The NYT Mini Crossword is a quick, bite-sized version of The New York Times’ iconic crossword puzzle. Unlike the larger weekday or weekend grids, the Mini usually features a 5×5 layout with three to five clues in each direction, though it occasionally expands on Saturdays.
One of the best parts? The NYT Mini is free to play on the New York Times website or the NYT Games app. (Accessing past puzzles requires a subscription.) For many solvers, the Mini is a fun daily distraction that can be completed in under a minute, though some clues might leave you stumped.
To save you some brainpower, here are the answers and clues for today’s puzzle:
Across
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“Top Gear” channel – BBC
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Announcement that causes groans among travelers – DELAY
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Middle of a drum kit, typically – SNARE
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Political staffers – AIDES
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Bottom line figure – NET
Down
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French-speaking nation in West Africa – BENIN
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Sharp part of a sword – BLADE
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This text mark: ^ – CARET
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Left-leaning political org. – DSA
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“Right you are!” – YES
The NYT Mini cleverly plays with position and word meaning, with clues like “Top, middle, bottom” tying into their actual placement on the board. Some solvers might struggle with answers like BENIN or CARET, but others will find the puzzle straightforward and satisfying.
Whether you breeze through it in under a minute or spend a little more time figuring out a tricky clue, the Mini is a perfect daily brain teaser for crossword lovers.
