Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and Saturday's grid brings a literary twist with Dante's Divine Comedy meeting modern 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: 7x7
Total Clues: 17 (10 Across, 7 Down)
Trickiest Clue: "Yotam Ottolenghi called it 'the one spice I could never give up'" (6D)
Gimme Clue: "Lock lips" (1A)
Theme Spotted: None today
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Lock lips
Hint: Romantic gesture, three letters, starts with K
5A. Italian author of "Inferno," "Purgatorio" and "Paradiso"
Hint: Medieval poet, five letters, wrote about hell, purgatory, and heaven
6A. Cerebral ___ (part of the brain)
Hint: Outer layer of the brain, six letters, starts with C
7A. Leave home with a stuffed pillowcase as luggage, perhaps
Hint: Childhood escape fantasy, seven letters, starts with R
8A. "No more for me, thanks"
Hint: Polite refusal, six letters, starts with I
9A. Fancy fabrics
Hint: Luxurious textiles, five letters, starts with S
10A. Leg joint
Hint: Body part that bends, four letters, starts with K
Down Hints
1D. Bars sung in a bar
Hint: Entertainment activity, seven letters, starts with K
2D. How the animals boarded Noah's Ark
Hint: Biblical pairing, six letters, starts with I
3D. Stand in good ___
Hint: Phrase meaning to be helpful, five letters, starts with S
4D. Smokin' hot
Hint: Attractive, four letters, starts with S
5D. Computer attachment
Hint: Hardware device, six letters, starts with D
6D. Yotam Ottolenghi called it "the one spice I could never give up"
Hint: Middle Eastern spice, five letters, starts with C
7D. Hazard
Hint: Danger or chance, four letters, starts with R
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Lock lips
Answer: KISS
5A. Italian author of "Inferno," "Purgatorio" and "Paradiso"
Answer: DANTE
6A. Cerebral ___ (part of the brain)
Answer: CORTEX
7A. Leave home with a stuffed pillowcase as luggage, perhaps
Answer: RUNAWAY
8A. "No more for me, thanks"
Answer: IMGOOD
9A. Fancy fabrics
Answer: SILKS
10A. Leg joint
Answer: KNEE
Down Answers
1D. Bars sung in a bar
Answer: KARAOKE
2D. How the animals boarded Noah's Ark
Answer: INTWOS
3D. Stand in good ___
Answer: STEAD
4D. Smokin' hot
Answer: SEXY
5D. Computer attachment
Answer: DONGLE
6D. Yotam Ottolenghi called it "the one spice I could never give up"
Answer: CUMIN
7D. Hazard
Answer: RISK
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: "Yotam Ottolenghi called it 'the one spice I could never give up'" for CUMIN. This clue requires specific culinary knowledge of the celebrity chef's preferences, making it the day's toughest get.
Wordplay Winner: "Bars sung in a bar" for KARAOKE. Clever double meaning of "bars" as both musical measures and drinking establishments creates a perfect crossword clue.
Quick Fill: "Lock lips" for KISS. Straightforward, common phrase with no tricky wordplay, a classic crossword gimme.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Watch for proper nouns, DANTE and CUMIN both required specific knowledge. When you see capitalized clues or quotes, think names, places, or specialized terms.
Saturday puzzles often mix straightforward fill (KISS, KNEE) with more challenging entries (CORTEX, DONGLE). Scan for the easy gimmes first to build your grid foundation.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Mini drops at 6 p.m. EST today. How did today's grid treat you? The literary Dante reference and culinary CUMIN clue provided Saturday-level challenge. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
