Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and familiar trivia meets playful misdirection in a grid with a neat letter pattern. Come on in and find your 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: 8x8
Total Clues: 20 (11 Across, 9 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 2D is the trickiest clue because its casual wording invites you to picture jogging companions before thinking about audio equipment.
Gimme Clue: 1A is a friendly gimme, with a holiday image that points straight to Santa's gift container.
Theme Spotted: There is a theme linking 7A and 8A through a recurring letter run.
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Santa's present holder
Hint: 1A: Picture the roomy bag Santa carries on his gift delivery route. Four letters, starts with S.
5A. Descendants of a wealthy family
Hint: 5A: Think of heirs born into money and family prominence. Six letters, starts with S.
7A. Chinese dog breed known for its wrinkles
Hint: 7A: Think of a Chinese canine with loose folds of skin. Seven letters, starts with S.
8A. Trademarked markers
Hint: 8A: Think of the permanent marker brand used for bold labeling. Eight letters, starts with S.
9A. Like the increase from 15 to 150
Hint: 9A: Compare the new amount with the original using division. Seven letters, starts with T.
10A. Antlered animal in the American West
Hint: 10A: Think of a large member of the deer family with branching antlers. Three letters, starts with E.
11A. Accomplishes
Hint: 11A: Look for a present-tense verb meaning carries out. Four letters, starts with D.
13A. All Hallows' ___
Hint: 13A: Complete the traditional name for the night before All Saints' Day. Three letters, starts with E.
14A. Proofreading mark meaning "Leave it in"
Hint: 14A: Think of the Latin instruction an editor uses to cancel a deletion. Four letters, starts with S.
15A. Color of lanterns on Chinese New Year
Hint: 15A: Think of the festive hue associated with luck and good fortune. Three letters, starts with R.
16A. Any member of the "slow horses" on "Slow Horses"
Hint: 16A: Focus on the characters' intelligence work, rather than the animal nickname. Three letters, starts with S.
Down Hints
1D. Neckwear for a snowman
Hint: 1D: Picture a strip of warm fabric wrapped around a snowy neck. Five letters, starts with S.
2D. A couple buds you might run with?
Hint: 2D: Think of Apple's wireless audio gear for a jog. Seven letters, starts with A.
3D. #2s in the sky
Hint: 3D: These cockpit crew members work alongside the captain. Eight letters, starts with C.
4D. Mired (in)
Hint: 4D: Think of an expression for being thoroughly bogged down in something. Eight letters, starts with K.
5D. Completely mishit, as a golf ball
Hint: 5D: Think of golf jargon for a badly struck shot. Seven letters, starts with S.
6D. Bro's sibling
Hint: 6D: Match the clue's casual family language with a feminine sibling term. Three letters, starts with S.
7D. Table for later
Hint: 7D: Think of putting a plan on hold for future consideration. Six letters, starts with S.
8D. Operate a car wheel
Hint: 8D: Think of controlling a vehicle's direction. Five letters, starts with S.
12D. Messy home for pigs
Hint: 12D: Picture a muddy enclosure on a farm. Three letters, starts with S.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Santa's present holder
Answer: SACK
5A. Descendants of a wealthy family
Answer: SCIONS
7A. Chinese dog breed known for its wrinkles
Answer: SHARPEI
8A. Trademarked markers
Answer: SHARPIES
9A. Like the increase from 15 to 150
Answer: TENFOLD
10A. Antlered animal in the American West
Answer: ELK
11A. Accomplishes
Answer: DOES
13A. All Hallows' ___
Answer: EVE
14A. Proofreading mark meaning "Leave it in"
Answer: STET
15A. Color of lanterns on Chinese New Year
Answer: RED
16A. Any member of the "slow horses" on "Slow Horses"
Answer: SPY
Down Answers
1D. Neckwear for a snowman
Answer: SCARF
2D. A couple buds you might run with?
Answer: AIRPODS
3D. #2s in the sky
Answer: COPILOTS
4D. Mired (in)
Answer: KNEEDEEP
5D. Completely mishit, as a golf ball
Answer: SHANKED
6D. Bro's sibling
Answer: SIS
7D. Table for later
Answer: SHELVE
8D. Operate a car wheel
Answer: STEER
12D. Messy home for pigs
Answer: STY
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 7A's "Chinese dog breed known for its wrinkles" gives SHARPEI, sitting just above SHARPIES at 8A. Their matching SHARP opening makes the otherwise unrelated dog and markers a satisfying visual pair.
Wordplay Winner: 2D's "A couple buds you might run with?" wins with AIRPODS. The clue turns buds from friends into earbuds, making the running companions audio equipment.
Quick Fill: SACK at 1A is the quickest confident fill, thanks to Santa's familiar gift bag. It supplies the opening letters for SCARF, AIRPODS, COPILOTS and KNEEDEEP, giving the long Down entries an immediate foothold.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Use a clue's grammar to narrow the answer before chasing synonyms. At 7D, "Table for later" calls for the verb SHELVE, so thinking about furniture sends you down the wrong path.
When neighboring answers look alike, check their endings independently. SHARPEI and SHARPIES reward recognition of their common opening, but their different endings still need confirmation from the Downs.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The grid offers friendly footholds without giving away all its tricks. AIRPODS supplies the best change of perspective, while SHARPEI and SHARPIES make the finished grid worth another look.
See you at the next grid.