Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and Sunday's grid brings a clean 5x5 mix of pop culture, weather vocab, 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: 5x5
Total Clues: 10 (5 Across, 5 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 6A. "___ Thompson, longest-tenured cast member in 'S.N.L.' history", requires pop-culture recall of a specific actor's first name.
Gimme Clue: 8A. "Snow/rain combo", straightforward weather vocabulary, four letters.
Theme Spotted: None today, a general-interest mix with no unifying theme.
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. Nature's marshmallow holder
Hint: Think campfire snack. It's what you roast a marshmallow on. Starts with S, ends with K.
6. ___ Thompson, longest-tenured cast member in "S.N.L." history
Hint: This actor joined SNL in 2003 and holds the record for tenure. First name starts with K, ends with N.
7. "My turn!"
Hint: A three-word phrase that means "I'll go next." Starts with I.
8. Snow/rain combo
Hint: Winter precipitation that's not quite snow, not quite rain. Four letters, starts with S.
9. Messy home for pigs
Hint: Three-letter word for a pig's dwelling. Rhymes with "fly."
Down Hints
1. Tackles a double-black diamond, perhaps
Hint: Winter sport. A double-black diamond is the hardest ski trail rating. Starts with S, ends with S.
2. Poker player's giveaways
Hint: Involuntary behaviors that reveal a player's hand. Five letters, starts with T.
3. Small bay
Hint: A geographic feature, a narrow body of water between islands or leading inland. Five letters.
4. Giving evasive answers
Hint: A five-letter adjective meaning deliberately vague or secretive. Starts with C.
5. Shape for a shoelace or pretzel
Hint: A tied loop. Four letters, also the name of a type of bread twist.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. Nature's marshmallow holder
Answer: STICK
6. ___ Thompson, longest-tenured cast member in "S.N.L." history
Answer: KENAN
7. "My turn!"
Answer: ILLGO
8. Snow/rain combo
Answer: SLEET
9. Messy home for pigs
Answer: STY
Down Answers
1. Tackles a double-black diamond, perhaps
Answer: SKIS
2. Poker player's giveaways
Answer: TELLS
3. Small bay
Answer: INLET
4. Giving evasive answers
Answer: CAGEY
5. Shape for a shoelace or pretzel
Answer: KNOT
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 6A "___ Thompson, longest-tenured cast member in 'S.N.L.' history" for KENAN. Kenan Thompson's tenure on SNL is a deep-but-reasonable pop-culture pull. If you don't follow late-night comedy, this one blocks the entire top half of the grid.
Wordplay Winner: 2D "Poker player's giveaways" for TELLS. A classic crossword staple, the double meaning between "tells a story" and a poker "tell" is clean and satisfying.
Quick Fill: 9A "Messy home for pigs" for STY. Three letters, common vocabulary, and a near-gimme once you spot the crossing letters. Instant confidence booster.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Pop culture clues like 6A reward familiarity with long-running TV shows. When you see a blank paired with a recognizable last name (Thompson) and a specific credential ("longest-tenured"), scan for first names of famous people in that category. Kenan, Conan, and Kieran are common crossword fill.
Short crossings are your friend. 9A (STY) and 5D (KNOT) are three- and four-letter words that intersect multiple answers. Lock those in early and the rest of the grid opens up fast.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Mini drops tomorrow at 10 p.m. EST. How did today's grid treat you? Kenan Thompson and a campfire STICK made for a relaxed Sunday solve, but don't sleep on those poker TELLS. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
