Ten total clues fill today's five-by-five Mini grid.
Slang terms OBVI, CMON and ITSON give the puzzle a casual, modern voice.
VELMA and BEACH add cartoon and geography twists to the solve.
A new NYT Mini Crossword arrives on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, and it lands with a playful set of clues. The tiny grid mixes slang, pop culture, everyday objects, and a bit of wordplay. Solvers get a fast challenge that still demands a second look at a few tricky lines.
The Mini keeps its usual five-by-five shape today. Ten total clues fill the grid, five across and five down. A cartoon detective, a bug spray brand, and a common crosswalk signal all show up in the same small square.
Anyone stuck on a letter or checking the finished grid can find every answer below.
The puzzle opens with internet-era slang before moving into measurements, grading terms, frustration, and traffic signals. The down clues pull in a cartoon character, a coastal spot, and two casual phrases.
Ten clues fit into the grid today. The mix leans toward modern speech patterns, making the solve feel current rather than old-fashioned.
The across line starts with a slang phrase and moves through numbers, grading, and street signals.
1A: "That's a no-brainer!," slangily
OBVI
The answer is OBVI. Casual speech often shortens "obviously" into this quick four-letter version. The clue captures a modern, breezy tone that younger speakers use often.
5A: 5,280 in a mile
FEET
The answer is FEET. A single mile always breaks down into exactly 5,280 feet, a measurement fact many solvers know by heart. The clue turns a math fact into a fast crossword entry.
6A: F, on a test
FALSE
The answer is FALSE. A true-or-false quiz marks the wrong choice with the letter F, standing for the word "false." The clue plays on a school setting familiar to nearly everyone.
8A: "Give me a break!"
CMON
The answer is CMON. This short, punchy expression conveys mild frustration or disbelief in daily conversation. The clue matches natural speech rather than formal wording.
9A: "Don't walk" symbol at a crosswalk
HAND
The answer is HAND. A raised hand icon flashes at pedestrians when crossing is unsafe. The clue turns a street-level symbol into a simple four-letter word.
Also Read: NYT Strands Hints, Answers for September 14, 2026
The down section shifts toward brand names, geography, cartoons and casual phrases.
1D: Brand of bug spray with an exclamation point in its name
OFF
The answer is OFF. The insect repellent brand stylizes its name with punctuation, but the crossword strips that mark away. The clue rewards familiarity with household products.
2D: Long ___, Calif.
BEACH
The answer is BEACH. Long Beach sits along the Southern California coast and ranks among the state's well-known cities. The clue completes a geographic name most Americans recognize.
3D: Brainy member of the Scooby-Doo gang
VELMA
The answer is VELMA. The bespectacled character solves mysteries through logic rather than luck in the long-running cartoon franchise. The clue leans on decades of animated pop culture.
4D: "Let's do this thing"
ITSON
The answer is ITSON. The phrase signals readiness or acceptance of a challenge in casual talk. The clue captures an energetic, motivational tone.
7D: Conclusion
END
The answer is END. A story, movie, or event always reaches this final point eventually. The clue keeps things short, letting the crossing letters do most of the work.
Slang carries much of today's puzzle. OBVI and CMON both echo how people actually talk rather than textbook phrasing. FEET and FALSE pull from measurement and classroom settings, giving the grid a practical edge.
VELMA brings a jolt of nostalgia through animated television, while BEACH grounds the puzzle in real-world geography. OFF adds a household detail that many solvers spot instantly once the bug spray hint clicks.
ITSON stands out as a phrase-based answer, asking solvers to think beyond single words. HAND does something similar by turning a visual street symbol into a crossword entry.
The NYT Mini Crossword sticks to its five-by-five grid, yet variety fills every corner today. A tight format never guarantees an easy solution, especially when short clues carry double meanings or rely on modern slang.
Daily puzzles keep this format fresh by rotating themes, references, and wordplay constantly. The compact size fits into a short break, yet the mental challenge still feels satisfying.
Today's edition moves from classroom grading to cartoon trivia, then into casual expressions and coastal geography. That range keeps the small puzzle from feeling predictable.
Tomorrow brings another NYT Mini Crossword challenge, offering a fresh batch of clues and answers for solvers to enjoy all over again.