Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and leans into playful trivia, literal clueing, and a visual pattern tucked inside the grid. Settle in for a lively little solve.
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: 3D is the trickiest clue, since it asks for the Italian modifier in a musical expression rather than an everyday English synonym.
Gimme Clue: 1A is the clearest gimme, with the mention of remotes pointing directly toward familiar living-room equipment.
Theme Spotted: A visual vowel-path gimmick.
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Household items that come with remotes
Hint: Think of living-room screens commonly operated from the couch. Three letters, starts with T.
4A. String of saliva
Hint: Picture the thin strand that can hang from an open mouth. Five letters, starts with D.
6A. Self-help book genre
Hint: Look for the label on a guide that teaches a task step by step. Five letters, starts with H.
7A. Powerball or Mega Millions
Hint: Both named games point to the generic ticket-based game category. Five letters, starts with L.
8A. Emoji voiced by Sir Patrick Stewart in "The Emoji Movie"
Hint: Recall Sir Patrick Stewart's cheekily cast character in the animated film named by the clue. Four letters, starts with P.
Down Hints
1D. Group of Girl Scouts
Hint: Think of the organizational unit to which Girl Scouts belong. Five letters, starts with T.
2D. Promise that one will
Hint: Complete the phrase that introduces a firm commitment to do something. Five letters, starts with V.
3D. ___ voce (under one's breath)
Hint: Supply the Italian modifier before voce that signals a hushed delivery. Five letters, starts with S.
4D. Big name in shipping logistics
Hint: Think of the international courier known for red-and-yellow branding. Three letters, starts with D.
5D. Shape formed by the O's in this puzzle
Hint: Trace the O cells through the completed grid, then name the shape their route creates. Four letters, starts with L.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Household items that come with remotes
Answer: TVS
4A. String of saliva
Answer: DROOL
6A. Self-help book genre
Answer: HOWTO
7A. Powerball or Mega Millions
Answer: LOTTO
8A. Emoji voiced by Sir Patrick Stewart in "The Emoji Movie"
Answer: POOP
Down Answers
1D. Group of Girl Scouts
Answer: TROOP
2D. Promise that one will
Answer: VOWTO
3D. ___ voce (under one's breath)
Answer: SOTTO
4D. Big name in shipping logistics
Answer: DHL
5D. Shape formed by the O's in this puzzle
Answer: LOOP
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 5D, "Shape formed by the O's in this puzzle," resolves to LOOP. The repeated O cells curve around the grid, so the answer describes the pattern that produces it.
Wordplay Winner: 8A wins the comic misdirection with POOP. A lofty celebrity voice credit leads to a blunt answer, and the contrast between Sir Patrick Stewart's gravitas and the character supplies the joke.
Quick Fill: 1A, TVS, is the fastest confident fill because the reference to remotes makes the target immediate. Its crossings seed TROOP, VOW TO, and SOTTO at the top of the Down entries.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Use an obvious short Across such as TVS to seed several Downs before committing to less familiar vocabulary. Here, those crossings make SOTTO much easier to recognize.
When a clue refers to the grid itself, inspect the filled cells instead of searching for an outside fact. The O pattern reveals LOOP through its shape.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The grid treated solvers to direct footholds, a touch of bodily humor, and a visual payoff. LOOP gives the finished puzzle a satisfying final click.
See you at the next grid.
