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A new morning, a new puzzle. The NYT Mini welcomes solvers every day with a challenge that’s short in size but full of smart wordplay. Unlike its larger sibling, the daily crossword, The Mini delivers quick clues, clever twists, and just enough difficulty to jolt the brain awake.
This daily burst of brain fuel has become a morning ritual for many. It's a compact mental sprint that can take less than a minute or keep someone paused at a single clue. The April 14, 2025, edition kept the tradition alive with a playful mix of terms from breakfast tables, baseball fields, Hollywood, and grammar class.
This edition's NYT Mini introduces another new grid of clues that begins tame but soon evolves into a creative puzzle. Across has a perfect blend of clever wordplay alongside basic definitions suited to a brain tease in brief. From universal breakfast leftovers to movie references, each clue prompts crisp thinking with rapid fingers. Following is the sequence of Mini Across Clues and Answers as to how these appear throughout the puzzle.
1A clue: Uneaten part of toast, often
Answer: CRUST
The outside rim of bread, usually left behind at breakfast.
6A clue: Like stud muffins
Answer: HUNKY
Used to refer to someone who is good-looking and muscular.
7A clue: Prepare for use, as a marker
Answer: UNCAP
The act of taking off a cap prior to writing.
8A clue: Nick of "48 Hrs."
Answer: NOLTE
Actor Nick Nolte played the film "48 Hrs."
9A clue: Strike zone's lower boundary
Answer: KNEES
The lowest point at which a baseball pitch can legally pass the plate.
1D clue: Alternative to a chip, in the baking aisle
Answer: CHUNK
Used in cookies, bigger than chocolate chips.
2D clue: Kind of sentence that keeps going and going, it should have been made into two sentences
Answer: RUNON
A sentence without breaks, lacking punctuation.
3D clue: Cousin's dad
Answer: UNCLE
A parent's brother, or a father to a cousin.
4D clue: Spin out on the ice, say
Answer: SKATE
Defines sliding or losing control while traveling on ice.
5D clue: Uses a keyboard
Answer: TYPES
The process of typing letters via keys.
Each day, The NYT Mini brings more than hints. It ignites flash moments of competition, contemplation, and enjoyment. The puzzles are not simply about solving; they're about rhythm, surprise, and that thrill of triumph that comes with each completed square.
This little puzzle is carving out a larger following. It is challenging but not daunting. It is approachable but never simplistic. Each entry weaves everyday references with a dash of imagination.
Though April 14's grid was light-hearted, it included its own suspensions. Each puzzle needed a burst of logic, memory, or pop knowledge. From punctuation to produce, each square was not wasted.
The NYT Mini has made a niche in morning and evening routines. It is a couple of minutes of quick thinking and mental exercise. Some approach it as a competition, racing to achieve quick times. Some others just revel in the pleasure of wordplay.
Even when a clue puts on the brakes, there's reassurance in the thought that the next one could fall into place with lightning speed. That's what makes this game greater than a puzzle. It's a dialogue between reason and language, clue by clue.
For those who missed a word today, no stress. Tomorrow brings a brand-new grid. And with it, another chance to learn, guess, laugh, and solve.
