Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and leans into crisp trivia, direct definitions, and one lively music reference without a larger gimmick. Settle in for a compact grid with plenty of clean crossing help.
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: 5A is the trickiest clue because it asks for a specific hip-hop subgenre rather than a performer or song title.
Gimme Clue: 7A is the easiest gimme, with a concise clue pointing to an equally familiar synonym.
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. Half of a clothing pair
Hint: Think of one item from a matched pair worn on the feet. Four letters, starts with S.
5A. Early 2000s hip-hop subgenre for songs like "Get Low" and "Yeah!"
Hint: Look for the high-energy Southern hip-hop style associated with the two songs named in the clue. Five letters, starts with C.
7A. Concur
Hint: Use a direct verb meaning to share the same opinion. Five letters, starts with A.
8A. Baltimore N.F.L. player
Hint: Think of the singular team identity attached to a professional football player from Baltimore. Five letters, starts with R.
9A. Tree house, of a sort
Hint: Picture the shelter that birds construct among branches. Four letters, starts with N.
Down Hints
1D. Harry Potter's defining mark
Hint: Recall the lasting mark on Harry Potter's forehead. Four letters, starts with S.
2D. Lungs or liver
Hint: Choose the broad anatomical category shared by the body parts in the clue. Five letters, starts with O.
3D. Dangerous stretch of a mountain road
Hint: Picture a sharp bend that makes a mountain road hazardous. Five letters, starts with C.
4D. Body parts touched after the shoulders, in song
Hint: Run through the familiar children's song and identify what is touched immediately after the shoulders. Five letters, starts with K.
6D. Clark ___ a.k.a. Superman
Hint: Complete Superman's civilian name rather than his heroic alias. 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. Half of a clothing pair
Answer: SOCK
5A. Early 2000s hip-hop subgenre for songs like "Get Low" and "Yeah!"
Answer: CRUNK
7A. Concur
Answer: AGREE
8A. Baltimore N.F.L. player
Answer: RAVEN
9A. Tree house, of a sort
Answer: NEST
Down Answers
1D. Harry Potter's defining mark
Answer: SCAR
2D. Lungs or liver
Answer: ORGAN
3D. Dangerous stretch of a mountain road
Answer: CURVE
4D. Body parts touched after the shoulders, in song
Answer: KNEES
6D. Clark ___ a.k.a. Superman
Answer: KENT
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 5A, “Early 2000s hip-hop subgenre for songs like ‘Get Low’ and ‘Yeah!’,” with CRUNK, defines today's puzzle. The clue gives concrete cultural touchstones while demanding the precise genre label that links them.
Wordplay Winner: 9A wins the wordplay prize with NEST for “Tree house, of a sort.” The clue recasts “house” as a general dwelling and lets the tree setting guide the answer.
Quick Fill: AGREE at 7A is the fastest confident fill because “Concur” is a direct synonym. It crosses every Down entry, immediately checking SCAR, ORGAN, CURVE, KNEES, and KENT.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Enter AGREE as soon as the direct synonym registers, then use that full row of crossings to test the Downs. A plain definition can be more valuable than a flashier clue when it touches the whole grid.
When a category clue such as 5A does not surface instantly, build it from SCAR, ORGAN, CURVE, KNEES, and KENT. Specific cultural vocabulary becomes much easier once every position has crossing support.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
This grid treated solvers fairly, pairing accessible definitions with the sharper CRUNK reference. The crossings supplied enough support for the tougher vocabulary without flattening the fun.
See you at the next grid.
