Here are hints and answers for the NYT Mini Crossword on Monday, November 9, 2026. Today’s Mini is a 5×5 grid with five Across and five Down clues, by Joel Fagliano. Tap Hint for a letter count and the first letter, or Answer to see the word. You can also reveal single squares on the grid.
NYT Mini hints for Nov 9 (clues with hints)
Tap any square to reveal just that letter. The longest answer today is five letters (4-Across).
Across
- 1AParadoxically, it might only have a little parkingthree letters, starts with LHintLOTAnswer
- 4AColorful fruit on a Thanksgiving tablefive letters, starts with G and ends with DHintGOURDAnswer
- 6AThe Rock or Chris Rockfive letters, starts with A and ends with RHintACTORAnswer
- 7A"It pains me to say …"five letters, starts with S and ends with YHintSADLYAnswer
- 8AText that’s rarely truethree letters, starts with LHintLOLAnswer
Down
- 1DGood person to ask for directionsfive letters, starts with L and ends with LHintLOCALAnswer
- 2DPerform better thanfive letters, starts with O and ends with OHintOUTDOAnswer
- 3DDeliberately try to make angry onlinefive letters, starts with T and ends with LHintTROLLAnswer
- 4DRoad trip expensethree letters, starts with GHintGASAnswer
- 5DIn need of a humidifierthree letters, starts with DHintDRYAnswer
NYT Mini answers today (Nov 9)
The full solved grid and every answer for the November 9, 2026 Mini Crossword.
- Across: 1 LOT, 4 GOURD, 6 ACTOR, 7 SADLY, 8 LOL
- Down: 1 LOCAL, 2 OUTDO, 3 TROLL, 4 GAS, 5 DRY
| Clue | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1-Across: Paradoxically, it might only have a little parking | LOT |
| 4-Across: Colorful fruit on a Thanksgiving table | GOURD |
| 6-Across: The Rock or Chris Rock | ACTOR |
| 7-Across: "It pains me to say …" | SADLY |
| 8-Across: Text that’s rarely true | LOL |
| 1-Down: Good person to ask for directions | LOCAL |
| 2-Down: Perform better than | OUTDO |
| 3-Down: Deliberately try to make angry online | TROLL |
| 4-Down: Road trip expense | GAS |
| 5-Down: In need of a humidifier | DRY |
Yesterday’s NYT Mini answers (Nov 8)
Here is the solved Mini Crossword for Sunday, November 8, 2026.
Solved grid, Nov 8 5×5
| Clue | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1-Across: Thin winter coat? | FROST |
| 6-Across: When morning people like to wake up | EARLY |
| 7-Across: Option on the "How would you like to receive your receipt?" screen | |
| 8-Across: "Please, it would be my pleasure" | LETME |
| 9-Across: Villain’s facial expression | SNEER |
| 1-Down: Perceives by touch | FEELS |
| 2-Down: Japanese dish with a name from Chinese ("pulled noodles") | RAMEN |
| 3-Down: Give a grand speech | ORATE |
| 4-Down: Gooey kids’ toy | SLIME |
| 5-Down: ___ Durden, Brad Pitt’s character in "Fight Club" | TYLER |
How to play the NYT Mini Crossword
The Mini is a small daily crossword from The New York Times, usually 5×5 (a bigger 7×7 grid on Saturdays). Fill every white square so the Across and Down answers both fit their clues. Most people finish it in under two minutes, and the game times you.
Tips for a faster Mini
- Start with fill-in-the-blank clues: they are usually the quickest.
- Work the crossings: one solid Across answer gives you the first letter of several Downs.
- A question mark at the end of a clue means wordplay, so don’t read it literally.
- Abbreviations in a clue (like “Org.”) usually mean the answer is shortened too.
More daily NYT puzzle help
- All NYT games today: hints and answers in one place
- Today’s NYT Connections hints and answers
- Today’s Wordle hints and answer
- Today’s NYT Strands hints, spangram and answers
- Today’s NYT Pips hints and answers
- Today’s NYT Letter Boxed answer and hints
- Today’s NYT Spelling Bee answers and pangram
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What time does the NYT Mini come out?
A new Mini Crossword is released at 10 p.m. Eastern Time on weekdays and at 6 p.m. Eastern on Saturdays and Sundays, for the next day. Play it on the New York Times Games site; we update this page soon after each release.
Is the NYT Mini Crossword free?
The Mini can be played on the New York Times Games website and app. Access rules for some NYT games depend on a Games subscription, so check the NYT site for what is free in your country.
Why is Saturday’s Mini bigger?
The Saturday Mini is usually a 7×7 grid instead of 5×5, so it has more clues and takes a little longer.
Can I see older Mini answers?
Yes. This page always shows yesterday’s solved grid and answers below today’s puzzle.
