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Welcome to another round of wordplay fun with the NYT Mini Crossword. Every day brings a fresh puzzle filled with clever clues and witty wordplay. March 11’s Mini Crossword is no different, featuring a mix of playful, tricky, and straight-to-the-point hints. Stuck on a clue? Find the answers below.
Each Mini Crossword is a bite-sized challenge. Unlike the full-size crossword, it takes only a few minutes to complete but still delivers that satisfying “aha” moment. Today’s puzzle even includes a classic thesaurus joke to keep things lighthearted. Let's crack the codes and fill in the grid.
1A: Format for many e-signed documents
Answer: PDF
A common file format used for digital documents requiring electronic signatures.
4A: Aspirations
Answer: GOALS
Things individuals want to do in life, at work, or in self-improvement.
6A: "This thesaurus is awful. Not only is it awful, it's also ___!" (joke)
Answer: AWFUL
A witty exercise in redundancy, pointing to the lack of diversity in a terrible thesaurus.
7A: Southpaw, by another name
Answer: LEFTY
A name given to a person who is left-handed, frequently used in sports.
8A: Deli bread variety
Answer: RYE
A widely consumed form of bread commonly served in sandwiches, which has a strong taste.
1D: Word after flower or fire
Answer: POWER
A term that follows "flower" (flower power) and "fire" (firepower) in popular expressions.
2D: Looney Tunes character with the catchphrase "You're dethpicable!"
Answer: DAFFY
Refers to Daffy Duck, the beloved cartoon character famous for his lisp and comedic behaviors.
3D: What you might blow in, when you're blowin' in the wind?
Answer: FLUTE
A musical instrument played by blowing air through it.
4D: Actress Gadot
Answer: GAL
Refers to Gal Gadot, the Wonder Woman actress.
5D: Adjective for a fox
Answer: SLY
Means someone who is clever or crafty, like a fox in legend.
The NYT Mini Crossword is a perfect daily mental warm-up. Quick yet challenging, it pushes word lovers to think fast and connect ideas. The limited number of clues makes it a fast-paced experience, but tricky hints can still create a roadblock.
Here is one from this morning's puzzle: the thesaurus joke. A bit of old-time wordplay at the expense of redundancy in speech. The answer? "AWFUL"—not just as the answer, but as part of the punchline too.
The Mini is only one of several interesting-word NYT games in The New York Times' repertoire. Other favorites are Wordle, Strands, and Connections. Although today's Mini Crossword is free to play, previous puzzles can be accessed only with a subscription to the Times Games section.
Crossword enthusiasts tend to like racing to the quickest solve time. With only a few clues, the Mini becomes a test of speed for puzzle lovers. But when a challenging clue halts the flow, a bit of direction can rescue the day. Hopefully, today's solutions were able to fill in the grid without aggravation.
Get ready for another set of clues tomorrow! The NYT Mini Crossword keeps the mind sharp and entertained every single day.
