Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and Tuesday's grid brings a mix of political trivia and clever wordplay with a meta twist. 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: 5D. Word that can follow each group of circled letters (and hints at its shape)
Gimme Clue: 1D. City with the Notre-Dame Cathedral
Theme Spotted: None today
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Informative commercial, for short
Hint: Three-letter abbreviation for public service announcements
4A. Something you trace to draw a Thanksgiving turkey
Hint: Body part with five fingers
5A. ___ Johnson, former Prime Minister of the U.K.
Hint: First name of the Brexit-era PM
6A. Opposite of include
Hint: Four-letter word meaning to leave out
7A. Crosses (out)
Hint: Three-letter plural for what you do with a wrong answer
Down Hints
1D. City with the Notre-Dame Cathedral
Hint: French capital, five letters
2D. Bad mood
Hint: Four-letter word for a fit of temper
3D. About eight minutes of the average half-hour sitcom
Hint: Commercial breaks, three letters
4D. Remote worker's office, perhaps
Hint: Four-letter word for where many people work now
5D. Word that can follow each group of circled letters (and hints at its shape)
Hint: Three-letter container, think crossword puzzle structure
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Informative commercial, for short
Answer: PSA
4A. Something you trace to draw a Thanksgiving turkey
Answer: HAND
5A. ___ Johnson, former Prime Minister of the U.K.
Answer: BORIS
6A. Opposite of include
Answer: OMIT
7A. Crosses (out)
Answer: XES
Down Answers
1D. City with the Notre-Dame Cathedral
Answer: PARIS
2D. Bad mood
Answer: SNIT
3D. About eight minutes of the average half-hour sitcom
Answer: ADS
4D. Remote worker's office, perhaps
Answer: HOME
5D. Word that can follow each group of circled letters (and hints at its shape)
Answer: BOX
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 5D for BOX. This meta clue references crossword puzzle structure itself, circled letters in puzzles often form a word that can be followed by "BOX" (like "JACK-IN-THE-BOX" or "MAILBOX"), and the shape hint points to the square grid.
Wordplay Winner: 3D for ADS. Clever calculation clue, a half-hour sitcom is 22 minutes of content with 8 minutes of commercials, making this a smart TV industry reference.
Quick Fill: 1D for PARIS. Straightforward geography that most solvers will nail instantly, giving a solid starting point.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Watch for meta clues that reference puzzle mechanics, when a clue mentions "circled letters" or hints at shape, think about crossword conventions like "BOX" for grid sections.
Political names are common Tuesday fare, BORIS Johnson is recent enough history to be fair game but not so current as to be breaking news.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Mini drops tonight at 10 p.m. EST. How did today's grid treat you? The meta BOX clue and TV timing reference made this Tuesday puzzle smarter than average. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
