Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and Tuesday's grid brings a mix of literary references, pop culture, and clever wordplay. 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: 5A - Classic poem that begins "I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness"
Gimme Clue: 4D - Repeated cheer at a soccer stadium
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. Prefix meaning "eight"
Hint: Think numerical prefix, four letters, starts with O
5A. Classic poem that begins "I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness"
Hint: Beat Generation work by Allen Ginsberg, four letters
6A. One of the Jenners
Hint: Reality TV star and cosmetics mogul, five letters
7A. As one word: A henchman / As two words: "Please proceed"
Hint: Four-letter word that sounds like a two-word phrase meaning "go ahead"
8A. Prickly seedcases
Hint: Sticky plant parts, four letters, plural
Down Hints
1D. "Stop, I'm blushing!"
Hint: Two-word phrase of mock modesty, five letters total
2D. Indicator of difficulty in Connections
Hint: NYT puzzle game category marker, five letters
3D. Identical siblings
Hint: Born at the same time, five letters
4D. Repeated cheer at a soccer stadium
Hint: Three-letter Spanish chant
6D. Soviet spy org.
Hint: Cold War intelligence agency, three letters
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Prefix meaning "eight"
Answer: OCTO
5A. Classic poem that begins "I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness"
Answer: HOWL
6A. One of the Jenners
Answer: KYLIE
7A. As one word: A henchman / As two words: "Please proceed"
Answer: GOON
8A. Prickly seedcases
Answer: BURS
Down Answers
1D. "Stop, I'm blushing!"
Answer: OHYOU
2D. Indicator of difficulty in Connections
Answer: COLOR
3D. Identical siblings
Answer: TWINS
4D. Repeated cheer at a soccer stadium
Answer: OLE
6D. Soviet spy org.
Answer: KGB
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 5A for HOWL. This clue requires specific literary knowledge of Allen Ginsberg's Beat Generation masterpiece, making it the puzzle's knowledge check.
Wordplay Winner: 7A for GOON. The dual definition, "a henchman" versus the phrase "go on" (please proceed), shows clever construction that rewards phonetic thinking.
Quick Fill: 4D for OLE. The soccer stadium chant is instantly recognizable, providing an easy three-letter anchor for the grid.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Start with the shortest answers first, OLE (4D) and KGB (6D) give you immediate crossing letters for longer entries like KYLIE and TWINS.
Prefix clues like OCTO (1A) are almost always straightforward; solve them early to build your framework.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Mini drops tonight at 10 p.m. EST. How did today's grid treat you? The mix of literary references (HOWL), pop culture (KYLIE), and wordplay (GOON) kept things interesting. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
