Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and Sunday's grid brings a clean 5x5 mix of food, pop culture, and everyday vocabulary. 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: "___-Bismol (antacid brand)", the spelling trips people up.
Gimme Clue: "Smell from a dumpster", four letters, starts with O.
Theme Spotted: None today, standalone vocabulary and pop-culture fill.
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. Culinary institute instructor
Hint: The person running the kitchen. Four letters, starts with C.
5. "Earth to [name]? You there?!"
Hint: What you say when someone's zoning out. Five letters, starts with H.
7. How you shouldn't read the cue words on a teleprompter
Hint: The opposite of silently. Five letters, starts with A.
8. ___-Bismol (antacid brand)
Hint: Pink medicine. Five letters, starts with P.
9. Mean-mugging look
Hint: A contemptuous facial expression. Five letters, starts with S.
Down Hints
1. Dries out, as lips
Hint: Winter air does this to your skin. Five letters, starts with C.
2. ___ of Troy
Hint: The face that launched a thousand ships. Five letters, starts with H.
3. Say "I dos" without the ado?
Hint: A quick, private wedding. Five letters, starts with E.
4. Instrument that's held horizontally while playing it
Hint: A woodwind you blow across, not into. Five letters, starts with F.
6. Smell from a dumpster
Hint: A bad scent. Four letters, starts with O.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. Culinary institute instructor
Answer: CHEF
5. "Earth to [name]? You there?!"
Answer: HELLO
7. How you shouldn't read the cue words on a teleprompter
Answer: ALOUD
8. ___-Bismol (antacid brand)
Answer: PEPTO
9. Mean-mugging look
Answer: SNEER
Down Answers
1. Dries out, as lips
Answer: CHAPS
2. ___ of Troy
Answer: HELEN
3. Say "I dos" without the ado?
Answer: ELOPE
4. Instrument that's held horizontally while playing it
Answer: FLUTE
6. Smell from a dumpster
Answer: ODOR
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: "Say 'I dos' without the ado?" for ELOPE. The clever phrasing turns a formal wedding ceremony into a quick getaway, the kind of wordplay that makes the Mini fun.
Wordplay Winner: "How you shouldn't read the cue words on a teleprompter" for ALOUD. The misdirection is clean, you think about reading errors, but the answer is simply the opposite of "silently."
Quick Fill: "Smell from a dumpster" for ODOR. Straightforward definition, common word, instant fill. No head-scratching required.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Start with the gimmes. ODOR (6D) and CHEF (1A) are nearly instant fills. Lock those in first to establish anchor letters for the rest of the grid.
Watch for pop-culture shortcuts. PEPTO (8A) and HELEN (2D) are brand and mythology staples that appear regularly in crosswords. Recognizing these repeat players lets you skip the deliberation.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Mini drops tomorrow at 10 p.m. EST. How did today's grid treat you? Between the pink antacid and the Trojan queen, this Sunday puzzle kept things brisk and approachable. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
