Mini Crossword Answers — October 11, 2026

All across and down answers for the NYT Mini Crossword from October 11, 2026.

Daily brief

Mini #24600

Sunday, October 11, 2026

ready

Updated Oct 11, 2026, 3:45 AM EDT

Today's hints

Answer-free grid

■1234■5···6····7····8····

23 open squares sit inside a 5-by-5 grid with 2 blocks.

Difficulty: 3

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

Sunday, October 11, 2026

Today's Crossword

Across

1.
Dry using some clothWIPE
5.
Product of creative thinkingIDEA
6.
Deliver venom, like waspsSTING
7.
Radiated light brilliantlySHONE
8.
Liquid for skipping pebbles ... shown in circled cellsWATER

Down

1.
Lyrics before 'Little Help' inside Fab Four hitWITHA
2.
Complete nitwitIDIOT
3.
Cylindrical noodles frequently served in pink saucePENNE
4.
Characteristically enthusiastic, per common idiomsEAGER
6.
Compass point from Gotham toward Florida, Abbr.SSW

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

2026-10-10

Puzzle Number

24454

Grid

- Is Black
  Yes
  Is Circled
  No
- Is Black
  Yes
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  B
  Number
  1
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  U
  Number
  2
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  Y
  Number
  3
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  I
  Number
  4
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  N
  Number
  5
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Is Black
  Yes
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  P
  Number
  6
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  A
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  G
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  O
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  D
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  A
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  P
  Number
  7
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  E
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  N
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  G
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  U
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  I
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  N
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  R
  Number
  8
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  A
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  D
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Is Black
  Yes
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  R
  Number
  9
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  O
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  N
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  A
  Number
  10
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  N
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  A
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  T
  Number
  11
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  O
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  M
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  Y
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  T
  Number
  12
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  U
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  N
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  I
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  C
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  S
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Is Black
  Yes
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  S
  Number
  13
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  T
  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
- Is Black
  Yes
  Is Circled
  No
- Is Black
  Yes
  Is Circled
  No

Clues

Number
1
Direction
across
Clue
Initial cost to join a card tournament
Answer
BUYIN
Word Info
Word
BUYIN
Scrabble Score
10
Wwf Score
12
Number
6
Direction
across
Clue
Tiered sanctuary found in East Asia
Answer
PAGODA
Word Info
Word
PAGODA
Scrabble Score
10
Wwf Score
12
Part Of Speech
n
Definition
an Asian temple; usually a pyramidal tower with an upward curving roof
Number
7
Direction
across
Clue
Antarctic waddler that survives extreme frost
Answer
PENGUIN
Word Info
Word
PENGUIN
Scrabble Score
10
Wwf Score
15
Part Of Speech
n
Definition
short-legged flightless birds of cold southern especially Antarctic regions having webbed feet and wings modified as flippers
Number
8
Direction
across
Clue
Totally tubular!
Answer
RAD
Word Info
Word
RAD
Scrabble Score
4
Wwf Score
4
Part Of Speech
n
Definition
a unit of absorbed ionizing radiation equal to 100 ergs per gram of irradiated material
Number
9
Direction
across
Clue
Will Ferrell's newsreader first name
Answer
RON
Word Info
Word
RON
Scrabble Score
3
Wwf Score
4
Number
10
Direction
across
Clue
Biological study of the human frame
Answer
ANATOMY
Word Info
Word
ANATOMY
Scrabble Score
12
Wwf Score
13
Part Of Speech
n
Definition
the branch of morphology that deals with the structure of animals
Number
12
Direction
across
Clue
Simple draped robes from early Athens
Answer
TUNICS
Word Info
Word
TUNICS
Scrabble Score
8
Wwf Score
11
Number
13
Direction
across
Clue
Organized heap of objects
Answer
STACK
Word Info
Word
STACK
Scrabble Score
11
Wwf Score
12
Part Of Speech
n
Definition
an orderly pile
Number
1
Direction
down
Clue
Folded cloth worn over the hair
Answer
BANDANA
Word Info
Word
BANDANA
Scrabble Score
10
Wwf Score
13
Part Of Speech
n
Definition
large and brightly colored handkerchief; often used as a neckerchief
Number
2
Direction
down
Clue
Maker of sheepskin-lined winter boots
Answer
UGG
Word Info
Word
UGG
Scrabble Score
5
Wwf Score
8
Number
3
Direction
down
Clue
Great job, bro!
Answer
YOUROCK
Word Info
Word
YOUROCK
Scrabble Score
16
Wwf Score
17
Number
4
Direction
down
Clue
Figures of speech like "hit the hay"
Answer
IDIOMS
Word Info
Word
IDIOMS
Scrabble Score
9
Wwf Score
10
Number
5
Direction
down
Clue
One hired to watch the toddlers
Answer
NANNY
Word Info
Word
NANNY
Scrabble Score
8
Wwf Score
10
Part Of Speech
n
Definition
a woman who is the custodian of children
Number
6
Direction
down
Clue
Styrofoam nugget used in mailing
Answer
PEANUT
Word Info
Word
PEANUT
Scrabble Score
8
Wwf Score
11
Part Of Speech
n
Definition
underground pod of the peanut vine
Number
7
Direction
down
Clue
English slang for absolute fools
Answer
PRATS
Word Info
Word
PRATS
Scrabble Score
7
Wwf Score
8
Number
11
Direction
down
Clue
First word of an X's and O's match
Answer
TIC
Word Info
Word
TIC
Scrabble Score
5
Wwf Score
6
Part Of Speech
n
Definition
a local and habitual twitching especially in the face

Source verification

Sources: 1
Agreement: single
Confidence: confirmed

1: verified (0 ms)

Checked 2026-10-11T07:30:02.465Z

Recent answers

2026-10-10 — puzzleNumber: 24454 · answers: BUYIN, PAGODA, PENGUIN, RAD, RON, ANATOMY, TUNICS, STACK, BANDANA, UGG, YOUROCK, IDIOMS, NANNY, PEANUT, PRATS, TIC
2026-10-09 — puzzleNumber: 24594 · answers: ABC, CREAM, HEART, OASIS, ODE, ACHOO, BREAD, CEASE, ARI, MTS
2026-10-08 — puzzleNumber: 24595 · answers: BAR, SERVE, PLAIN, ALIST, MAN, BRAIN, AVIS, RENT, SPAM, ELLA
2026-10-07 — puzzleNumber: 24507 · answers: WASTE, ANNOY, INAWE, SIRS, TEE, WAIST, ANNIE, SNARE, TOWS, EYE
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

Archive statistics

Average Answer Length By Weekday

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

Most Repeated Fill

Answer
EYE
Count
4
Answer
EYES
Count
4
Answer
NET
Count
4
Answer
SHELL
Count
4
Answer
TEN
Count
4
Answer
YES
Count
4
Answer
END
Count
3
Answer
MAN
Count
3
Answer
OFF
Count
3
Answer
RED
Count
3
Answer
STY
Count
3
Answer
AISLE
Count
2
Answer
ALGAE
Count
2
Answer
ALIST
Count
2
Answer
ALLIN
Count
2
Answer
AMIGO
Count
2
Answer
AMUSE
Count
2
Answer
ANGER
Count
2
Answer
ARGUE
Count
2
Answer
AUDIO
Count
2

How this brief was computed

Hint classes: computed

Generated lines used: 0

Verification run: 20261011T074501Z

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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.