If you're stuck on today's NYT Mini Crossword, you're in good company. This Monday puzzle from constructor Ian Livengood offers a mix of straightforward clues and a few trickier references that might have you scratching your head. Whether you're completely stumped or just need a nudge on one stubborn answer, we've got the help you need to finish strong.
Need help with a specific clue? Click on any entry below to get detailed hints and explanations without spoiling the fun of solving. Each link takes you to targeted help for that particular answer, so you can get unstuck without seeing solutions to clues you haven't attempted yet.
[Individual clue articles would be linked in a table format here]
The New York Times Mini Crossword launched in 2014 as a bite-sized version of the iconic daily crossword, designed for solvers who want a quick mental workout without the time commitment of the full puzzle. At just 5x5 squares, the Mini typically takes 1-3 minutes to complete and has become a daily ritual for millions of players worldwide.
Release Schedule: Mini puzzles become available the evening before their official publication date. Weekday and Saturday puzzles drop at 10 PM EST the night before, while Sunday puzzles are available at 6 PM EST on Saturday. This means you can often tackle "tomorrow's" puzzle tonight.
To stay on top of new releases, enable push notifications in the NYT Games app settings. If you previously declined notifications but want them back, head to your device settings, find the Games app, and toggle notifications back on.
The Mini has cultivated its own devoted community of solvers who share times, discuss tricky clues, and celebrate streak milestones. Its compact format makes it perfect for coffee breaks, commutes, or those moments when you need a quick mental reset. Each puzzle is crafted to be solvable by crossword newcomers while still offering enough wordplay to satisfy experienced solvers.