Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and leans on brisk trivia, compact slang, and a neat question-mark twist without building a broader gimmick. Settle in for a clean grid with lively contrasts.
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: 1D is the trickiest clue because its question mark recasts nourishment as energy.
Gimme Clue: 4D is the easiest gimme, since the city name makes the missing Spanish article nearly automatic.
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. Scientist's workplace
Hint: Picture the bench-and-beaker setting where scientific experiments happen. Three letters, starts with L.
4A. Best friend of Charlie Brown
Hint: Think of Charlie Brown's blanket-carrying friend. Five letters, starts with L.
6A. Looking for a fight, informally
Hint: The clue wants informal British slang for confrontational behavior. Five letters, starts with A.
7A. Turtle's hiding place
Hint: Focus on the hard protective home a turtle retreats into. Five letters, starts with S.
8A. Give an effort
Hint: Look for a compact verb meaning to make an effort. Three letters, starts with T.
Down Hints
1D. Plant food?
Hint: Focus on the energy source that powers photosynthesis, rather than fertilizer. Five letters, starts with L.
2D. "Don't Look Back in ___" (Oasis hit)
Hint: Complete the Oasis song title with the emotion tied to heated resentment. Five letters, starts with A.
3D. Large and muscular
Hint: Picture someone thickset, broad, and powerfully built. Five letters, starts with B.
4D. ___ Vegas
Hint: Supply the Spanish feminine plural article before Vegas. Three letters, starts with L.
5D. Note after do, re, mi, fa ...
Hint: Continue the do-re-mi sequence immediately after fa. 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. Scientist's workplace
Answer: LAB
4A. Best friend of Charlie Brown
Answer: LINUS
6A. Looking for a fight, informally
Answer: AGGRO
7A. Turtle's hiding place
Answer: SHELL
8A. Give an effort
Answer: TRY
Down Answers
1D. Plant food?
Answer: LIGHT
2D. "Don't Look Back in ___" (Oasis hit)
Answer: ANGER
3D. Large and muscular
Answer: BURLY
4D. ___ Vegas
Answer: LAS
5D. Note after do, re, mi, fa ...
Answer: SOL
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: The 6A pairing of "Looking for a fight, informally" with AGGRO defines this grid's punchy voice. The clipped slang sounds as confrontational as the behavior it names.
Wordplay Winner: At 1D, "Plant food?" yields LIGHT by treating food as fuel. Plants use light energy to power photosynthesis, so the question mark earns its keep.
Quick Fill: LAB is the fastest confident fill because "Scientist's workplace" is completely direct. Its crossings seed LIGHT, ANGER, and BURLY across the grid.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Take fixed phrases and sequences early. LAS completes "___ Vegas" and SOL follows fa, giving the outer columns enough structure to steady LINUS, AGGRO, and SHELL.
When a question mark turns a familiar noun sideways, switch from the literal object to what sustains it. That move converts "Plant food?" into LIGHT without forcing the crossings.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
This grid played fair while keeping its language lively, with AGGRO bringing the bite and LIGHT providing the cleanest wink.
See you at the next grid.
