Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and Wednesday's grid brings a clean, well-balanced mix of pop culture, everyday objects, and one vocabulary curveball. 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: 3D, "Obstrepereous"
Gimme Clue: 4D, "Mind your ___ beeswax!"
Theme Spotted: None today
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. Hairstyle for Jimi Hendrix
Hint: A voluminous, rounded style popular in the 1970s. Four letters, starts with A.
5. Snow-clearing vehicle
Hint: You'll see these on highways during winter storms, pushing white stuff aside. Four letters, starts with P.
6. Headwear for a monarch
Hint: A jewel-encrusted circle a king or queen wears during ceremonies. Five letters, starts with C.
7. Car part that can be "popped"
Hint: The front lid of a car that covers the engine. Four letters, starts with H.
8. Iconic film character with a fedora hat, familiarly
Hint: Harrison Ford played this whip-cracking archaeologist. Four letters, starts with I.
Down Hints
1. Chef's garment
Hint: A protective covering worn over clothes while cooking. Five letters, starts with A.
2. Biblical phenomenon caused by 40 days of rain
Hint: Noah built an ark to survive this great deluge. Five letters, starts with F.
3. Obstreperous
Hint: A synonym for noisy, unruly, or hard to control. Five letters, starts with R.
4. "Mind your ___ beeswax!"
Hint: A phrase telling someone to focus on their own affairs. Three letters, starts with O.
6. Invisible life force, in Chinese philosophy
Hint: This energy flows through all living things. Three letters, starts with C.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. Hairstyle for Jimi Hendrix
Answer: AFRO
5. Snow-clearing vehicle
Answer: PLOW
6. Headwear for a monarch
Answer: CROWN
7. Car part that can be "popped"
Answer: HOOD
8. Iconic film character with a fedora hat, familiarly
Answer: INDY
Down Answers
1. Chef's garment
Answer: APRON
2. Biblical phenomenon caused by 40 days of rain
Answer: FLOOD
3. Obstreperous
Answer: ROWDY
4. "Mind your ___ beeswax!"
Answer: OWN
6. Invisible life force, in Chinese philosophy
Answer: CHI
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 3D "Obstreperous" for ROWDY. That's a vocabulary flex right in the middle of a 5x5 grid. Most solvers will recognize ROWDY instantly, but the clue word "obstreperous" is the kind of SAT-level vocabulary that separates quick solves from head-scratchers. The answer itself is common enough that cross letters will get you there fast once you start filling.
Wordplay Winner: 7A "Car part that can be 'popped'" for HOOD. The double meaning clicks on two levels, the car's hood that you pop open, and the slang for being stopped by police ("popped" on a bust). Clean, efficient, and exactly the kind of layered cluing the Mini does best.
Quick Fill: 8A "Iconic film character with a fedora hat, familiarly" for INDY. If you know the Indiana Jones franchise, this is a sub-second fill. Four letters, instantly recognizable pop culture, and a great entry point to unlock crossings for 1D APRON and 6D CHI.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Start with the pop culture gimme. INDY at 8A is the fastest entry in this grid. Lock it in immediately, then use the crossing letters to crack 1D APRON and 6D CHI. Pop culture answers are almost always the most reliable entry points in a Mini.
When you see an SAT-level vocabulary word like "obstreperous" in a clue, don't panic. The answer is almost always a common word. Cross-reference with the Across clues, let the intersecting letters do the heavy lifting, and you'll fill ROWDY without ever needing to define the clue word perfectly.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Mini drops tonight at 10 p.m. EST. How did today's grid treat you? Whether the vocabulary test at 3D tripped you up or you breezed through on Indy and Jimi Hendrix references, every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
