Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and Thursday's grid brings a clean mix of letter-grade wordplay and short, punchy 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: "The center, guards and tackles on an N.F.L. team, for short," football position abbreviations trip up non-fans.
Gimme Clue: "Nonbinary pronoun," a modern staple that's hard to miss.
Theme Spotted: Letter-grade pattern.
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. A-___ (top-quality)
Hint: Think "number one." Three letters.
4. B-___ (decent grade)
Hint: Better than a B. Four letters, starts with P.
5. C-___ (group of execs)
Hint: Think corporate leadership. Five letters, starts with S.
6. Fails to be
Hint: A contraction meaning "is not." Four letters.
7. Nonbinary pronoun
Hint: Singular "they." Four letters.
Down Hints
1. The center, guards and tackles on an N.F.L. team, for short
Hint: Abbreviation for the big guys up front. Five letters.
2. Like the taste of browned butter
Hint: A flavor often paired with "earthy." Five letters.
3. Language suffix
Hint: Think Japanese, Portuguese, or Chinese. Three letters.
4. Helpful label by a door handle
Hint: Opposite of pull. Four letters.
5. Get into a lotus pose, perhaps
Hint: What you do on a yoga mat. Three letters.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. A-___ (top-quality)
Answer: ONE
4. B-___ (decent grade)
Answer: PLUS
5. C-___ (group of execs)
Answer: SUITE
6. Fails to be
Answer: ISNT
7. Nonbinary pronoun
Answer: THEY
Down Answers
1. The center, guards and tackles on an N.F.L. team, for short
Answer: OLINE
2. Like the taste of browned butter
Answer: NUTTY
3. Language suffix
Answer: ESE
4. Helpful label by a door handle
Answer: PUSH
5. Get into a lotus pose, perhaps
Answer: SIT
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: "The center, guards and tackles on an N.F.L. team, for short" for OLINE. This one demands gridiron knowledge, casual fans might not clock "offensive line" abbreviated as OLINE, making it the day's toughest intersection.
Wordplay Winner: "C-___ (group of execs)" for SUITE. The C-SUITE pun lands perfectly, corporate jargon meets letter-grade pattern. Clean, clever, and satisfying.
Quick Fill: "Nonbinary pronoun" for THEY. Four letters, culturally current, and a common crossword staple. Anyone who's done a puzzle in the last five years knows this one cold.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Spot letter-grade patterns early. A-ONE, B-PLUS, and C-SUITE all follow the same formula, once you solve ONE, PLUS and SUITE practically write themselves. Pattern recognition is your fastest shortcut.
Watch for abbreviations in parentheses. "(for short)" and "(for short)" in the clues flag shortened forms and acronyms. OLINE is a classic abbreviation play, scan for these tags to jump ahead.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Mini drops tonight at 10 p.m. EST. How did today's grid treat you? The A/B/C letter-grade run made this one of the more patterned puzzles of the week, and OLINE was a solid test for non-football fans. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
