The Mini Answers - April 16th 2026
This page contains hints and the answers to today's mini crossword from the New York Times.
Click on the squares below to reveal each letter or scroll down to see the official clues from the New York Times plus a second clue for each answer that will hopefully help that original clue make a little bit more sense.
On this page:
- Reveal each square - click to reveal the letter that is in each square of today's puzzle
- Hints - additional clues to help you solve the crossword by yourself
- Answers - if all else fails, you can see all the answers for today's mini crossword.
Click to reveal each square
If you are stuck on a letter, you can click on each square to reveal or hide the letter that should go there for today's NYT mini crossword. If you're looking for some more help to solve it yourself, then keep on scrolling.
Or reveal each word with 1-click:
Across
- 1 -
- 6 -
- 7 -
- 8 -
- 9 -
Down
- 1 -
- 2 -
- 3 -
- 4 -
- 5 -
NYT mini crossword hints and answers
Across
1 (across): Bow ties and ribbons that you can't wear?
Hint: They're often used for gifts or decoration.
6 (across): Opposite of lower
Hint: Positioned higher up or elevated.
7 (across): Flappable origami creation
Hint: Often seen in paper crafts, associated with birds.
8 (across): Where the Hangul alphabet is used
Hint: Home to K-pop and kimchi.
9 (across): Apparatus under a trapeze
Hint: It's often used in circuses for safety.
Down
1 (down): Disc dropped on center ice
2 (down): One might read "Kiss the Chef"
3 (down): Unlikely outcome after a 7-10 split
4 (down): Fundamental belief
5 (down): Bay ___ (part of California)
Stuck on a clue? Today’s hints are above, layered from gentle nudge to full answer. Scroll only as far as you need and click to reveal each square with the answer.
What Makes the Mini Different?
The NYT Mini runs 5×5 Monday through Friday, and expands to 7×7 on Saturdays.
That sounds like a smaller version of the full crossword. While in format, it is. In feel, it’s a different puzzle entirely.
The full NYT crossword rewards patience, lateral thinking, and a willingness to sit with uncertainty across 15×15 squares for twenty minutes. The Mini rewards speed, instinct, and the kind of general knowledge that surfaces in three seconds or not at all. There’s no streak feature like Wordle, but you can track your solve time and compete with friends on the Mini leaderboard. Most regulars aren’t just trying to finish. They’re chasing a personal best.
How the Clues Work
Mini clues tend to be tighter and more direct than full crossword clues. Like an introduction to the crossword.
Constructor Joel Fagliano, the Mini’s longtime primary contributor, is known for blending timely pop culture references with classic crossword staples to create grids that feel current without being impenetrable.
When a clue stumps you, it’s usually because a word is being used in an unexpected part of speech, or a familiar name is being referenced from an unfamiliar angle.
How to Use This Page
Today’s hints are organised by clue, from least to most revealing. The first hint nudges your thinking without giving anything away. The second narrows it significantly. The full answer is available below each clue whenever you’re ready for it. The complete answer grid is at the bottom of the page.