Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and Friday's grid brings a clean 5x5 sprint with sharp executive-level wordplay and a few sand-in-your-shoes surprises. Whether you're racing the clock or just enjoying a quick brain break, we've got hints and answers to keep you moving.
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: 4D. ___ of the Apostles (Bible book), biblical knowledge required
Gimme Clue: 1A. Top of an org. chart, three letters, the boss
Theme Spotted: None today
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. Top of an org. chart
Hint: The person who reports to the board. Three letters, starts with C.
4. Terse way of saying "I'd like to speak with you"
Hint: A five-letter phrase that starts with A and means "let's talk."
6. Grouping of musical notes
Hint: Think harmony. Five letters, starts with C, ends with D.
7. Roll on a pool chair
Hint: What you grab after a swim to dry off. Five letters.
8. Like one's feet after a beach day
Hint: Gritty. Five letters, starts with S.
Down Hints
1. Jointly manage
Hint: Split ownership of something. Five letters, starts with C.
2. Made a mistake
Hint: Past tense of a verb meaning "to blunder." Five letters.
3. In a strange way
Hint: An adverb meaning "peculiarly." Five letters, starts with O.
4. ___ of the Apostles (Bible book)
Hint: A book in the New Testament. Four letters.
5. "Mind blown!"
Hint: An exclamation of amazement. Four letters, starts with W.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. Top of an org. chart
Answer: CEO
4. Terse way of saying "I'd like to speak with you"
Answer: AWORD
6. Grouping of musical notes
Answer: CHORD
7. Roll on a pool chair
Answer: TOWEL
8. Like one's feet after a beach day
Answer: SANDY
Down Answers
1. Jointly manage
Answer: COOWN
2. Made a mistake
Answer: ERRED
3. In a strange way
Answer: ODDLY
4. ___ of the Apostles (Bible book)
Answer: ACTS
5. "Mind blown!"
Answer: WHOA
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 4A. Terse way of saying "I'd like to speak with you" for AWORD. The clue feels conversational and modern, yet the answer is a compact five-letter phrase that reads like shorthand, clever misdirection for a simple compound.
Wordplay Winner: 4D. ___ of the Apostles (Bible book) for ACTS. It's a classic fill-in-the-blank that rewards biblical literacy, and it neatly intersects with AWORD at the A and C, a satisfying cross-check.
Quick Fill: 1A. Top of an org. chart for CEO. Three letters, instantly recognizable, and it anchors the top-left corner of the grid. No overthinking required.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Start with the short gimmes. CEO, WHOA, and SANDY are all common crossword fill that drop in fast. Lock those in first to expose crossing letters for tougher clues like COOWN and CHORD.
Watch for conversational clues that sound like full sentences. "I'd like to speak with you" compresses to AWORD, a pattern that pops up frequently in The Mini. Train yourself to think in abbreviations and shorthand when a clue reads like natural speech.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Mini drops tonight at 10 p.m. EST. How did today's grid treat you? Whether you breezed through CEO and WHOA or got stuck on ACTS and COOWN, every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
