Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and Saturday's grid brings a 7x7 challenge packed with pop culture and a clever Jack-themed sub-pattern. 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: 16 (8 Across, 8 Down)
Trickiest Clue: "Class pets that thump their feet to warn of approaching kindergarteners"
Gimme Clue: "Attempt"
Theme Spotted: Jack-themed duo
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. De Armas of "Knives Out"
Hint: Three letters. Cuban actress. Starts with A.
4. Jack ___, five-time "S.N.L." host
Hint: Five letters. Shares a name with a color and a pirate's heart.
6. Class pets that thump their feet to warn of approaching kindergarteners
Hint: Seven letters. Small, furry rodents. Starts with G.
8. Boxer Muhammad or Laila
Hint: Three letters. The greatest. Short last name.
9. Reach 0% battery
Hint: Three letters. Your phone does this when it's out of juice.
10. Big name in hair loss prevention
Hint: Seven letters. Foam or topical solution. Starts with R.
12. Jack ___, six-time "S.N.L." musical guest
Hint: Five letters. A color, a band, and a Stripe.
13. Attempt
Hint: Three letters. Give it a ___.
Down Hints
1. "Okay then ..."
Hint: Seven letters. Fine, sure, whatever. Starts with A.
2. Catch, as a criminal
Hint: Three letters. Police work. Opposite of release.
3. Notable feature of lemon and grapefruit juice
Hint: Seven letters. Sourness level. Starts with A.
4. Underneath
Hint: Five letters. What's ___ the surface.
5. Actor Kevin of "Dave"
Hint: Five letters. Oscar winner. His last name starts with K.
6. Long-nosed fish
Hint: Three letters. Freshwater fish. Also a sound of surprise.
7. Understand
Hint: Three letters. I ___ what you mean.
11. Make public, as a grievance
Hint: Three letters. Vent. Get it off your chest.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. De Armas of "Knives Out"
Answer: ANA
4. Jack ___, five-time "S.N.L." host
Answer: BLACK
6. Class pets that thump their feet to warn of approaching kindergarteners
Answer: GERBILS
8. Boxer Muhammad or Laila
Answer: ALI
9. Reach 0% battery
Answer: DIE
10. Big name in hair loss prevention
Answer: ROGAINE
12. Jack ___, six-time "S.N.L." musical guest
Answer: WHITE
13. Attempt
Answer: TRY
Down Answers
1. "Okay then ..."
Answer: ALRIGHT
2. Catch, as a criminal
Answer: NAB
3. Notable feature of lemon and grapefruit juice
Answer: ACIDITY
4. Underneath
Answer: BELOW
5. Actor Kevin of "Dave"
Answer: KLINE
6. Long-nosed fish
Answer: GAR
7. Understand
Answer: SEE
11. Make public, as a grievance
Answer: AIR
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: "Class pets that thump their feet to warn of approaching kindergarteners" for GERBILS. The specificity is what makes this clue sing, it paints a vivid classroom scene while testing your knowledge of rodent behavior. Gerbils really do thump their hind feet as an alarm signal.
Wordplay Winner: "Jack ___" appearing twice (4A and 12A) with two different answers, BLACK and WHITE. Both are SNL references (Jack BLACK hosted five times, Jack WHITE was musical guest six times), but the color contrast between them makes for a satisfying mini-theme.
Quick Fill: "Attempt" for TRY. Three letters, dead simple, and it anchors the bottom-right corner. The kind of clue that lets you build momentum fast.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
When you spot a repeated name pattern like "Jack ___" appearing twice, lock in one answer immediately, the other is likely a contrasting term. BLACK and WHITE are opposites, so if you get one, the other writes itself.
Short three-letter clues are your best entry points. ANA, ALI, DIE, TRY, NAB, GAR, SEE, and AIR all sit at three letters. Fill those in first to expose crossing letters for the longer answers like GERBILS, ROGAINE, and ALRIGHT.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Mini drops tonight at 10 p.m. EST. How did today's grid treat you? The Jack BLACK and Jack WHITE double feature was a clever SNL nod, and GERBILS gave the puzzle its only real stretch. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
