Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and Tuesday's grid brings clever wordplay connections and a tech reference that'll test your AI knowledge. 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 "OpenAI product that creates video clips based on prompts"
Gimme Clue: 3D "Pen"
Theme Spotted: Wordplay connections (WOW/MOM reversal, DREAM/WEIRD combination)
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. "That's incredible!"
Hint: Three-letter exclamation of amazement
4A. Makes a mistake
Hint: Four letters, what you do when you get something wrong
6A. "Piece of cake" or "spill the beans"
Hint: Five letters, a common expression or phrase
8A. Cool in a throwback kind of way
Hint: Five letters, describes vintage or old-school style
9A. See 1-Down
Hint: Five letters, what you might have while sleeping
Down Hints
1D. With 9-Across, something you might wake up from and go "Huh?!"
Hint: Five letters, describes something strange or unusual
2D. What's spoken into a fast-food intercom
Hint: Six letters, what you place at a restaurant
3D. Pen
Hint: Five letters, what you do with a pen
5D. OpenAI product that creates video clips based on prompts
Hint: Four letters, AI video generation tool
7D. 1-Across, flipped upside down
Hint: Three letters, what WOW becomes when rotated 180 degrees
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. "That's incredible!"
Answer: WOW
4A. Makes a mistake
Answer: ERRS
6A. "Piece of cake" or "spill the beans"
Answer: IDIOM
8A. Cool in a throwback kind of way
Answer: RETRO
9A. See 1-Down
Answer: DREAM
Down Answers
1D. With 9-Across, something you might wake up from and go "Huh?!"
Answer: WEIRD
2D. What's spoken into a fast-food intercom
Answer: ORDER
3D. Pen
Answer: WRITE
5D. OpenAI product that creates video clips based on prompts
Answer: SORA
7D. 1-Across, flipped upside down
Answer: MOM
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 7D "1-Across, flipped upside down" for MOM. This visual wordplay clue requires you to literally rotate WOW 180 degrees to see it becomes MOM - a clever twist that rewards spatial thinking.
Wordplay Winner: 1D "With 9-Across, something you might wake up from and go 'Huh?!'" for WEIRD. The combination with DREAM creates "WEIRD DREAM," a perfect example of how Mini clues can work together across the grid.
Quick Fill: 3D "Pen" for WRITE. This straightforward clue gives solvers an easy entry point to build from, especially useful when tackling the more challenging tech reference in 5D.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Watch for wordplay connections across clues. Today's grid features two clever pairings (WOW/MOM and DREAM/WEIRD) that work together - solving one often gives you the other.
Tech references are becoming more common. Clues like 5D's SORA reference require staying current with AI developments. When you see a tech company name in a clue, think about their recent product launches.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Mini drops tonight at 10 p.m. EST. How did today's grid treat you? The WOW/MOM reversal and WEIRD DREAM combination showed how much cleverness can fit in a 5x5 space. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
