Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and Monday's grid brings a tight five-letter theme that rewards pattern recognition and museum trivia. 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: 4A. N.Y.C. home of van Gogh's "The Starry Night"
Gimme Clue: 5A. "Seriously? We're still doing this?"
Theme Spotted: M-words, every answer starts with the letter M
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. Quiet, or a flower
Hint: Think of the sound for silence, or a chrysanthemum in shorthand. Three letters, starts with M.
4. N.Y.C. home of van Gogh's "The Starry Night"
Hint: This Midtown Manhattan museum is a four-letter acronym. Art lovers know it well.
5. "Seriously? We're still doing this?"
Hint: An exasperated exclamation. Five letters, you've said this before, repeatedly.
7. Pyramid inhabitant
Hint: Ancient Egyptian royalty wrapped up tight. Five letters, starts with M.
8. Top-tier, as celebrities
Hint: Think Hollywood's elite ranking. Five letters, hyphenated, starts with A.
Down Hints
1. Super-rich individual
Hint: A titan of industry. Five letters, starts with M.
2. Savory flavor, as in kimchi and soy sauce
Hint: The fifth basic taste. Five letters, starts with U.
3. Seriously injures
Hint: Causes grave harm. Five letters, starts with M.
4. Baby's first word, maybe
Hint: What infants often call their mother. Four letters, starts with M.
6. Parent company of The Athletic: Abbr.
Hint: The Gray Lady's three-letter abbreviation.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. Quiet, or a flower
Answer: MUM
4. N.Y.C. home of van Gogh's "The Starry Night"
Answer: MOMA
5. "Seriously? We're still doing this?"
Answer: AGAIN
7. Pyramid inhabitant
Answer: MUMMY
8. Top-tier, as celebrities
Answer: ALIST
Down Answers
1. Super-rich individual
Answer: MOGUL
2. Savory flavor, as in kimchi and soy sauce
Answer: UMAMI
3. Seriously injures
Answer: MAIMS
4. Baby's first word, maybe
Answer: MAMA
6. Parent company of The Athletic: Abbr.
Answer: NYT
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 4A. N.Y.C. home of van Gogh's "The Starry Night" for MOMA. This is a solid trivia test, if you don't know that the Museum of Modern Art houses one of the most famous paintings in the world, this clue will stop you cold. It's the kind of cultural knowledge that separates a quick solve from a stalled grid.
Wordplay Winner: 1A. "Quiet, or a flower" for MUM. This is a classic crossword duality, one word serving double duty as the sound of silence and a shorthand for chrysanthemum. Clean, efficient, and exactly what makes Mini cluing satisfying.
Quick Fill: 5A. "Seriously? We're still doing this?" for AGAIN. A conversational gimme that any solver will recognize instantly. No obscure knowledge required, just read the tone and type.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
When you spot a pattern like all answers starting with the same letter (M for 1A, 4A, 7A, 1D, 2D, 3D, 4D), lean into it. If you're stuck on one clue, try filling in other intersecting M-words first, the shared letter creates a web of confirmations that can unlock the whole grid fast.
Monday Minis often lean on short, high-frequency crossword words like MUM, MAMA, and AGAIN. Train yourself to recognize these common fill words on sight, they're the building blocks that let you race through the easy clues and save your brainpower for the one or two tricky trivia questions per puzzle.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Mini drops tonight at 10 p.m. EST. How did today's grid treat you? The M-themed answers made for a cohesive solve, once you cracked MUM and MOMA, the rest fell into place fast. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
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