Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and Wednesday's grid brings a crisp mix of pop culture, science, and wordplay that lands firmly in medium-difficulty territory. 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: "Nuclear reactors split them", ATOMS is straightforward once you see it, but 1A SITE and 1D SATUP create a tricky intersection that can stall your start.
Gimme Clue: "Host city of the 2024 Olympics", PARIS is a slam dunk if you followed the Games.
Theme Spotted: None today, this is a grab-bag puzzle of general knowledge.
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. Wikipedia or WebMD
Hint: Think of a place on the internet. Four letters, starts with S.
5. Host city of the 2024 Olympics
Hint: The City of Light. Five letters.
6. Nuclear reactors split them
Hint: The building blocks of matter. Five letters, begins with A.
7. Hit 2021 film shot in the same location as "Lawrence of Arabia" and "The Martian"
Hint: Desert planet epic. Four letters, directed by Denis Villeneuve.
8. C.I.A. asset
Hint: An operative in the field. Three letters.
Down Hints
1. Showed sudden interest
Hint: Perked up in your seat. Five letters, starts with S, ends with P.
2. "Ten thousand spoons, when all you need is a knife," according to Alanis Morissette
Hint: A classic '90s song title. Five letters.
3. What's displayed at the top of many iPhone lock screens
Hint: Check the upper-left corner of your phone. Four letters.
4. Pluralizing letter, spelled out
Hint: The letter that turns "cat" into "cats." Three letters.
5. Football player's protection
Hint: Shoulder and knee gear. Four letters.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. Wikipedia or WebMD
Answer: SITE
5. Host city of the 2024 Olympics
Answer: PARIS
6. Nuclear reactors split them
Answer: ATOMS
7. Hit 2021 film shot in the same location as "Lawrence of Arabia" and "The Martian"
Answer: DUNE
8. C.I.A. asset
Answer: SPY
Down Answers
1. Showed sudden interest
Answer: SATUP
2. "Ten thousand spoons, when all you need is a knife," according to Alanis Morissette
Answer: IRONY
3. What's displayed at the top of many iPhone lock screens
Answer: TIME
4. Pluralizing letter, spelled out
Answer: ESS
5. Football player's protection
Answer: PADS
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: "Hit 2021 film shot in the same location as 'Lawrence of Arabia' and 'The Martian'" for DUNE. The clue gives you a free geography lesson, all three films were shot in Jordan's Wadi Rum desert. It rewards movie buffs while being totally solvable through process of elimination.
Wordplay Winner: "C.I.A. asset" for SPY. The abbreviated "C.I.A." is a red herring that makes you think of financial assets or intelligence reports, but the answer is the plainest possible read: a spy is the agency's human asset. Clean misdirection.
Quick Fill: "Host city of the 2024 Olympics" for PARIS. The 2024 Summer Games were a global event, and PARIS is five letters that fit perfectly. If you watched any Olympics coverage, this was instant.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Watch the 1A/1D intersection. SITE and SATUP share that tricky S, T, E pattern. If you're stuck on 1D, SATUP is an unusual phrase that can trip you up. Fill in SITE first from the Across clues, then let the S and T guide you to SATUP.
Short answers are your friends. Three- and four-letter answers like SPY, TIME, ESS, and PADS are fast to confirm. Knock those out early to reveal crossing letters for the longer entries like ATOMS and DUNE.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Mini drops tonight at 10 p.m. EST. How did today's grid treat you? From DUNE's desert vistas to Alanis Morissette's ironic spoons, Wednesday served up a satisfying variety pack. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
