The NYT Mini Crossword for July 13, 2026 features a clever missing-letter theme across starred clues.
Complete answers and simple clue explanations make today's puzzle easy to understand.
NYT Games continues to deliver fresh daily word and logic challenges.
The NYT Mini Crossword is back with another fresh puzzle to begin the week. Every day, the puzzle brings a new mix of clues that test vocabulary, general knowledge, and quick thinking. Some days focus on simple words, while others include a clever theme that makes the puzzle even more interesting.
Today's Mini comes with a fun twist. The starred across clues are not complete. Each one is missing just one letter at the end of its final word. Adding that missing letter changes the clue into its correct form and makes the answer much easier to find. The clue at 7 Across reveals the trick by giving the answer ONE, which connects all the starred clues.
If the puzzle felt confusing at first, there is no need to worry. Below are a few helpful hints, followed by the complete answers and a short explanation for every clue.
The starred Across clues are missing one letter from the last word.
One Across clue points to a place where boats stop.
Another Across clue asks about the home state of the Dallas Cowboys.
One clue is about making a warm piece of clothing with yarn.
Among the Down clues, one answer is a playful fairy from folklore, while another is an Ivy League university in Philadelphia.
1 Across: ‘Impressive academic degree’
Answer: PHD
Explanation: A Ph.D. is one of the highest university degrees earned after advanced study.
4. Across: ‘Place to find a doc[k]’
Answer: PIER
Explanation: The missing K completes the word "dock," and boats stop at a pier.
5. Across: ‘Dallas Cowboys stat[e]’
Answer: TEXAS
Explanation: Adding the missing E forms "state," and the Dallas Cowboys play in Texas.
6. Across: ‘Make a scar[f]’
Answer: KNIT
Explanation: The missing F changes "scar" into "scarf," which people knit with yarn.
7. Across: ‘Number of letters missing from the ends of each starred Across clue in this puzzle’
Answer: ONE
Explanation: Every starred clue is missing exactly one letter.
Also Read: Today’s NYT Strands Hints and Answers for July 12, 2026 (Puzzle #861)
1 Down: ‘Mischievous fairy’
Answer: PIXIE
Explanation: A pixie is a small magical creature found in many folk stories.
2 Down: ‘What radiators and microwaves generate’
Answer: HEAT
Explanation: Both radiators and microwaves produce heat.
3 Down: ‘Nurses' co-workers: Abbr.’
Answer: DRS
Explanation: ‘Drs.’ is the short form of doctors.
4 Down: ‘Ivy League school in Philly’
Answer: PENN
Explanation: Penn is the common name for the University of Pennsylvania.
5 Down: ‘Boxing ref's decision’
Answer: TKO
Explanation: TKO means technical knockout in boxing.
Today's Mini Crossword stays simple, but the missing-letter idea makes it more enjoyable. Instead of using difficult words, the puzzle asks players to notice a small detail hidden inside the clues. Once the missing letter becomes clear, the answers fall into place much faster.
This clever design keeps the puzzle fun for both new and regular players. It also shows how the NYT Mini Crossword can turn a small five-minute game into an entertaining brain challenge.
Today's NYT Mini Crossword offered another enjoyable daily challenge with a smart missing-letter theme that made every starred clue more interesting. The puzzle stayed quick, fun, and satisfying while rewarding careful reading instead of difficult guessing.
A brand-new Mini Crossword will arrive tomorrow with another fresh set of clues, hints, and answers. Along with the Mini, NYT Games continues to offer popular daily challenges like Wordle, Connections, Strands, Spelling Bee, and the full Crossword, giving puzzle fans something new to enjoy every day. Keep checking back for tomorrow's complete NYT Mini Crossword answers and solutions.
Also Read: NYT Connections Hints and Answers for July 12, 2026 (Puzzle #1127)