Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and Saturday's grid brings a 7x7 challenge packed with geography, pop culture, and classic 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: 18 (11 Across, 7 Down)
Trickiest Clue: "Spider-Man foe who gained his powers from a lightning strike"
Gimme Clue: "Easy peasy!"
Theme Spotted: None today, a wide-ranging mix of trivia categories
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. "Easy peasy!"
Hint: A two-word phrase meaning "no problem at all." Starts with N, ends with T.
8. Great Lake whose name can be translated in Iroquoian as "great lake"
Hint: It's the second-largest Great Lake by surface area. Seven letters, starts with O.
9. Use a ruler
Hint: You'd do this to find the length of something. Seven letters.
10. Word after "brake," "Brillo" or "bachelor"
Hint: A three-letter word that also describes a cushion or a writing tablet.
11. Having more sodium
Hint: The opposite of less salty. Seven letters.
15. Spider-Man foe who gained his powers from a lightning strike
Hint: This villain controls electricity. Seven letters, starts with E.
16. George Washington or George Patton
Hint: Both were military leaders honored for their service. Six letters, two words.
Down Hints
1. ___ de plume
Hint: A French phrase for a writer's pseudonym. Three letters.
2. First digit of pi after the decimal
Hint: The number that comes right after 3.14. Three letters.
3. Paper pusher?
Hint: A desk tool that binds documents together. Seven letters.
4. Major mountain range in Utah
Hint: Runs north-south through the central part of the state. Seven letters, starts with W.
5. Well-read
Hint: Describes someone deeply educated through books. Seven letters.
6. It's mostly nitrogen and oxygen
Hint: You're breathing it right now. Three letters.
7. Wiggler in a sock
Hint: A body part you might wiggle inside your footwear. Three letters.
11. Stitch up
Hint: What a tailor does to repair a tear. Three letters.
12. Chicken ___ king
Hint: A creamy chicken dish served over rice or toast. Three letters.
13. Make a mistake
Hint: To slip up or blunder. Three letters.
14. Aussie animal, for short
Hint: A marsupial from Down Under. Three letters.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. "Easy peasy!"
Answer: NOSWEAT
8. Great Lake whose name can be translated in Iroquoian as "great lake"
Answer: ONTARIO
9. Use a ruler
Answer: MEASURE
10. Word after "brake," "Brillo" or "bachelor"
Answer: PAD
11. Having more sodium
Answer: SALTIER
15. Spider-Man foe who gained his powers from a lightning strike
Answer: ELECTRO
16. George Washington or George Patton
Answer: WARHERO
Down Answers
1. ___ de plume
Answer: NOM
2. First digit of pi after the decimal
Answer: ONE
3. Paper pusher?
Answer: STAPLER
4. Major mountain range in Utah
Answer: WASATCH
5. Well-read
Answer: ERUDITE
6. It's mostly nitrogen and oxygen
Answer: AIR
7. Wiggler in a sock
Answer: TOE
11. Stitch up
Answer: SEW
12. Chicken ___ king
Answer: ALA
13. Make a mistake
Answer: ERR
14. Aussie animal, for short
Answer: ROO
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: "Major mountain range in Utah" for WASATCH. A proper noun that's a deep cut for non-locals, you either know it or you don't, and cross-checking with MEASURE and ERUDITE is your only lifeline.
Wordplay Winner: "Paper pusher?" for STAPLER. A classic pun that plays on the double meaning of "pusher", a dealer or a device that literally pushes paper together. Clean, clever, and satisfying.
Quick Fill: "First digit of pi after the decimal" for ONE. If you know pi starts with 3.14, you know the first digit after the decimal is 1. A total gimme that locks in your first Down answer fast.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Spot the short fillers first. Clues like "Make a mistake" (ERR), "Aussie animal, for short" (ROO), and "It's mostly nitrogen and oxygen" (AIR) are three-letter gimmes. Punch those in immediately to build your letter bank for the longer answers.
Watch for compound wordplay. "Paper pusher?" and "Wiggler in a sock" aren't literal, they're puns and idioms. If a clue feels too obvious or too weird, there's almost always a twist. Read every clue twice before typing.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Mini drops tonight at 10 p.m. EST. How did today's grid treat you? Between the Spider-Man villain trivia and the Utah geography curveball, this Saturday edition delivered a solid mix of pop culture and general knowledge. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
