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Tuesday's Mini fits 10 clues into a snappy 5x5 grid.
Clues span superheroes, instruments, exile, and pool day fun.
Every answer comes with a quick explanation for fast solving.
The NYT Mini Crossword returns with another set of clues on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. The five-by-five grid stays compact, yet it still finds room for a clever twist or two. Today's answers touch on superheroes, orchestras, weddings, and swimming pools, giving the short puzzle plenty of range.
Solvers rarely need more than a couple of minutes for the Mini. That said, a single stubborn clue can stretch the clock. Today's grid rewards anyone who reads each clue twice, since a few entries carry more than one possible meaning before the correct answer clicks into place.
Tuesday's grid holds 10 clues in total. Five run across and five run down. Answers stretch from a Marvel reference to a classic literary title.
For anyone stuck on a square or double-checking a finished grid, the full NYT Mini Crossword Answers for September 22 appear below.
The across section opens with a pop-culture clue before shifting into moving day, farewells, orchestras, and weddings.
1A: What fills the Venn diagram of ‘Spider-Man’ and ‘the Internet’
WEB
The answer is WEB. Spider-Man swings through the city on his own web, and the Internet runs on the World Wide Web. That shared word ties both halves of the clue together neatly.
4A: Pack, as a mover might
BOXUP
The answer is BOXUP. Movers load belongings into cardboard containers before a move, and ‘box up’ captures that exact action in two simple words.
6A: ‘Adiós ___!’
AMIGO
The answer is AMIGO. Spanish speakers use ‘amigo’ for a close friend, and the phrase ‘Adiós, amigo’ turns up often in casual farewells and old western films alike.
7A: Large stringed instrument
CELLO
The answer is CELLO. An orchestra seats the cello below the violin and viola in both size and pitch, making it the natural fit for ‘large stringed instrument.’
8A: Prepare to pop the question
KNEEL
The answer is KNEEL. A marriage proposal traditionally comes with one partner lowering to a knee, and that gesture gives the clue its answer.
Also Read: NYT Mini Crossword Answers for September 21, 2026
The down clues move through literature, politics, brass instruments, and summer fun.
1D: Alcott's ‘Little ___’
WOMEN
The answer is WOMEN. Louisa May Alcott's beloved novel ‘Little Women’ follows the four March sisters, and the title supplies the missing word directly.
2D: Political leader unwelcome at home
EXILE
The answer is EXILE. A leader forced out of a home country for political reasons lives in exile, a word that fits both the clue's meaning and its short length.
3D: Small brass instrument
BUGLE
The answer is BUGLE. Marching bands and military ceremonies both feature the bugle, a compact brass horn known for simple, clear calls.
4D: Support politically
BACK
The answer is BACK. Voters and donors alike ‘back’ a candidate when they throw their support behind a campaign, making this a common political term.
5D: Site of cannonballs and bellyflops
POOL
The answer is POOL. Kids often launch cannonballs and bellyflops straight into a swimming pool, tying the clue's playful imagery to its answer.
Tuesday's puzzle fits several different worlds into one tiny grid. Pop culture arrives through WEB. Music shows up twice, through CELLO and BUGLE, each pulling from a different corner of the orchestra and the marching band. AMIGO adds a touch of everyday Spanish, while KNEEL leans on a familiar life moment.
The down clues then shift gears entirely. WOMEN nods to classic literature, EXILE brings in world politics, and BACK keeps that political thread going with a campaign-season term. POOL closes things out with a lighter, summery image.
The NYT Mini Crossword sticks to its usual 5x5 format, built for a quick solving session. Its small footprint rarely means an easy ride, though. Short clues often carry hidden double meanings, and today's grid leans on that trick more than once.
Tuesday's mix feels wide for such a small puzzle. The grid moves from superheroes to moving boxes, Spanish farewells, orchestral instruments and marriage proposals. The down answers then add literature, exiled leaders, campaign support and pool day fun.
That range keeps the tiny puzzle feeling fresh. Another NYT Mini Crossword challenge arrives tomorrow, bringing a new set of clues and a new round of answers to chase.
