Mini Crossword Answers — November 5, 2026

All across and down answers for the NYT Mini Crossword from November 5, 2026.

Daily brief

Mini #24691

Thursday, November 5, 2026

partial

Updated Nov 5, 2026, 2:45 AM EST

Today's hints

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

Answer-free grid

■12345····6····7····8···■

Estimated solve time: 90, 165

The puzzle footprint is 5 rows by 5 columns, leaving 23 of 25 squares open.
Use the 23 shared cells to transfer letters between directions.

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

Thursday, November 5, 2026

Today's Crossword

Across

1.
Clue paraphrase pending(4 letters)EDGY
5.
Clue paraphrase pending(5 letters)CARLA
6.
Clue paraphrase pending(5 letters)AGAIN
7.
Clue paraphrase pending(5 letters)SLING
8.
Clue paraphrase pending(4 letters)TENT

Down

1.
Clue paraphrase pending(5 letters)EAGLE
2.
Clue paraphrase pending(5 letters)DRAIN
3.
Clue paraphrase pending(5 letters)GLINT
4.
Clue paraphrase pending(4 letters)YANG
5.
Clue paraphrase pending(4 letters)CAST

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

2026-11-04

Puzzle Number

24640

Grid

- Letter
  B
  Number
  1
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  R
  Number
  2
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  I
  Number
  3
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  D
  Number
  4
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  G
  Number
  5
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  E
  Number
  6
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  O
  Number
  7
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  H
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  M
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  A
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  R
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  Y
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  W
  Number
  8
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  I
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  E
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  N
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  I
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  E
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  E
  Number
  9
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  N
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  A
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  C
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  T
  Is Black
  No
  Is Circled
  No
- Is Black
  Yes
  Is Circled
  No
- Letter
  N
  Number
  10
  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
- Is Black
  Yes
  Is Circled
  No

Clues

Number
1
Direction
across
Answer
BRIDGE
Word Info
Word
BRIDGE
Scrabble Score
10
Wwf Score
12
Part Of Speech
n
Definition
a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.
Number
7
Direction
across
Answer
OHMARY
Word Info
Word
OHMARY
Scrabble Score
14
Wwf Score
13
Number
8
Direction
across
Answer
WIENIE
Word Info
Word
WIENIE
Scrabble Score
9
Wwf Score
10
Number
9
Direction
across
Answer
ENACT
Word Info
Word
ENACT
Scrabble Score
7
Wwf Score
9
Part Of Speech
v
Definition
order by virtue of superior authority; decree
Number
10
Direction
across
Answer
NONE
Word Info
Word
NONE
Scrabble Score
4
Wwf Score
6
Part Of Speech
n
Definition
a canonical hour that is the ninth hour of the day counting from sunrise
Number
1
Direction
down
Answer
BOWEN
Word Info
Word
BOWEN
Scrabble Score
10
Wwf Score
12
Number
2
Direction
down
Answer
RHINO
Word Info
Word
RHINO
Scrabble Score
8
Wwf Score
8
Part Of Speech
n
Definition
massive powerful herbivorous odd-toed ungulate of southeast Asia and Africa having very thick skin and one or two horns on the snout
Number
3
Direction
down
Answer
IMEAN
Word Info
Word
IMEAN
Scrabble Score
7
Wwf Score
9
Number
4
Direction
down
Answer
DANCE
Word Info
Word
DANCE
Scrabble Score
8
Wwf Score
10
Part Of Speech
n
Definition
an artistic form of nonverbal communication
Number
5
Direction
down
Answer
GRIT
Word Info
Word
GRIT
Scrabble Score
5
Wwf Score
6
Part Of Speech
n
Definition
a hard coarse-grained siliceous sandstone
Number
6
Direction
down
Answer
EYE
Word Info
Word
EYE
Scrabble Score
6
Wwf Score
5
Part Of Speech
n
Definition
the organ of sight

Source verification

Sources: 1
Agreement: single
Confidence: partial

1: verified (0 ms)

Checked 2026-11-05T07:30:21.918Z

Recent answers

2026-11-04 — puzzleNumber: 24640 · answers: BRIDGE, OHMARY, WIENIE, ENACT, NONE, BOWEN, RHINO, IMEAN, DANCE, GRIT, EYE
2026-11-03 — puzzleNumber: 24638 · answers: CLAIM, LIMBO, AVAIL, PIZZA, DEAR, CLAP, LIVID, AMAZE, IBIZA, MOLAR
2026-11-02 — puzzleNumber: 24689 · answers: JAM, TOUCH, INDIA, SAINT, HOG, JONAH, AUDIO, MCING, TIS, HAT
2026-11-01 — puzzleNumber: 24672 · answers: ABCS, CLAP, WHINY, HOME, OOPS, ACHOO, BLIMP, CANES, SPY, WHO
2026-10-31 — puzzleNumber: 24518 · answers: BAG, NASA, STARTLE, PAR, ROO, AIRHORN, MOUSES, EWE, BAR, ASTROS, GALORE, NARROW, SPA, TAIME, EONS, HUE
2026-10-30 — puzzleNumber: 24635 · answers: BAT, TOWN, TIBET, ORBS, KEY, BOBBY, AWES, TNT, TIRE, TOK
2026-10-29 — puzzleNumber: 24671 · answers: BEAR, IDIOT, BELLY, SNEER, DSA, BIBS, EDEN, AILED, ROLES, TYRA
2026-10-28 — puzzleNumber: 24634 · answers: PERK, SITON, PAUSE, INDEX, TOES, PIANO, ETUDE, ROSES, KNEX, SPIT
2026-10-27 — puzzleNumber: 24686 · answers: SPELL, THREE, ROOMS, UNDO, TEEN, STRUT, PHONE, ERODE, LEMON, LES
2026-10-26 — puzzleNumber: 24668 · answers: CRUNCH, HOHOHO, AVATAR, NEURON, LESS, CHAN, ROVE, UHAUL, NOTRE, CHAOS, HORNS
2026-10-25 — puzzleNumber: 24655 · answers: FOLK, LEVEE, IMEAN, FUNK, ERS, FEMUR, OVENS, LEAK, KEN, LIFE
2026-10-24 — puzzleNumber: 24631 · answers: MLB, PRIUS, PACKRAT, ATLANTA, THEBEAN, SALTY, NET, MRCLEAN, LIKABLE, BURNETT, PATHS, SATAY, PAT, TAN
2026-10-23 — puzzleNumber: 24667 · answers: FAST, INCH, FORUM, TREND, HAWKS, FIFTH, ANORA, SCREW, THUNK, MDS
2026-10-22 — puzzleNumber: 24666 · answers: SPAN, AIDE, DOORS, UPDO, STYX, SAD, PIOUS, ADOPT, NERDY, SOX

Archive statistics

Average Answer Length By Weekday

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

Most Repeated Fill

Answer
EYE
Count
5
Answer
NET
Count
5
Answer
TEN
Count
5
Answer
EYES
Count
4
Answer
SHELL
Count
4
Answer
YES
Count
4
Answer
AUDIO
Count
3
Answer
BAT
Count
3
Answer
END
Count
3
Answer
IDIOT
Count
3
Answer
MAN
Count
3
Answer
OFF
Count
3
Answer
RED
Count
3
Answer
STY
Count
3
Answer
ACHOO
Count
2
Answer
ADIEU
Count
2
Answer
ADOPT
Count
2
Answer
AISLE
Count
2
Answer
ALGAE
Count
2
Answer
ALLIN
Count
2

How this brief was computed

Hint classes: computed

Generated lines used: 0

Verification run: 20261105T074502Z

← 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.