Mini Crossword Answers — October 7, 2026

All across and down answers for the NYT Mini Crossword from October 7, 2026.

Daily brief

Mini #24507

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

ready

Updated Oct 7, 2026, 3:45 AM EDT

Today's hints

Answer-free grid

123456····7····8···■9··■■

Today's crossword uses 5 rows, 5 columns, 3 blocks, and 22 writable cells.

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

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

Today's Crossword

Across

1.
Adage partner of "want not"WASTE
6.
Vex or grate onANNOY
7.
Struck with profound wonderINAWE
8.
Titled gentlemenSIRS
9.
Simple white top for a rebelTEE

Down

1.
Anatomical soundalike for 1-AcrossWAIST
2.
Stage production featuring a redheaded orphanANNIE
3.
Drum with a rattling soundSNARE
4.
Pulls a disabled vehicleTOWS
5.
Ocular organ of an insectEYE

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

2026-10-06

Puzzle Number

24544

Grid

- Letter
  S
  Number
  1
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  T
  Number
  2
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  O
  Number
  3
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  P
  Number
  4
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Is Black
  Yes
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  P
  Number
  5
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  I
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  X
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  A
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  R
  Number
  6
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  E
  Number
  7
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  L
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  I
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  T
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  E
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  L
  Number
  8
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  E
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  D
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  T
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  V
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  T
  Number
  9
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  R
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  E
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  Y
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Is Black
  Yes
  Is Circled
  No

Clues

Number
1
Direction
across
Clue
"Knock that off!"
Answer
STOP
Word Info
Word
STOP
Scrabble Score
6
Wwf Score
7
Part Of Speech
n
Definition
the event of something ending
Number
5
Direction
across
Clue
Studio behind "Coco" and "Soul"
Answer
PIXAR
Word Info
Word
PIXAR
Scrabble Score
14
Wwf Score
15
Number
7
Direction
across
Clue
Select group just before Final Four
Answer
ELITE
Word Info
Word
ELITE
Scrabble Score
5
Wwf Score
6
Part Of Speech
n
Definition
a group or class of persons enjoying superior intellectual or social or economic status
Number
8
Direction
across
Clue
Thin monitor using backlight technology
Answer
LEDTV
Word Info
Word
LEDTV
Scrabble Score
9
Wwf Score
11
Number
9
Direction
across
Clue
First name of Cardinals' McBride
Answer
TREY
Word Info
Word
TREY
Scrabble Score
7
Wwf Score
6
Part Of Speech
n
Definition
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
Number
1
Direction
down
Clue
Ancient cereal crop for power bowls
Answer
SPELT
Word Info
Word
SPELT
Scrabble Score
7
Wwf Score
9
Part Of Speech
n
Definition
hardy wheat grown mostly in Europe for livestock feed
Number
2
Direction
down
Clue
Professional who lays ceramic squares
Answer
TILER
Word Info
Word
TILER
Scrabble Score
5
Wwf Score
6
Part Of Speech
n
Definition
a worker who lays tile
Number
3
Direction
down
Clue
Chemical term following "mono" or "di"
Answer
OXIDE
Word Info
Word
OXIDE
Scrabble Score
13
Wwf Score
13
Part Of Speech
n
Definition
any compound of oxygen with another element or a radical
Number
4
Direction
down
Clue
Ground beef portion
Answer
PATTY
Word Info
Word
PATTY
Scrabble Score
10
Wwf Score
10
Part Of Speech
n
Definition
small flat mass of chopped or ground food
Number
6
Direction
down
Clue
Step on the gas while neutral
Answer
REV
Word Info
Word
REV
Scrabble Score
6
Wwf Score
7
Part Of Speech
n
Definition
rate of revolution of a motor

Source verification

Sources: 1
Agreement: single
Confidence: confirmed

1: verified (0 ms)

Checked 2026-10-07T07:30:02.735Z

Recent answers

2026-10-06 — puzzleNumber: 24544 · answers: STOP, PIXAR, ELITE, LEDTV, TREY, SPELT, TILER, OXIDE, PATTY, REV
2026-10-05 — puzzleNumber: 24587 · answers: CUB, LOSES, OMEGA, GMAIL, SAINT, COMMA, USEAI, BEGIN, LOGS, SALT
2026-10-04 — puzzleNumber: 24457 · answers: CASK, JOSIE, SIMPLY, KNICKS, IXNAY, COMIN, ASPCA, SILKY, KEYS, JINX, SKI
2026-10-03 — puzzleNumber: 24565 · answers: MDS, HEAPS, BARSOAP, ARMHOLE, TRAINER, YIKES, DID, MERMAID, DASHIKI, SPOONED, HARRY, SALES, BAT, PER
2026-10-02 — puzzleNumber: 24564 · answers: DUST, OHWOW, CHINA, SUPER, HERE, DOCS, UHHUH, SWIPE, TONER, WARE
2026-10-01 — puzzleNumber: 24410 · answers: GIVE, POKER, UPENN, GRAM, SOSO, GOPRO, IKEAS, VENMO, ERN, PUGS
2026-09-30 — puzzleNumber: 24561 · answers: RSVPS, ATEUP, MANGO, OCTET, SKITS, RAMOS, STACK, VENTI, PUGET, SPOTS
2026-09-29 — puzzleNumber: 24553 · answers: BAGS, LLAMA, ALLEN, NILLA, KNOLL, BLANK, ALLIN, GALLO, SMELL, ANAL
2026-09-28 — puzzleNumber: 24504 · answers: RORY, MOVIE, ELIZA, GENZ, AXE, ROLEX, OVINE, RIZZ, YEA, MEGA
2026-09-27 — puzzleNumber: 24546 · answers: FIT, GRAND, YOURS, MINE, SLAM, FAUNA, INREM, TDS, GYMS, ROIL
2026-09-26 — puzzleNumber: 24517 · answers: WXYANDZ, ABALONE, GOLFTAN, XER, POLEAXE, ONADIET, REWORDS, WAG, XBOXONE, YALELAW, ALFREDO, NOT, DNA, ZEN, POR, AIR, XED, ETS
2026-09-25 — puzzleNumber: 24541 · answers: PETS, EXIT, ATBAT, CRETE, HATED, PEACH, EXTRA, TIBET, STATE, TED
2026-09-23 — puzzleNumber: 24406 · answers: OOPS, KHAKI, ABDUL, YOULL, YAKS, OKAY, OHBOY, PADUA, SKULK, ILLS
2026-09-22 — puzzleNumber: 24479 · answers: WEB, BOXUP, AMIGO, CELLO, KNEEL, WOMEN, EXILE, BUGLE, BACK, POOL

Archive statistics

Average Answer Length By Weekday

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

Most Repeated Fill

Count
4
Answer
SHELL
Count
4
Answer
TEN
Count
4
Answer
YES
Count
4
Answer
END
Count
3
Answer
NET
Count
3
Answer
OFF
Count
3
Answer
RED
Count
3
Answer
STY
Count
3
Answer
AISLE
Count
2
Answer
ALGAE
Count
2
Answer
AMIGO
Count
2
Answer
ANGER
Count
2
Answer
ARGUE
Count
2
Answer
AUDIO
Count
2
Answer
BASH
Count
2
Answer
BAT
Count
2
Answer
BEACH
Count
2
Answer
BRAVO
Count
2
Answer
BROKE
Count
2

How this brief was computed

Hint classes: computed

Generated lines used: 0

Verification run: 20261007T074502Z

← Browse all past Mini Crossword answers

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.