If you love daily word games, finishing the NYT Mini Crossword is probably part of your everyday routine. While the full New York Times crossword requires a subscription, the Mini is free for everyone and resets every evening at 10 p.m. ET.
If you are working on the Monday, May 25 puzzle and need a little help, you are in the right place. Below, you will find helpful hints followed by the official answers for both the Across and Down clues.
Hints for Today’s NYT Mini Crossword (Monday, May 25, 2026)
If you just need a small nudge to solve the puzzle yourself, use these extra letter clues.
Across Hints
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1 Across: Perfectly fitting — HINT: Ends with the letter “T”
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4 Across: Speculate — HINT: Starts with the letter “G”
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7 Across: “It’s the Hard-Knock Life” musical — HINT: Ends with the letter “E”
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8 Across: Social media app with Reels and Stories, casually — HINT: Ends with the letter “A”
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9 Across: Bill ___ the Science Guy — HINT: Starts with the letter “N”
Down Hints
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1 Down: “4-Across ___!” (“Incorrect, but keep trying!”) — HINT: Ends with the letter “N”
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2 Down: Like the groaner wordplay in dad jokes — HINT: Starts with the letter “P”
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3 Down: Feeling all wound up — HINT: Ends with the letter “E”
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5 Down: Simple dog command — HINT: Starts with the letter “S”
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6 Down: Mediterranean, for one — HINT: Starts with the letter “S”
Answers for Today’s NYT Mini Crossword (Monday, May 25, 2026)
Spoiler Warning: The actual solutions are listed below. Do not scroll any further if you want to keep trying to solve the puzzle on your own!
Across Answers
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1 Across: Perfectly fitting — APT
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4 Across: Speculate — GUESS
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7 Across: “It’s the Hard-Knock Life” musical — ANNIE
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8 Across: Social media app with Reels and Stories, casually — INSTA
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9 Across: Bill ___ the Science Guy — NYE
Down Answers
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1 Down: “4-Across ___!” (“Incorrect, but keep trying!”) — AGAIN
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2 Down: Like the groaner wordplay in dad jokes — PUNNY
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3 Down: Feeling all wound up — TENSE
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5 Down: Simple dog command — SIT
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6 Down: Mediterranean, for one — SEA
