Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and leans into crisp trivia, conversational clues, and a playful bit of visual wordplay. Settle in for a lively 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: 7x7
Total Clues: 18 (7 Across, 11 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 9A is the trickiest clue because its blanks are part of the wordplay, not spaces to fill directly.
Gimme Clue: 1D is the clearest gimme, drawing on a signature exclamation from an unmistakable animated character.
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. Gets right down to business
Hint: For 1A, think of an expression for beginning a task immediately and energetically. Seven letters, starts with D.
8A. Japanese for "folding paper"
Hint: For 8A, identify the Japanese art created by folding sheets into decorative forms. Seven letters, starts with O.
9A. _a_er and _encil game
Hint: For 9A, the missing marks point toward a classic paper-and-pencil guessing game. Seven letters, starts with H.
10A. "Dee-lish!"
Hint: For 10A, supply the delighted reaction someone gives after tasting something delicious. Three letters, starts with Y.
11A. Specialized (in), as in college
Hint: For 11A, use the past-tense verb describing a student's concentration in a particular college subject. Seven letters, starts with M.
15A. Small hair on which mascara is applied
Hint: For 15A, picture a single fine hair along the lid where mascara is brushed. Seven letters, starts with E.
16A. Sloppy smooch
Hint: For 16A, think of an affectionate but distinctly drooly smooch. Seven letters, starts with W.
Down Hints
1D. Homer Simpson's shout
Hint: For 1D, recall the annoyed exclamation associated with the bumbling father from Springfield. Three letters, starts with D.
2D. Roth ___
Hint: For 2D, the blank completes the name of a tax-advantaged retirement account. Three letters, starts with I.
3D. Actor Diesel of the "Fast & Furious" films
Hint: For 3D, identify the action star who plays Dominic Toretto in the referenced film franchise. Three letters, starts with V.
4D. "Sunny" part of a breakfast order
Hint: For 4D, focus on the golden center of a sunny-side-up breakfast order. Seven letters, starts with E.
5D. Warrior with a katana
Hint: For 5D, think of the historical Japanese warrior class closely associated with the katana. Seven letters, starts with S.
6D. "Sorry, my life is all over the place right now"
Hint: For 6D, enter the candid self-description of someone whose life feels completely disorganized. Seven letters, starts with I.
7D. Trent Reznor's rock band, to fans
Hint: For 7D, use the initials fans apply to Trent Reznor's industrial rock project. Three letters, starts with N.
11D. Call from a kitten
Hint: For 11D, imitate the soft, high-pitched call of a kitten. Three letters, starts with M.
12D. Sailor's assent
Hint: For 12D, give the traditional nautical form of yes. Three letters, starts with A.
13D. F-16 Fighting Falcon, e.g.
Hint: For 13D, name the broad aircraft category represented by the Fighting Falcon. Three letters, starts with J.
14D. Nonfielding baseball players, for short
Hint: For 14D, use the scorebook abbreviation for designated hitters. Three letters, starts with D.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Gets right down to business
Answer: DIVESIN
8A. Japanese for "folding paper"
Answer: ORIGAMI
9A. _a_er and _encil game
Answer: HANGMAN
10A. "Dee-lish!"
Answer: YUM
11A. Specialized (in), as in college
Answer: MAJORED
15A. Small hair on which mascara is applied
Answer: EYELASH
16A. Sloppy smooch
Answer: WETKISS
Down Answers
1D. Homer Simpson's shout
Answer: DOH
2D. Roth ___
Answer: IRA
3D. Actor Diesel of the "Fast & Furious" films
Answer: VIN
4D. "Sunny" part of a breakfast order
Answer: EGGYOLK
5D. Warrior with a katana
Answer: SAMURAI
6D. "Sorry, my life is all over the place right now"
Answer: IMAMESS
7D. Trent Reznor's rock band, to fans
Answer: NIN
11D. Call from a kitten
Answer: MEW
12D. Sailor's assent
Answer: AYE
13D. F-16 Fighting Falcon, e.g.
Answer: JET
14D. Nonfielding baseball players, for short
Answer: DHS
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 9A, "_a_er and _encil game," paired with HANGMAN, defines the grid's playful side. The missing P's evoke incomplete words while the full clue describes the guessing game precisely.
Wordplay Winner: EGGYOLK wins the wordplay prize at 4D. Quotation marks around "Sunny" redirect the adjective toward a sunny-side-up breakfast and its golden center.
Quick Fill: DOH is the fastest confident fill because Homer Simpson's signature shout is immediate. It anchors the opening letters of DIVESIN, ORIGAMI, and HANGMAN.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Bank unmistakable references such as DOH and VIN first, then use those crossings to settle longer conversational entries like DIVESIN.
When punctuation looks unusual, treat it as construction material. The blanks in 9A explain HANGMAN more efficiently than a literal reading does.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The grid treated solvers fairly, pairing direct cultural references with just enough playful phrasing to create texture. HANGMAN supplied the sharpest payoff.
See you at the next grid.
