathered by a spy
Answer: INTEL
3D. Sip slowly
Answer: NURSE
4D. Only three-letter Disney dwarf
Answer: DOC
5D. Big name in high-end toilets
Answer: TOTO
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 5D, “Big name in high-end toilets,” lands on TOTO. It defines the grid's trivia-forward edge because a familiar-looking name becomes precise only when the bathroom-fixture context clicks.
Wordplay Winner: 4A wins the wordplay prize with “Hole food” for DONUT. The clue turns the ordinary phrase “whole food” into a literal description of a ring-shaped treat.
Quick Fill: DONUT is the fastest confident fill because “Hole food” points cleanly to it once the pun lands. Its row supplies crossings for DOC, TOUR, INTEL, NURSE, and TOTO, giving the entire grid a strong foothold.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
When a clue repeats a rigid qualifier, test that constraint immediately. The three-letter wording quickly narrows TIN, LEO, and DOC without requiring broad synonym searches.
Use the concrete central Across entries before wrestling with brand trivia. DONUT, OUTRO, and CREST build enough crossings to expose TOTO with far less guesswork.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The grid treated solvers fairly, pairing direct definitions with compact misdirection and one sharp brand-trivia test. TOTO supplied the memorable finish.
See you at the next grid.
