Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and leans into compact wordplay, approachable trivia, and a light letter-frequency gimmick. Settle in for a brisk grid with a satisfying center.
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: 6A is the trickiest clue because recognizing the specific television performer depends on a clean piece of pop-culture recall.
Gimme Clue: 1A is the clearest gimme, using a direct definition from everyday farm vocabulary.
Theme Spotted: A light letter-frequency gimmick centered on the grid's most common pair.
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Mother chicken
Hint: Think of the standard term for an adult female chicken. Three letters, starts with H.
4A. Word after "leading" and "first"
Hint: Find the same word that completes two familiar phrases, one involving prominence and the other the president's spouse. Four letters, starts with L.
5A. Just peachy ... or a hint to the two letters that appear most often in this grid
Hint: The target is an upbeat adjective meaning excellent or perfectly satisfactory, and its spelling also illustrates the clue's letter observation. Five letters, starts with D.
6A. Bryant of "S.N.L." fame
Hint: Think of the comedian and performer known for her work on the NBC sketch series named in the clue. Four letters, starts with A.
7A. Like overcooked chicken
Hint: Picture the unpleasant texture poultry develops after spending too long over the heat. Three letters, starts with D.
Down Hints
1D. Helpful
Hint: Look for a synonym meaning useful, convenient, or good to have nearby. Five letters, starts with H.
2D. Swirl of water
Hint: The clue describes a small circular current that forms within a larger body of moving water. Four letters, starts with E.
3D. The Yankees, on scoreboards
Hint: Use the familiar scoreboard abbreviation for the Bronx-based Major League Baseball team. Three letters, starts with N.
4D. Supervillain's hideout
Hint: Comic-book villains traditionally retreat to this secret den or hideaway. Four letters, starts with L.
5D. ___ joke
Hint: Complete the phrase for a groan-inducing pun stereotypically told by a parent. 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. Mother chicken
Answer: HEN
4A. Word after "leading" and "first"
Answer: LADY
5A. Just peachy ... or a hint to the two letters that appear most often in this grid
Answer: DANDY
6A. Bryant of "S.N.L." fame
Answer: AIDY
7A. Like overcooked chicken
Answer: DRY
Down Answers
1D. Helpful
Answer: HANDY
2D. Swirl of water
Answer: EDDY
3D. The Yankees, on scoreboards
Answer: NYY
4D. Supervillain's hideout
Answer: LAIR
5D. ___ joke
Answer: DAD
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 5A, “Just peachy ... or a hint to the two letters that appear most often in this grid,” defines DANDY while pointing directly to D and Y, the grid's two most frequent letters. That double duty gives the center entry a genuine reason to sit at the heart of the puzzle.
Wordplay Winner: LADY wins the wordplay round because it completes both “leading lady” and “first lady.” The clue turns two distinct familiar phrases into one crisp fill.
Quick Fill: HEN is the fastest confident fill because “Mother chicken” is a direct definition. Its three cells immediately support HANDY, EDDY, and NYY through the crossings.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Enter direct definitions such as HEN and EDDY immediately, then use those crossings to settle proper-name or abbreviation entries like AIDY and NYY.
When a clue advertises a grid-wide letter pattern, scan the completed rows before overthinking it. DANDY makes D and Y conspicuous and confirms the intended observation.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
This grid treated solvers kindly with direct definitions, familiar phrases, and one proper-name speed bump. DANDY supplied a neat final flourish by making the puzzle's repeated letters part of the solve.
See you at the next grid.
