Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and leans on clean trivia, compact wordplay, and a few satisfying double meanings. Settle in for a friendly grid with a lively mix of subjects.
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: 7x7
Total Clues: 16 (8 Across, 8 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 3D is the trickiest clue because its apple-to-zebra wording disguises an object as a sequence.
Gimme Clue: 8A is the clearest gimme, pairing a familiar grain-based drink with a direct blank.
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. Five lines on sheet music
Hint: 1A: Picture the horizontal framework that organizes notes on a page. Five letters, starts with S.
6A. Material for the Venus de Milo and Michelangelo's David
Hint: 6A: Think of the pale stone used for two celebrated sculptures. Six letters, starts with M.
7A. Bird that helps to rescue Nemo in "Finding Nemo"
Hint: 7A: Recall the pouch-billed bird that assists during the search for Nemo. Seven letters, starts with P.
8A. ___ milk
Hint: 8A: Supply the grain commonly used for this dairy-free drink. Three letters, starts with O.
9A. Pal
Hint: 9A: Use an informal word for a close friend. Three letters, starts with B.
10A. Collective way of singing
Hint: 10A: Think of voices producing the same notes together. Six letters, starts with U.
12A. Metal container that's a synonym for "insignificant"
Hint: 12A: Combine a humble metal vessel with an adjective meaning petty or unimportant. Six letters, starts with T.
13A. "Rare" order at a restaurant
Hint: 13A: The quotation marks turn a doneness description into the food being ordered. Five letters, starts with S.
Down Hints
1D. Square cracker
Hint: 1D: Name the crisp, lightly salted square often served with soup. Seven letters, starts with S.
2D. Three: Prefix
Hint: 2D: Look for the combining form used in words connected with three. Three letters, starts with T.
3D. What often starts with an apple and ends with a zebra
Hint: 3D: Think of a children's learning primer that pairs each symbol with an example, from apple through zebra. Seven letters, starts with A.
4D. Show off
Hint: 4D: The target verb means to display something proudly and conspicuously. Six letters, starts with F.
5D. Ward (off)
Hint: 5D: Complete the phrase for defending yourself against an attack or threat. Four letters, starts with F.
6D. Be sincere
Hint: 6D: Think of a phrase for speaking with genuine conviction. Six letters, starts with M.
7D. Throws a hissy-fit
Hint: 7D: Picture someone pushing out the lower lip in a sulk. Five letters, starts with P.
11D. Destination for a mother-daughter day, perhaps
Hint: 11D: Choose a relaxation destination associated with treatments and pampering. 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. Five lines on sheet music
Answer: STAFF
6A. Material for the Venus de Milo and Michelangelo's David
Answer: MARBLE
7A. Bird that helps to rescue Nemo in "Finding Nemo"
Answer: PELICAN
8A. ___ milk
Answer: OAT
9A. Pal
Answer: BUD
10A. Collective way of singing
Answer: UNISON
12A. Metal container that's a synonym for "insignificant"
Answer: TINPOT
13A. "Rare" order at a restaurant
Answer: STEAK
Down Answers
1D. Square cracker
Answer: SALTINE
2D. Three: Prefix
Answer: TRI
3D. What often starts with an apple and ends with a zebra
Answer: ABCBOOK
4D. Show off
Answer: FLAUNT
5D. Ward (off)
Answer: FEND
6D. Be sincere
Answer: MEANIT
7D. Throws a hissy-fit
Answer: POUTS
11D. Destination for a mother-daughter day, perhaps
Answer: SPA
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 3D, “What often starts with an apple and ends with a zebra,” yields ABCBOOK. It works because the clue describes the example words at the boundaries of a children's alphabet primer instead of describing a literal journey.
Wordplay Winner: 12A wins the wordplay prize with TINPOT. The clue first builds the literal metal container, then pivots to the established adjective meaning insignificant.
Quick Fill: OAT at 8A is the fastest confident fill because the blank creates an immediate everyday phrase. Its letters help settle POUTS, MEANIT, and SALTINE at their crossings.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Fill direct phrase completions such as OAT first, then use their crossings to test longer entries such as SALTINE and MEANIT.
Treat quotation marks as a signal to test an alternate sense. At 13A, that move turns “Rare” from a general adjective into the restaurant order STEAK.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The grid played fair while rewarding precise reading, especially in the neat turns behind ABCBOOK and TINPOT.
See you at the next grid.
