Mini Crossword Answers — October 22, 2026

    All across and down answers for the NYT Mini Crossword from October 22, 2026.

    Daily brief

    Mini #24666

    Thursday, October 22, 2026

    partial

    Updated

    Today's hints

    Verified against 1 source; re-checked at 12:10/16:10 UTC.

    Answer-free grid

    Estimated solve time
    90, 165
    1. The grid contains 5 Across answers and 5 Down answers.
    2. Across and Down answers intersect in 21 squares.

    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

    Thursday, October 22, 2026

    Today's Crossword

    1S
    2P
    3A
    4N
    5A
    I
    D
    E
    6D
    O
    O
    R
    7S
    8U
    P
    D
    O
    9S
    T
    Y
    X

    Across

    • 1.
      Clue paraphrase pending(4 letters)SPAN
    • 5.
      Clue paraphrase pending(4 letters)AIDE
    • 6.
      Clue paraphrase pending(5 letters)DOORS
    • 8.
      Clue paraphrase pending(4 letters)UPDO
    • 9.
      Clue paraphrase pending(4 letters)STYX

    Down

    • 1.
      Clue paraphrase pending(3 letters)SAD
    • 2.
      Clue paraphrase pending(5 letters)PIOUS
    • 3.
      Clue paraphrase pending(5 letters)ADOPT
    • 4.
      Clue paraphrase pending(5 letters)NERDY
    • 7.
      Clue paraphrase pending(3 letters)SOX

    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

    2026-10-21

    Puzzle Number
    24458
    Grid
      • Letter
        P
        Number
        1
        Is Black
        No
        Is Circled
        No
      • Letter
        A
        Number
        2
        Is Black
        No
        Is Circled
        No
      • Letter
        S
        Number
        3
        Is Black
        No
        Is Circled
        No
      • Letter
        S
        Number
        4
        Is Black
        No
        Is Circled
        No
      • Is Black
        Yes
        Is Circled
        No
      • Letter
        I
        Number
        5
        Is Black
        No
        Is Circled
        No
      • Letter
        T
        Is Black
        No
        Is Circled
        No
      • Letter
        O
        Is Black
        No
        Is Circled
        No
      • Letter
        N
        Is Black
        No
        Is Circled
        No
      • Is Black
        Yes
        Is Circled
        No
      • Letter
        G
        Number
        6
        Is Black
        No
        Is Circled
        No
      • Letter
        E
        Is Black
        No
        Is Circled
        No
      • Letter
        N
        Is Black
        No
        Is Circled
        No
      • Letter
        A
        Is Black
        No
        Is Circled
        No
      • Letter
        I
        Number
        7
        Is Black
        No
        Is Circled
        No
      • Is Black
        Yes
        Is Circled
        No
      • Letter
        U
        Number
        8
        Is Black
        No
        Is Circled
        No
      • Letter
        G
        Is Black
        No
        Is Circled
        No
      • Letter
        G
        Is Black
        No
        Is Circled
        No
      • Letter
        S
        Is Black
        No
        Is Circled
        No
      • Is Black
        Yes
        Is Circled
        No
      • Letter
        P
        Number
        9
        Is Black
        No
        Is Circled
        No
      • Letter
        S
        Is Black
        No
        Is Circled
        No
      • Letter
        S
        Is Black
        No
        Is Circled
        No
      • Letter
        T
        Is Black
        No
        Is Circled
        No
    Clues
    • Number
      1
      Direction
      across
      Answer
      PASS
      Word Info
      Word
      PASS
      Scrabble Score
      6
      Wwf Score
      7
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      the location in a range of mountains of a geological formation that is lower than the surrounding peaks
    • Number
      5
      Direction
      across
      Answer
      ITON
      Word Info
      Word
      ITON
      Scrabble Score
      4
      Wwf Score
      5
    • Number
      6
      Direction
      across
      Answer
      GENAI
      Word Info
      Word
      GENAI
      Scrabble Score
      6
      Wwf Score
      8
    • Number
      8
      Direction
      across
      Answer
      UGGS
      Word Info
      Word
      UGGS
      Scrabble Score
      6
      Wwf Score
      9
    • Number
      9
      Direction
      across
      Answer
      PSST
      Word Info
      Word
      PSST
      Scrabble Score
      6
      Wwf Score
      7
    • Number
      1
      Direction
      down
      Answer
      PIG
      Word Info
      Word
      PIG
      Scrabble Score
      6
      Wwf Score
      8
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      domestic swine
    • Number
      2
      Direction
      down
      Answer
      ATEUP
      Word Info
      Word
      ATEUP
      Scrabble Score
      7
      Wwf Score
      9
    • Number
      3
      Direction
      down
      Answer
      SONGS
      Word Info
      Word
      SONGS
      Scrabble Score
      6
      Wwf Score
      8
    • Number
      4
      Direction
      down
      Answer
      SNAGS
      Word Info
      Word
      SNAGS
      Scrabble Score
      6
      Wwf Score
      8
    • Number
      7
      Direction
      down
      Answer
      IST
      Word Info
      Word
      IST
      Scrabble Score
      3
      Wwf Score
      3

    Source verification

    Sources
    1
    Agreement
    single
    Confidence
    partial
    • 1: verified (0 ms)

    Checked 2026-10-22T07:30:02.981Z

    Recent answers

    • 2026-10-21 — puzzleNumber: 24458 · answers: PASS, ITON, GENAI, UGGS, PSST, PIG, ATEUP, SONGS, SNAGS, IST
    • 2026-10-20 — puzzleNumber: 24609 · answers: BOW, SCORE, LACES, EPCOT, WEE, BOCCE, OREO, WEST, SLEW, CAPE
    • 2026-10-19 — puzzleNumber: 24603 · answers: WAFT, GENIE, RAVEN, EVIL, WELD, WEAVE, ANVIL, FIELD, TEN, GREW
    • 2026-10-18 — puzzleNumber: 24632 · answers: FIB, WALDO, ITALY, NOSES, SMH, FLASH, IDLE, BOYS, WINS, ATOM
    • 2026-10-17 — puzzleNumber: 24607 · answers: CLASSIC, RICOTTA, OPENBAR, ARTGALA, TIO, RIM, INN, TAE, AGE, SNL, CROATIA, LIPRING, ACETONE, SONG, STBARTS, ITALIAN, CARAMEL
    • 2026-10-16 — puzzleNumber: 24621 · answers: LAVA, STOPIT, POSTIT, AMELIA, RESY, LOSES, APTLY, VIII, ATTA, SPAR, TOME
    • 2026-10-15 — puzzleNumber: 24555 · answers: GRAYS, ROMEO, ALIEN, ZESTY, EXS, GRAZE, ROLEX, AMISS, YEET, SONY
    • 2026-10-14 — puzzleNumber: 24611 · answers: BATHS, ADIEU, NOBEL, KRILL, EASY, BANK, ADORE, TIBIA, HEELS, SULLY
    • 2026-10-13 — puzzleNumber: 24620 · answers: CAT, CAIRO, BROAD, SOLID, BIN, CAROB, AIOLI, TRAIN, CBS, ODD
    • 2026-10-12 — puzzleNumber: 24608 · answers: PIP, CRUSH, HOPPY, ESPYS, FEY, PUPPY, ISPY, PHYS, CHEF, ROSE
    • 2026-10-11 — puzzleNumber: 24600 · answers: WIPE, IDEA, STING, SHONE, WATER, WITHA, IDIOT, PENNE, EAGER, SSW
    • 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

    Archive statistics

    Average Answer Length By Weekday
    Wednesday
    4.4
    Tuesday
    4.5
    Monday
    4.4
    Sunday
    4.4
    Saturday
    5.1
    Friday
    4.5
    Thursday
    4.4
    Most Repeated Fill
    • Answer
      TEN
      Count
      5
    • Answer
      EYE
      Count
      4
    • Answer
      EYES
      Count
      4
    • Answer
      NET
      Count
      4
    • Answer
      SHELL
      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
      ADIEU
      Count
      2
    • 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

    How this brief was computed

    Hint classes: computed

    Generated lines used: 0

    Verification run: 20261022T074502Z

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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

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    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.

    More NYT puzzle help