Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and Monday's grid brings a mix of riddles and presidential trivia with straightforward wordplay. 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: 2D: ___ Eisenhower, 1950s first lady
Gimme Clue: 7A: French for "love"
Theme Spotted: Riddle clues (6A and 8A)
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Talk ___ (boastfully banter)
Hint: Think street slang for trash talk. Five letters, starts with S.
6A. What has legs, but never walks?
Hint: Furniture item. Five letters, starts with T.
7A. French for "love"
Hint: Common French word for affection. Five letters, starts with A.
8A. What has a mouth, but never talks?
Hint: Natural water feature. Five letters, starts with R.
9A. Run-down in appearance
Hint: Describes something shabby or dilapidated. Five letters, starts with S.
Down Hints
1D. Milky Way bits
Hint: Celestial bodies in the night sky. Five letters, starts with S.
2D. ___ Eisenhower, 1950s first lady
Hint: First name of President Eisenhower's wife. Five letters, starts with M.
3D. Overhead
Hint: Positional word meaning above. Five letters, starts with A.
4D. Given a crossword hint
Hint: Past tense of providing guidance in a puzzle. Five letters, starts with C.
5D. Actress Washington of "Scandal"
Hint: First name of the lead actress in the political drama. Five letters, starts with K.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Talk ___ (boastfully banter)
Answer: SMACK
6A. What has legs, but never walks?
Answer: TABLE
7A. French for "love"
Answer: AMOUR
8A. What has a mouth, but never talks?
Answer: RIVER
9A. Run-down in appearance
Answer: SEEDY
Down Answers
1D. Milky Way bits
Answer: STARS
2D. ___ Eisenhower, 1950s first lady
Answer: MAMIE
3D. Overhead
Answer: ABOVE
4D. Given a crossword hint
Answer: CLUED
5D. Actress Washington of "Scandal"
Answer: KERRY
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 6A: "What has legs, but never walks?" for TABLE. This classic riddle format adds playful variety to the standard crossword clues.
Wordplay Winner: 8A: "What has a mouth, but never talks?" for RIVER. Another riddle clue that requires thinking beyond literal interpretations.
Quick Fill: 7A: "French for 'love'" for AMOUR. This common French vocabulary word is a standard crossword entry that most solvers will recognize immediately.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Watch for riddle clues on Mondays - they often appear as straightforward wordplay that can be solved quickly once you recognize the pattern.
Presidential spouse names like MAMIE Eisenhower are common crossword fill - building this historical knowledge base pays off across multiple puzzles.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Mini drops tonight at 10 p.m. EST. How did today's grid treat you? The riddle clues (TABLE and RIVER) added playful variety to the standard wordplay. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
