Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and Thursday's grid brings a tight 5x5 mix of sports references, cocktail culture, and short snappy fill. 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: "Jayson of the Boston Celtics", sports-specific knowledge required.
Gimme Clue: "Mint ___ (classic cocktail)", a Southern staple that's hard to miss.
Theme Spotted: None today. A standalone mix of trivia and everyday vocabulary.
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. Repetitive mannerism
Hint: Think nervous habits. Three letters, starts with T.
4. Nourish, as a garden
Hint: What plants need to grow. Five letters, starts with W.
6. Like the bread used for croutons
Hint: Day-old bread is perfect for this. Five letters, starts with S.
7. Mint ___ (classic cocktail)
Hint: Kentucky Derby favorite. Five letters, starts with J.
8. "That's on me," in slangy shorthand
Hint: Three letters, ends with B. Texting abbreviation.
Down Hints
1. Jayson of the Boston Celtics
Hint: All-star forward. Five letters, starts with T.
2. Country across the Adriatic from Croatia
Hint: Boot-shaped European nation. Five letters, starts with I.
3. Tabloid subject, informally
Hint: Famous person, shortened. Five letters, starts with C.
4. NYT competitor
Hint: Wall Street publication. Three letters.
5. Gym unit
Hint: One repetition. Three letters.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. Repetitive mannerism
Answer: TIC
4. Nourish, as a garden
Answer: WATER
6. Like the bread used for croutons
Answer: STALE
7. Mint ___ (classic cocktail)
Answer: JULEP
8. "That's on me," in slangy shorthand
Answer: MYB
Down Answers
1. Jayson of the Boston Celtics
Answer: TATUM
2. Country across the Adriatic from Croatia
Answer: ITALY
3. Tabloid subject, informally
Answer: CELEB
4. NYT competitor
Answer: WSJ
5. Gym unit
Answer: REP
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: "Jayson of the Boston Celtics" for TATUM. NBA fans breeze through this one, but casual solvers might draw a blank. Tatum's been an All-Star mainstay since 2020, making this a fair but firm sports knowledge check.
Wordplay Winner: "Repetitive mannerism" for TIC. Clean, tight, and exactly descriptive, a twitch, a habit, a nervous tell. The clue-answer match is textbook crossword efficiency.
Quick Fill: "Gym unit" for REP. Three letters, gym-floor vocabulary, and a crossword staple. Anyone who's touched a weight rack knows this one cold.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Start with the three-letter gimmes. TIC, REP, MYB, and WSJ are all short, common crossword entries. Locking those in early gives you letters that crack open the longer answers like TATUM and JULEP.
Watch for abbreviation flags. Clue 4D (NYT competitor) uses initials, WSJ. Clue 8A uses "slangy shorthand" signaling MYB. These tags are your shortcut to quick fills.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Mini drops tonight at 10 p.m. EST. How did today's grid treat you? The TATUM-WSJ-MYB trio gave this one a sports-and-media edge, while JULEP kept things refreshing. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
