Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and Sunday's grid brings a clean 5x5 mix of pop culture, common phrases, and straightforward fill. Nothing too tricky here, a solid warm-up for your Sunday morning.
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: "Rory's love interest on 'Gilmore Girls'" (2D), requires specific TV knowledge
Gimme Clue: "Praiseful poem" (7A), is a crossword staple
Theme Spotted: None today
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. Wedding entertainers, for short
Hint: Think about who keeps the dance floor packed. Three letters, starts with D.
4. Like admission to the Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C.
Hint: No ticket required. Four letters, starts with F.
5. Not try particularly hard at one's job
Hint: Riding on autopilot. Five letters, starts with C.
6. "Didn't mean to do that!"
Hint: A classic exclamation for minor mishaps. Four letters, starts with O.
7. Praiseful poem
Hint: A lyrical tribute. Three letters, starts with O.
Down Hints
1. Hang loosely
Hint: Like curtains or fabric. Five letters, starts with D.
2. Rory's love interest on "Gilmore Girls"
Hint: A bad-boy character from Stars Hollow. Four letters, starts with J.
3. "I'm all ___"
Hint: Ready to go. Three letters, starts with S.
4. Caterer's responsibility
Hint: What's on the menu. Four letters, starts with F.
5. Mourning dove's call
Hint: A soft, gentle sound. Three letters, starts with C.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. Wedding entertainers, for short
Answer: DJS
4. Like admission to the Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C.
Answer: FREE
5. Not try particularly hard at one's job
Answer: COAST
6. "Didn't mean to do that!"
Answer: OOPS
7. Praiseful poem
Answer: ODE
Down Answers
1. Hang loosely
Answer: DRAPE
2. Rory's love interest on "Gilmore Girls"
Answer: JESS
3. "I'm all ___"
Answer: SET
4. Caterer's responsibility
Answer: FOOD
5. Mourning dove's call
Answer: COO
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: "Rory's love interest on 'Gilmore Girls'" for JESS. A deep pull for anyone who didn't binge the revival. Jess Mariano was the brooding writer who stole Rory's heart, and if you missed that era of TV, this clue could stall your solve.
Wordplay Winner: "Not try particularly hard at one's job" for COAST. The verb works on two levels, literally cruising along without effort, and metaphorically phoning it in. Clean, satisfying cluing.
Quick Fill: "Praiseful poem" for ODE. Three letters, shows up in crosswords constantly, and the clue couldn't be more direct. Instant fill.
Speed Solver Tips
Look for short, high-frequency crossword words like ODE, SET, and COO to anchor your grid. These three-letter staples almost always appear in the Mini and lock in surrounding letters fast.
When a clue uses "for short" or an abbreviation marker (like 1A's "Wedding entertainers, for short"), expect a plural acronym or initialism. DJS follows that pattern, spot the marker, narrow your options.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Mini drops tomorrow at 10 p.m. EST. How did today's grid treat you? Whether the Gilmore Girls reference had you stumped or you breezed through in under a minute, every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
