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Mini Crossword cover

◆ The New York Times

Mini Crossword Hints, Answers & Strategy Guide

Fast 5x5 crossword, clue-by-clue.

The Mini Crossword is the New York Times' quick daily grid: a few across clues, a few down clues, and enough crossings to make a short solve feel sharp. TECHi keeps one clean page for today's answers, one for yesterday, and one evergreen rules page.

Thursday, September 24, 2026

Jump straight to today's (September 24, 2026) hintsCheck yesterday

◆ Three pages, one game

Pick your moment.

Open today’s hints when you are solving now, jump to yesterday if you missed a day, or use the guide when you want rules and strategy.

Catching up? Here are the most recent solutions.

Recent Mini Crossword answers
DatePuzzleAnswer
Wed, Sep 23, 2026Mini #24406Across: 1 OOPS, 5 KHAKI, 7 ABDUL, 8 YOULL, 9 YAKS. Down: 1 OKAY, 2 OHBOY, 3 PADUA, 4 SKULK, 6 ILLS.
Tue, Sep 22, 2026Mini #24479Across: 1 WEB, 4 BOXUP, 6 AMIGO, 7 CELLO, 8 KNEEL. Down: 1 WOMEN, 2 EXILE, 3 BUGLE, 4 BACK, 5 POOL.
Mon, Sep 21, 2026Mini #24538Across: 1 VANS, 5 HOPES, 6 POTPIE, 7 SHELL, 8 YORE. Down: 1 VOTER, 2 APPLE, 3 NEIL, 4 SSE, 5 HOHO, 6 PSY.
Sun, Sep 20, 2026Mini #24519Across: GAG, UMBER, MAINE, SIDED, LES. Down: GMAIL, ABIDE, GENES, UMS, RED.
Sat, Sep 19, 2026Mini #24524Across: AIRBNB, ICEAGE, DADBOD, ANDY, ITTY, OTTAWA, FOOLER, FORKED. Down: AIDA, ICAN, REDDITOR, BABYTALK, NGO, BED, TWEE, YARD, OFF, TOO.
Fri, Sep 18, 2026Mini #24523Across: BART, LMAO, FOAMY, OOZE, XMEN. Down: BLOOM, AMAZE, RAMEN, TOY, FOX.
Thu, Sep 17, 2026Mini #24505Across: QUACK, UNCLE, IDIOT, RUNTO, KEGS. Down: QUIRK, UNDUE, ACING, CLOTS, KETO.
Wed, Sep 16, 2026Mini #24473Across: MAV, EVENT, LANAI, TITAN, LINE. Down: MELT, AVAIL, VENTI, NAAN, TINE.
Tue, Sep 15, 2026Mini #24513Across: OBVI, FEET, FALSE, CMON, HAND. Down: OFF, BEACH, VELMA, ITSON, END.
Mon, Sep 14, 2026Mini #24506Across: CBS, PORT, CAMEO, ASIAN, ROCKY. Down: COMIC, BREAK, STONY, PASO, CAR.
Sun, Sep 13, 2026Mini #24453Across: CAPRI, ALL IN, BLACK, LONE, EYE. Down: CABLE, ALLOY, PLANE, RICE, INK.
Sat, Sep 12, 2026Mini #24210Across: OYSTERS, COPILOT, TURNKEY, AWAY, VINTAGE, ENGINES, MALE. Down: OCTAVE, YOU WIN, SPRANG, TINY TIM, ELK, ROE, STY, ANA, GEL, ESE.
Fri, Sep 11, 2026Mini #24502Across: REBUS, IDAHO, DECAF, SNOUT, SNL. Down: RIDS, EDENS, BACON, UHAUL, SOFT.
Thu, Sep 10, 2026Mini #24420Across: DNA, JEANS, UNITE, DIVOT, OMENS. Down: DENIM, NAIVE, ANTON, JUDO, SETS.

◆ Strategy

How to Solve the Mini Crossword Faster

Mini Crossword speed comes from crossings. Answer the easy Across clues first, then use locked letters to make the Down clues obvious.

Take the gimmes first

Short common clues can fill half the grid quickly and give every harder clue at least one crossing.

Use crossings as proof

If a clue has two plausible answers, wait for a crossing letter instead of forcing the first word that fits.

Think in crossword shorthand

Abbreviations, plurals, and clue tense matter. Match the clue grammar before you commit.

◆ FAQ

Mini Crossword questions, answered

How many answers are in the Mini Crossword?
The Mini usually has a small set of Across and Down answers; TECHi lists both groups on the daily answer page when available.
Why check yesterday’s Mini Crossword?
Yesterday’s page helps if you missed a solve window or want to compare a tricky crossing after the puzzle changed.

More Daily Puzzles

Every other game we cover, updated on the same midnight ET clock.