On Wednesday, July 9, 2025, players were treated to another brisk yet thought-provoking edition of The Mini, which, as always, updated promptly at 12:30 p.m. ET the previous evening. For those grappling with elusive clues or seeking gentle nudges, here is a detailed breakdown of hints followed by the complete solution set.
Across Clues: Subtle Wordplay Hints
Puzzle enthusiasts attempting to decipher today’s horizontal clues were met with a mix of poetic references, geographical nods, and lexical wit. The hints below offer a directional guide for solvers keen on arriving at the answer without being directly told.
- 1 Across: Subsides like the tide
Hint: Ends with the letter ‘S’ — Think ocean behavior in poetic terms. - 5 Across: Leggings lead-in to “lemon”
Hint: Begins with ‘L’ — Brand names may come to mind. - 6 Across: Poet Robert with a “cool” last name
Hint: Starts with ‘F’ — An American poet well known for snowy scenes. - 8 Across: Manhattan neighborhood near the East Village
Hint: Ends with ‘O’ — A trendy downtown locale. - 9 Across: Quick joyride
Hint: Ends in ‘N’ — Think fast, spontaneous, and circular.
Down Clues: From Mythology to Makisu
The vertical section of the puzzle leaned into themes from folklore, culinary terminology, and poetic parallels, providing solvers with a varied lexical journey.
- 1 Down: Fairylike figure of folklore
Hint: Ends with ‘F’ — A small magical being. - 2 Down: Poet Robert with a “hot” last name
Hint: Begins with ‘B’ — Think of something fiery or heated. - 3 Down: Weakly hit fly ball
Hint: Begins with ‘B’ — Common baseball lingo. - 4 Down: Food made using a bamboo mat known as a “makisu”
Hint: Ends in ‘I’ — A Japanese culinary staple. - 7 Down: Quite the heavy weight
Hint: Ends in ‘N’ — Think of extreme heaviness in a simple unit.
NYT Mini Crossword Across Answers – July 9, 2025
- 1 Across: EBBS
Meaning: The verb “ebbs” describes the receding of the tide—symbolizing decline or fading. - 5 Across: LULU
Meaning: A reference to the athleisure brand Lululemon, often shortened colloquially to “Lulu.” - 6 Across: FROST
Meaning: Robert Frost, the celebrated American poet known for “The Road Not Taken.” - 8 Across: NOHO
Meaning: North of Houston Street, a fashionable Manhattan neighborhood near the East Village. - 9 Across: SPIN
Meaning: A brief and often spontaneous drive—typically for enjoyment.
NYT Mini Crossword Down Answers – July 9, 2025
- 1 Down: ELF
Meaning: A mythical being with pointy ears and magical traits—prevalent in folklore and fantasy. - 2 Down: BURNS
Meaning: Robert Burns, the Scottish poet known for his evocative works and “Auld Lang Syne.” - 3 Down: BLOOP
Meaning: In baseball, a softly hit fly ball that barely makes it past the infield. - 4 Down: SUSHI
Meaning: The Japanese delicacy prepared using a bamboo rolling mat called a makisu. - 7 Down: TON
Meaning: A unit of weight equivalent to 1,000 kilograms (metric ton) or 2,000 pounds (US short ton).
A Bite-Sized Brain Teaser with Lasting Appeal
Unlike the full-sized NYT Crossword, which remains gated behind a subscription paywall, The Mini is freely accessible and has found popularity among casual and seasoned solvers alike. Its concise format—typically a 5×5 grid—requires both speed and precision, making it an ideal coffee-break companion.The allure of the NYT Mini Crossword lies in its blend of brevity and sophistication. While the puzzles rarely span more than ten words, the wit and cultural references they manage to pack in are what keep solvers coming back daily.
FAQs
What is the NYT Mini Crossword?
The NYT Mini Crossword is a daily 5×5 grid puzzle offered by The New York Times. Unlike the full-sized crossword, the Mini is quick to complete—usually within a few minutes—and is freely accessible to all users.
When is the NYT Mini Crossword published?
The puzzle refreshes daily at 10 p.m. IST (12:30 p.m. ET) the night before the date listed. So the July 9 puzzle was available on the evening of July 8 in many time zones.
