Mini Crossword Answers — September 14, 2026

All across and down answers for the NYT Mini Crossword from September 14, 2026.

Daily brief

Mini #24506

Monday, September 14, 2026

ready

Updated Sep 14, 2026, 3:45 AM EDT

Today's hints

Answer-free grid

■■123■4···5····6····7····

Estimated solve time: 90, 165

Spoiler-safe clue notes

Number
1
Direction
across
Paraphrase
Eye network airing "NCIS"
Answer Length
3
Crossing Count
3
Number
4
Direction
across
Paraphrase
Sweet after-dinner drink
Answer Length
4
Crossing Count
4
Number
5
Direction
across
Paraphrase
Director's brief bit part in his own film
Answer Length
5
Crossing Count
5
Number
6
Direction
across
Paraphrase
Kind of elephant found in India
Answer Length
5
Crossing Count
5
Number
7
Direction
across
Paraphrase
Sylvester's iconic boxer, or a cult musical
Answer Length
5
Crossing Count
5
Number
1
Direction
down
Paraphrase
Newspaper strip or superhero book
Answer Length
5
Crossing Count
5
Number
2
Direction
down
Paraphrase
Intermission or a bone fracture
Answer Length
5
Crossing Count
5
Number
3
Direction
down
Paraphrase
Hardhearted, like a block of marble
Answer Length
5
Crossing Count
5
Number
4
Direction
down
Paraphrase
Word after El in a Texas city
Answer Length
4
Crossing Count
4
Number
5
Direction
down
Paraphrase
Sweet sixteen's pricey present
Answer Length
3
Crossing Count
3

22 open squares sit inside a 5-by-5 grid with 3 blocks.
Today's clue split is 5 across to 5 down.
22 open squares belong to both an Across and a Down answer.
The most-connected answer crosses 5 neighbors.
This grid skips classic rotational symmetry.
Grid size and crossings suggest a 90–165-second solve.

Difficulty: 2

This band is shown with every input used to compute it.

answer-slot count
average answer length
crossing density

Clue wording is paraphrased — original clues at nytimes.com.

Mini Crossword

Monday, September 14, 2026

Today's Crossword

Across

1.
Eye network airing "NCIS"CBS
4.
Sweet after-dinner drinkPORT
5.
Director's brief bit part in his own filmCAMEO
6.
Kind of elephant found in IndiaASIAN
7.
Sylvester's iconic boxer, or a cult musicalROCKY

Down

1.
Newspaper strip or superhero bookCOMIC
2.
Intermission or a bone fractureBREAK
3.
Hardhearted, like a block of marbleSTONY
4.
Word after El in a Texas cityPASO
5.
Sweet sixteen's pricey presentCAR

Puzzle Insights

Focus on filling in the shortest words first
Use intersecting letters to narrow down possibilities
The Mini often includes current events and pop culture references
Plural clues typically end with 'S'
Look for wordplay in the clues - puns and double meanings are common

Mini Crossword Strategies

Starting Strategies

Scan all clues first before filling anything in
Start with the clues you're most confident about
Fill in plural answers when you identify them (usually end with 'S')
Look for 3-letter words, which are often common in crosswords

Common Abbreviations

Direction: N, S, E, W for North, South, East, West
Time: HR (hour), MIN (minute), SEC (second)
Organizations: UN, NATO, WHO, NBA, NFL, MLB
Academic degrees: BA, BS, MBA, PHD
Months: JAN, FEB, MAR, etc.

Working with Intersections

Use letters from completed words to help solve intersecting words
If stuck, focus on areas with the most filled-in letters
When two answers intersect, both must work with the shared letter

Common Mini Crossword Themes

Current events and holidays
Pop culture references
Wordplay and puns
Simple themes that bind several answers together

Yesterday's full result

2026-09-13

Puzzle Number

24453

Grid

- Letter
  C
  Number
  1
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  A
  Number
  2
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  P
  Number
  3
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  R
  Number
  4
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  I
  Number
  5
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  A
  Number
  6
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  L
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  L
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  I
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  N
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  B
  Number
  7
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  L
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  A
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  C
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  K
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  L
  Number
  8
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  O
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  N
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  E
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Is Black
  Yes
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  E
  Number
  9
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  Y
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  E
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Is Black
  Yes
  Is Circled
  No
- Is Black
  Yes
  Is Circled
  No

Clues

Number
1
Direction
across
Clue
Pouch brand name preceding "Sun"
Answer
CAPRI
Word Info
Word
CAPRI
Scrabble Score
9
Wwf Score
11
Number
6
Direction
across
Clue
Wagering one's total stack of chips
Answer
ALLIN
Word Info
Word
ALLIN
Scrabble Score
5
Wwf Score
8
Number
7
Direction
across
Clue
Alongside 9-Across, shiner cooled by a T-bone in vintage toons
Answer
BLACK
Word Info
Word
BLACK
Scrabble Score
13
Wwf Score
16
Part Of Speech
n
Definition
a person with African ancestry, ‘Negro’ and ‘Negroid’ are archaic and pejorative today
Number
8
Direction
across
Clue
Solitary; by oneself
Answer
LONE
Word Info
Word
LONE
Scrabble Score
4
Wwf Score
6
Part Of Speech
adj
Definition
lacking companions or companionship
Number
9
Direction
across
Clue
Partnered with 7-Across, anti-glare smudge for gridiron athletes
Answer
EYE
Word Info
Word
EYE
Scrabble Score
6
Wwf Score
5
Part Of Speech
n
Definition
the organ of sight
Number
1
Direction
down
Clue
Word for the first letter of CNN
Answer
CABLE
Word Info
Word
CABLE
Scrabble Score
9
Wwf Score
12
Part Of Speech
n
Definition
a telegram sent abroad
Number
2
Direction
down
Clue
Fusion of metallic substances
Answer
ALLOY
Word Info
Word
ALLOY
Scrabble Score
8
Wwf Score
9
Part Of Speech
n
Definition
a mixture containing two or more metallic elements or metallic and nonmetallic elements usually fused together or dissolving into each…
Number
3
Direction
down
Clue
Aerial vessel shouted after "It's a bird!"
Answer
PLANE
Word Info
Word
PLANE
Scrabble Score
7
Wwf Score
10
Part Of Speech
n
Definition
an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets
Number
4
Direction
down
Clue
Mitch Hedberg's favorite grain for when you desire two thousand of something
Answer
RICE
Word Info
Word
RICE
Scrabble Score
6
Wwf Score
7
Part Of Speech
n
Definition
grains used as food either unpolished or more often polished
Number
5
Direction
down
Clue
Liquid used by an Epson
Answer
INK
Word Info
Word
INK
Scrabble Score
7
Wwf Score
8
Part Of Speech
n
Definition
a liquid used for printing or writing or drawing

Source verification

Sources: 1
Agreement: single
Confidence: confirmed

1: verified (0 ms)

Checked 2026-09-14T07:30:03.014Z

Recent answers

2026-09-13 — puzzleNumber: 24453 · answers: CAPRI, ALLIN, BLACK, LONE, EYE, CABLE, ALLOY, PLANE, RICE, INK
2026-09-12 — puzzleNumber: 24210 · answers: OYSTERS, COPILOT, TURNKEY, AWAY, VINTAGE, ENGINES, MALE, OCTAVE, YOUWIN, SPRANG, TINYTIM, ELK, ROE, STY, ANA, GEL, ESE
2026-09-11 — puzzleNumber: 24502 · answers: REBUS, IDAHO, DECAF, SNOUT, SNL, RIDS, EDENS, BACON, UHAUL, SOFT
2026-09-10 — puzzleNumber: 24420 · answers: DNA, JEANS, UNITE, DIVOT, OMENS, DENIM, NAIVE, ANTON, JUDO, SETS
2026-09-09 — puzzleNumber: 24439 · answers: PATS, HITUP, EXTRA, HAWKS, EROS, PIXAR, ATTWO, TURKS, SPAS, HEHE
2026-09-08 — puzzleNumber: 24486 · answers: FLAG, ALEXA, BOGEY, BOIL, ART, FLOOR, LEGIT, AXEL, GAY, ABBA
2026-09-07 — puzzleNumber: 24501 · answers: SAW, EIGHT, ADIEU, RELAX, SET, SIDES, AGILE, WHEAT, EAR, TUX
2026-09-06 — puzzleNumber: 24480 · answers: RAW, JOULE, ARGUE, WEBMD, SOY, RUGBY, ALUM, WEED, JAWS, OREO
2026-09-05 — puzzleNumber: 24404 · answers: ALASKA, COMMON, LONELY, ELK, ISLAND, DIETER, KARATE, ACL, LOO, AMNESIA, SMELLER, KOLKATA, ANY, IDK, NET, DRE
2026-09-04 — puzzleNumber: 24475 · answers: MAN, LOOSE, INTHE, ATTED, MOON, MOTTO, ASHEN, NEED, LIAM, ONTO
2026-09-03 — puzzleNumber: 24339 · answers: LETBE, ABHOR, TORSO, KNEES, EYE, LATKE, EBONY, THREE, BOSE, EROS
2026-09-02 — puzzleNumber: 24478 · answers: FILM, VIDEO, REEFS, BRATS, OILY, FIERI, IDEAL, LEFTY, MOSS, VRBO
2026-09-01 — puzzleNumber: 24477 · answers: EYES, XOXO, BUYIN, IDOS, BEST, EXUDE, YOYOS, EXIST, SON, BIB
2026-08-31 — puzzleNumber: 24476 · answers: WEB, BEAU, TEARS, EARLY, CRY, WEARY, EARL, BUSY, BEAR, TEC

Archive statistics

Average Answer Length By Weekday

Sunday: 4.4
Saturday: 5
Friday: 4.4
Thursday: 4.4
Wednesday: 4.4
Tuesday: 4.5
Monday: 4.3

Most Repeated Fill

Answer
EYES
Count
4
Answer
NET
Count
4
Answer
TEN
Count
4
Answer
YES
Count
4
Answer
EYE
Count
3
Answer
SHELL
Count
3
Answer
STY
Count
3
Answer
AISLE
Count
2
Answer
ALGAE
Count
2
Answer
AMUSE
Count
2
Answer
ANGER
Count
2
Answer
ARGUE
Count
2
Answer
AUDIO
Count
2
Answer
BASH
Count
2
Answer
BRAVO
Count
2
Count
2
Answer
CAB
Count
2
Answer
CORAL
Count
2
Answer
DAD
Count
2
Answer
DECAF
Count
2

How this brief was computed

Hint classes: computed

Generated lines used: 0

Verification run: 20260914T074501Z

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How It Works

The Mini Crossword is the New York Times' bite-sized daily puzzle, featuring a 5×5 grid with both across and down clues. We provide quick hints and solutions to help you solve it efficiently.

Mini Crossword Tips

Unlike the main crossword, the Mini almost never includes obscure knowledge
Think of common words, phrases, and current events
The Mini often includes wordplay and puns
Start with the shorter words, as they're usually easier to solve
When stuck, focus on intersections where you already have letters filled in

More Mini Crossword help

Mini Crossword Tips Mini Crossword Archive

Frequently Asked Questions

How big is the NYT Mini Crossword?

The NYT Mini Crossword is a 5x5 grid puzzle, much smaller than the standard 15x15 crossword. This compact size makes it perfect for a quick puzzle break, typically taking 1-5 minutes to complete.

What time does the NYT Mini Crossword reset?

The NYT Mini Crossword resets at 10 PM Eastern Time the night before, giving subscribers early access. For non-subscribers, it becomes available at midnight Eastern Time.

Is the NYT Mini Crossword free?

Yes, the NYT Mini Crossword is free to play on the New York Times website and app. Unlike the full daily crossword, you don't need a subscription to access the Mini.

Mini Crossword strategy & tips

Why the Mini is a speed game

The NYT Mini is a 5×5 grid (occasionally larger on weekends) that most solvers finish in under a minute or two. Because it’s small, every answer crosses several others, so the Mini rewards a different instinct than the big weekday crossword: get any foothold, then let the crossings cascade.

There’s no shame in skipping a clue you don’t know — in a grid this dense, two or three confident answers usually hand you the rest through their crossing letters.

Start with fill-in-the-blank and short answers

Fill-in-the-blank clues (e.g. “___ and cheese”) are the fastest gimmes — solve them first for free crossing letters.
Short common entries — three-letter answers like ERA, ONE, ATE, OREO, AREA show up constantly; spotting them instantly opens crossings.
Plurals and tenses — if a clue is plural, the answer probably ends in S; that single letter can crack a crossing word.

Let the crossings do the work

The core Mini technique: the moment you’re unsure of an Across answer, jump to the Down answers crossing it. Each crossing letter you place narrows the uncertain word until it’s obvious. Toggling between Across and Down at every intersection is faster than staring at one tough clue.

If a clue has multiple plausible answers (e.g. a 4-letter word for “shut”), don’t commit — wait for one crossing letter to disambiguate, then fill with confidence.

Know the “crosswordese”

The Mini reuses a vocabulary of short, vowel-friendly words that appear far more in crosswords than in life — OREO, ENO, ELI, ASEA, ETA, ESE. Learning to recognize these by their clue style turns a stuck corner into an instant fill — our Mini Crossword tips guide lists the highest-value crosswordese to learn first. The Monday Mini is the easiest; difficulty drifts up slightly through the week.

When a corner won’t fall

Re-read the clue for a double meaning — Mini clues love puns and “?” misdirection. If a corner is locked, fill every crossing letter you’re sure of and read the partial pattern aloud; the answer often appears once you see the letters. A new Mini is published daily and is free to play, and older grids are collected in the Mini archive.