Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and classroom misdirection gives the grid a playful streak alongside everyday vocabulary. Come on in and give those deceptively simple clues a closer look.
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: 6x5
Total Clues: 11 (5 Across, 6 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 5A is the trickiest clue because its classroom wording makes a grade feel like the obvious interpretation.
Gimme Clue: 2D is the clearest foothold, asking for a direct contrast between countryside and city life.
Theme Spotted: There is a theme linking 5A, 6A and 7A, with matching clue phrasing that rewards a change of interpretation.
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Took legal action against
Hint: Think of taking someone to court, with the verb in the past tense. Four letters, starts with S.
5A. An "F" in Physics?
Hint: Read the letter as a physics symbol, not a school grade. Five letters, starts with F.
6A. A "C" in Chemistry?
Hint: Look to the periodic table rather than a report card. Six letters, starts with C.
7A. An "A" in Geometry?
Hint: Think of what length times width measures. Four letters, starts with A.
8A. "Feel the ___" (2010s political slogan)
Hint: Think of the campaign chant associated with Vermont's senator. Four letters, starts with B.
Down Hints
1D. More achy
Hint: Imagine muscles feeling worse after another workout. Five letters, starts with S.
2D. Rural's opposite
Hint: Think city streets instead of country roads. Five letters, starts with U.
3D. Shorthand for things that are green
Hint: Read green as environmentally friendly, not as a color. Three letters, starts with E.
4D. Where a bear hibernates in the winter
Hint: Picture a bear's sheltered winter sleeping spot. Three letters, starts with D.
5D. Cost of a 6-Down
Hint: Solve 6D, then think of the charge for a ride. Four letters, starts with F.
6D. Traditionally, it's black in London and yellow in New York City
Hint: Think of a vehicle you hail for a paid ride through the city. Three letters, starts with C.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Took legal action against
Answer: SUED
5A. An "F" in Physics?
Answer: FORCE
6A. A "C" in Chemistry?
Answer: CARBON
7A. An "A" in Geometry?
Answer: AREA
8A. "Feel the ___" (2010s political slogan)
Answer: BERN
Down Answers
1D. More achy
Answer: SORER
2D. Rural's opposite
Answer: URBAN
3D. Shorthand for things that are green
Answer: ECO
4D. Where a bear hibernates in the winter
Answer: DEN
5D. Cost of a 6-Down
Answer: FARE
6D. Traditionally, it's black in London and yellow in New York City
Answer: CAB
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 6A gives CARBON the starring role. The wording suggests a classroom grade, but C is the element's chemical symbol, neatly expressing the grid's academic trick.
Wordplay Winner: 5A wins the misdirection prize with FORCE. An F sounds like a failing grade in a physics class, but the clue points to the quantity represented by F in physics notation.
Quick Fill: URBAN at 2D is the fastest confident fill because the contrast with rural is direct. It crosses SUED, FORCE, CARBON, AREA and BERN, making it a useful spine through every Across answer.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
When clues repeat a structure, test the same interpretive shift across them. Here, moving from grades to subject-specific symbols unlocks FORCE, CARBON and AREA.
Resolve a concrete cross-reference before wrestling with its dependent clue. CAB at 6D makes the ride charge FARE at 5D a natural follow-up.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The grid rewards a small shift in perspective, with CARBON turning a supposed report-card result into a satisfying recognition. The direct vocabulary clues give the trick room to shine.
See you at the next grid.