
The NYT Mini Crossword for July 29, 2025, offers a sharp yet fun five-letter challenge.
Clues like COLE, SHRED, and LEGIT test speed and word skills in a compact format.
Fresh puzzles return daily, keeping solvers engaged and thinking fast.
Each day begins with a fresh twist in the world of quick-thinking wordplay. The New York Times Mini Crossword delivers another compact challenge this Thursday, July 31, 2025. With just a handful of clues and a tight 5x5 grid, the Mini manages to stay quick yet clever.
Unlike the full-sized crossword, this one offers a sprint instead of a marathon. But even quick puzzles can stump the sharpest minds. Today's answers hit that perfect middle ground - smart, familiar, and satisfying to solve. Welcome to another day of decoding vocabulary.
1A: Quick punches
Answer: JABS
Brief, stinging boxing blows that keep pugilists on their toes.
5A: Animal with unique stripes, similar to human fingerprints
Answer: ZEBRA
Every stripe pattern is unique, similar to fingerprints.
6A: The People's ___ (The Rock's signature wrestling move)
Answer: ELBOW
A renowned finisher made legendary by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
7A: Pumps the brakes, say
Answer: SLOWS
A method to slow down while driving or in action.
8A: Many “Bluey” viewers
Answer: TOTS
Small fans who love the animated series about a blue heeler puppy.
1D: Treat once advertised as “America’s Most Famous Dessert”
Answer: JELLO
Rainbow-colored, quivering, and once a dessert staple in every American freezer.
2D: Head of a monastery
Answer: ABBOT
The religious leader who heads the monks and their order.
3D: Furrowed facial features
Answer: BROWS
The eyebrows that indicate surprise, concentration, or a deep scowl.
4D: Lumber mill tools
Answer: SAWS
Key cutting instruments that shape wood in every sawmill.
5D: Grated citrus peel
Answer: ZEST
The zest of lemons and limes, their bright, flavorful outer skin, is grated into food.
Also Read – NYT Wordle Answer Today for July 31, 2025: Hints and Expert Walkthrough
This Thursday’s Mini puzzle dances between pop culture and everyday objects. From “Bluey” and “The Rock” to tools and desserts, each clue brings in a piece of real-world familiarity. Even the toughest clue felt fair - built on things seen, heard, or tasted before.
What makes The Mini stand out is its rhythm. It’s fast, thoughtful, and constantly refreshed. Every grid brings a few new words, and sometimes, a full smile from a well-placed clue.
July 31’s Mini was all about keeping things light and sharp. It pulls from playful memories, cultural icons, and daily life. And just like that, another square-filled success story is done.
The puzzle refreshes tomorrow. There will be another round of clues, another flash of adversity. Yet today's crossword serves up what it advertised—a swift jolt of clever satisfaction.
Also Read – Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for July 30, 2025