Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and leans on crisp trivia, conversational phrasing, and one neat piece of Greek-letter wordplay. Settle in for a compact grid with lively 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 its championship reference demands specific, current sports knowledge.
Gimme Clue: 8A is the clearest gimme, with a direct adjective definition and little room for ambiguity.
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. Roughly 20 million people in India, religiously
Hint: Think of the followers of a major religion founded in the Punjab region. Five letters, starts with S.
6A. "No need to remind me"
Hint: Picture the brisk response from someone who is fully aware and tired of hearing the reminder. Five letters, starts with I.
7A. Insurance company whose mascot helped to solve a crossword in a 2025 ad
Hint: Think of the insurer represented by a famously chatty reptile mascot. Five letters, starts with G.
8A. Ultra-masculine
Hint: Reach for an adjective describing exaggerated toughness or masculinity. Five letters, starts with M.
9A. Invite to enter
Hint: The clue wants a short phrasal invitation offered at a doorway. Five letters, starts with A.
Down Hints
1D. Greek "S"
Hint: Look to the Greek alphabet for the symbol corresponding to the Latin letter named in the clue. Five letters, starts with S.
2D. Swedish furniture stores
Hint: Think of multiple locations belonging to Sweden's best-known flat-pack furniture retailer. Five letters, starts with I.
3D. 2026 N.B.A champion
Hint: Look to the New York basketball franchise identified by the championship reference. Five letters, starts with K.
4D. Vietnamese revolutionary ___ Minh
Hint: Think of the Vietnamese revolutionary leader and president whose name was given to the country's largest city. Five letters, starts with H.
5D. Faint after eye contact with one's crush, say
Hint: Picture a theatrical loss of consciousness brought on by an overwhelming romantic moment. Five letters, starts with S.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Roughly 20 million people in India, religiously
Answer: SIKHS
6A. "No need to remind me"
Answer: IKNOW
7A. Insurance company whose mascot helped to solve a crossword in a 2025 ad
Answer: GEICO
8A. Ultra-masculine
Answer: MACHO
9A. Invite to enter
Answer: ASKIN
Down Answers
1D. Greek "S"
Answer: SIGMA
2D. Swedish furniture stores
Answer: IKEAS
3D. 2026 N.B.A champion
Answer: KNICK
4D. Vietnamese revolutionary ___ Minh
Answer: HOCHI
5D. Faint after eye contact with one's crush, say
Answer: SWOON
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 7A, GEICO, defines today's puzzle through its unusually specific crossword connection. The clue turns a familiar insurance mascot into a bit of puzzle-world trivia by recalling its role in a 2025 advertisement.
Wordplay Winner: 1D wins the wordplay prize with SIGMA. The clue treats the Greek letter as the alphabet's counterpart to an English S, creating a compact translation across writing systems.
Quick Fill: MACHO at 8A is the fastest confident fill because the definition is direct. Its letters immediately support SIGMA, IKEAS, KNICK, HOCHI, and SWOON at their crossings.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Bank direct definitions such as MACHO before wrestling with dated trivia. In a fully interlocking five-by-five grid, one secure row supplies a letter to every Down entry.
Treat quoted dialogue as natural speech rather than a dictionary definition. IKNOW becomes much quicker once you hear the mildly impatient tone of the clue.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
This grid rewarded broad recall while keeping its definitions clean and its crossings helpful. SIGMA supplied the sharpest wordplay in an otherwise direct, energetic solve.
See you at the next grid.
