Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and leans on brisk trivia, direct definitions, and one especially neat bit of directional wordplay. Settle in for a compact grid with satisfying 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: 3D is the trickiest clue because “right” describes both correct handling and a dominant hand, creating a clean misdirection.
Gimme Clue: 8A is the clearest gimme, a direct adjective definition with no wordplay to untangle.
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. "The Odyssey" (2026) or "The Odd Couple" (1968)
Hint: 1A asks for the shared medium of the two named screen productions, despite their very different stories. Four letters, starts with F.
5A. YouTube posting
Hint: 5A points to the standard piece of content uploaded to YouTube. Five letters, starts with V.
6A. Endangered marine ecosystems
Hint: 6A wants coral-rich underwater habitats threatened by warming, pollution, and other environmental pressures. Five letters, starts with R.
7A. Spoiled kids
Hint: 7A describes badly behaved children accustomed to getting their way. Five letters, starts with B.
8A. Greasy
Hint: 8A calls for an adjective describing something slick or coated with grease. Four letters, starts with O.
Down Hints
1D. Guy of the Food Network
Hint: 1D points to the flame-shirted Food Network host behind “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” Five letters, starts with F.
2D. 10/10
Hint: 2D turns the given rating into an adjective meaning flawless or perfectly suited. Five letters, starts with I.
3D. Someone who doesn't handle things right?
Hint: 3D uses “right” as a handedness cue, so think of someone who favors the opposite hand. Five letters, starts with L.
4D. Spanish ___, plant that hangs from cypress trees
Hint: 4D completes the name of the gray-green plant that drapes from Southern cypress branches. Four letters, starts with M.
5D. Airbnb alternative
Hint: 5D names a vacation-rental platform positioned as an alternative to Airbnb. Four letters, starts with V.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. "The Odyssey" (2026) or "The Odd Couple" (1968)
Answer: FILM
5A. YouTube posting
Answer: VIDEO
6A. Endangered marine ecosystems
Answer: REEFS
7A. Spoiled kids
Answer: BRATS
8A. Greasy
Answer: OILY
Down Answers
1D. Guy of the Food Network
Answer: FIERI
2D. 10/10
Answer: IDEAL
3D. Someone who doesn't handle things right?
Answer: LEFTY
4D. Spanish ___, plant that hangs from cypress trees
Answer: MOSS
5D. Airbnb alternative
Answer: VRBO
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 3D, “Someone who doesn't handle things right?”, with LEFTY defines the grid's playful character. “Right” first sounds like “correctly,” then resolves as the hand the person does not favor.
Wordplay Winner: LEFTY wins the wordplay prize because the clue converts “handle things right” from a judgment of competence into a literal handedness joke.
Quick Fill: VIDEO is the fastest confident fill, since “YouTube posting” maps directly to it. Its crossings establish the opening letter of VRBO and the second letters of FIERI, IDEAL, LEFTY, and MOSS, anchoring every Down entry.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Enter direct-definition answers such as VIDEO and OILY immediately, then use their crossings to settle proper names like FIERI and VRBO.
When a clue sounds oddly judgmental, test whether one word has a physical second meaning. That shift turns 3D cleanly into LEFTY.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The grid treated solvers fairly, pairing accessible trivia with sturdy crossings and saving its sharpest smile for LEFTY.
See you at the next grid.
