If you love the New York Times word games, your daily routine probably includes Wordle, Connections, and Strands. But for many of us, the day isn’t complete without finishing the NYT Mini Crossword.
The Mini is a shorter, faster version of the famous daily crossword. While the main puzzle usually resets at midnight, the Mini resets every night at 10 p.m. ET.
If you are working on the puzzle for Monday, March 2, 2026, and find yourself stuck, we are here to help. Below, you will find hints for both the “Across” and “Down” clues. If you scroll further down, you will find the full list of answers.
Hints for the NYT Mini Crossword: March 2, 2026
If you just need a small nudge to solve it yourself, use these extra clues:
Across Hints
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1 Across: “Yeah, why not!” — HINT: Ends with the letter “E”
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5 Across: Collector’s ___ — HINT: Starts with the letter “I”
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6 Across: Worker who frequently takes off — HINT: Starts with the letter “P”
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8 Across: Stressful way to run — HINT: Ends with the letter “E”
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9 Across: Crossed (out) — HINT: Ends with the letter “D”
Down Hints
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1 Down: Tiny drink — HINT: Starts with the letter “S”
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2 Down: Useful … or a useful draw in Scrabble when you have a “Q” — HINT: Ends with the letter “E”
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3 Down: Chill — HINT: Starts with the letter “R”
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4 Down: Be expressive with one’s feelings — HINT: Starts with the letter “E”
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7 Down: TV’s “___ Lasso” — HINT: Ends with the letter “D”
Answers for the NYT Mini Crossword: March 2, 2026
Stop scrolling here if you aren’t ready to see the solutions! Here are the official answers for today’s puzzle:
Across Answers
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1 Across: “Yeah, why not!” — SURE
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5 Across: Collector’s ___ — ITEM
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6 Across: Worker who frequently takes off — PILOT
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8 Across: Stressful way to run — LATE
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9 Across: Crossed (out) — EXED
Down Answers
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1 Down: Tiny drink — SIP
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2 Down: Useful … or a useful draw in Scrabble when you have a “Q” — UTILE
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3 Down: Chill — RELAX
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4 Down: Be expressive with one’s feelings — EMOTE
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7 Down: TV’s “___ Lasso” — TED
