Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and Thursday's grid brings internet shorthand, French wine country, and the satisfying goal of hitting inbox zero. 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: "With 7-Across, aspirational state to achieve in one's work email", requires knowing the phrase "inbox zero"
Gimme Clue: "Right away!", this is about as straightforward as it gets
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. "In summary …," in internet shorthand
Hint: Think of the acronym people use before dropping a wall of text. Four letters.
5. ___ Valley (French wine area)
Hint: Famous for its châteaux and sauvignon blanc. Five letters, starts with L.
6. With 7-Across, aspirational state to achieve in one's work email
Hint: What you want your email folder to be. Five letters.
7. See 6-Across
Hint: The number of unread emails you're aiming for. Four letters.
8. "Right away!"
Hint: Four-letter acronym that means "as soon as possible."
Down Hints
1. Sounds before going to voicemail
Hint: Those repeated beeps you hear when someone isn't picking up. Five letters.
2. Zodiac sign in early autumn
Hint: The scales. Five letters, starts with L.
3. Sag
Hint: What a weak shelf or an old mattress does over time. Five letters.
4. Pet name on a par with Fido and Rover
Hint: A classic name for a dog, often a German Shepherd. Three letters.
5. Actress/singer Minnelli
Hint: She played Sally Bowles in "Cabaret." Four letters.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. "In summary …," in internet shorthand
Answer: TLDR
5. ___ Valley (French wine area)
Answer: LOIRE
6. With 7-Across, aspirational state to achieve in one's work email
Answer: INBOX
7. See 6-Across
Answer: ZERO
8. "Right away!"
Answer: ASAP
Down Answers
1. Sounds before going to voicemail
Answer: TONES
2. Zodiac sign in early autumn
Answer: LIBRA
3. Sag
Answer: DROOP
4. Pet name on a par with Fido and Rover
Answer: REX
5. Actress/singer Minnelli
Answer: LIZA
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: "With 7-Across, aspirational state to achieve in one's work email" for INBOX. The clue cleverly forces you to think of the full phrase "inbox zero", a modern productivity concept, before you can untangle the two-part answer.
Wordplay Winner: "Sag" for DROOP. It's a textbook synonym clue, clean, direct, and instantly satisfying once the letters fall into place.
Quick Fill: "Right away!" for ASAP. A four-letter acronym that anyone who's sent a work email knows cold. Instant gimme.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
When you see a clue referencing another clue number (like "With 7-Across…"), solve the standalone clue first. 7-Across (ZERO) is a short, concrete answer that unlocks the longer 6-Across (INBOX) entry.
Internet shorthand and acronyms are a Mini staple, TLDR and ASAP both appeared today. Build a mental library of common abbreviations (IMO, FYI, TBD, FWIW) and you'll clean up those entries in seconds.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Mini drops tonight at 10 p.m. EST. How did today's grid treat you? Whether INBOX ZERO gave you the "aha" moment or TLDR was your quickest fill, every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
