NYT Mini Crossword: A Bite-Sized Puzzle with Big Appeal
While the flagship New York Times Crossword is a sprawling grid reserved for subscribers, the Mini is its quick, free-to-play sibling. Released every day at 10 p.m. Eastern Time, slightly earlier than some other NYT Games, it packs wit and wordplay into a 5×5 grid.
Its charm lies in its brevity. With just a handful of clues for “Across” and “Down,” the Mini offers a moment of brain exercise that can be completed over coffee, during a commute, or in between meetings. Yet, as seasoned players know, short doesn’t always mean simple. A single elusive clue can hold up the entire solve.
NYT Mini Crossword Today: Small Grid, Tricky Turns
On Monday, August 11, 2025, the Mini offered a set of clues that ranged from pop culture references to aviation trivia and ornithology. Players who breezed through one corner of the grid often found themselves stalled by an unexpected definition or an ambiguous word ending.
Those who needed a nudge could look to today’s NYT Mini Crossword hints, which offered letter-based prompts without giving away the complete solution. This approach allows solvers to stay engaged without spoiling the fun too soon.
Across Hints for August 11, 2025
The across clues for today’s puzzle included, as per a report by Parade magazine:
- 1 Across: Blowout party — Hint: Ends with the letter “H.”
- 5 Across: Airline with Sky Club lounges — Hint: Starts with the letter “D.”
- 6 Across: Body part that can be held with one hand, but not both — Hint: Starts with the letter “E.”
- 7 Across: Get an “F” on — Hint: Ends with the letter “K.”
- 8 Across: Subdued — Hint: Starts with the letter “T.”
Down Hints for August 11, 2025
The down clues featured a mix of entertainment, social media, architecture, and wildlife references, as mentioned in a report by Parade magazine:
- 1 Down: Ramsey of The Last of Us — Hint: Starts with the letter “B.”
- 2 Down: Collection of Facebook photos — Hint: Ends with the letter “M.”
- 3 Down: Building material for the Washington Monument — Hint: Starts with the letter “S.”
- 4 Down: “Red-tailed” or “red-shouldered” bird — Hint: Starts with the letter “H.”
- 5 Down: Masterful — Hint: Ends with the letter “T.”
Spoiler Alert: Today’s Solutions
For those ready to check their work, or who have decided to concede defeat, the solutions for Monday’s puzzle are now revealed, as per a report by Parade magazine.Across Answers:
1 Across: Blowout party — BASH
5 Across: Airline with Sky Club lounges — DELTA
6 Across: Body part that can be held with one hand, but not both — ELBOW
7 Across: Get an “F” on — FLUNK
8 Across: Subdued — TAME
Down Answers:
1 Down: Ramsey of The Last of Us — BELLA
2 Down: Collection of Facebook photos — ALBUM
3 Down: Building material for the Washington Monument — STONE
4 Down: “Red-tailed” or “red-shouldered” bird — HAWK
5 Down: Masterful — DEFT
FAQs
What is the NYT Mini Crossword?
The NYT Mini Crossword is a 5×5 grid puzzle from The New York Times, designed to be a quick, fun daily word challenge that can be completed in a few minutes.
How is it different from the regular NYT Crossword?
The regular NYT Crossword is a large, in-depth puzzle available to subscribers, while the Mini is smaller, free-to-play, and can be finished quickly—perfect for short breaks.
