If you love the New York Times word games like Wordle, Connections, and Strands, you know the daily routine isn’t finished until you tackle The Mini Crossword.
While the full NYT Crossword is a classic, the Mini has a huge following because it’s quick and fun. Just a reminder: The Mini resets every night at 10 p.m. ET, while most other games reset at midnight.
If you are working on the puzzle for Tuesday, March 31 and need a little help, you’ve come to the right place. Below, we have broken down the clues and hints first, followed by the full answer key at the bottom.
NYT Mini Crossword Hints: March 31, 2026
If you aren’t ready for the full answers yet, use these hints to get moving again.
Across Hints
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1 Across: “Paradise” or “Lost” — HINT: Ends with the letter “W”
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5 Across: Hawaiian island with the famous road to Hana — HINT: Ends with the letter “I”
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6 Across: ____Zeneca (pharma company) — HINT: Starts with the letter “A”
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8 Across: “Stainless” metal — HINT: Ends with the letter “L”
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9 Across: One half of a centaur — HINT: Starts with the letter “H”
Down Hints
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1 Down: Massive success — HINT: Starts with the letter “S”
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2 Down: Must — HINT: Ends with the letter “O”
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3 Down: ___boroughs (term for the non-Manhattan parts of New York City) — HINT: Starts with the letter “O”
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4 Down: Electrician’s specialty — HINT: Starts with the letter “W”
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7 Down: Bar beverage — HINT: Ends with the letter “E”
NYT Mini Crossword Answers: March 31, 2026
Warning: Stop scrolling here if you don’t want to see the spoilers! Here are the confirmed solutions for today’s puzzle.
Across Answers
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1 Across: “Paradise” or “Lost” — SHOW
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5 Across: Hawaiian island with the famous road to Hana — MAUI
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6 Across: ____Zeneca (pharma company) — ASTRA
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8 Across: “Stainless” metal — STEEL
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9 Across: One half of a centaur — HORSE
Down Answers
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1 Down: Massive success — SMASH
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2 Down: Must — HASTO
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3 Down: ___boroughs (term for the non-Manhattan parts of New York City) — OUTER
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4 Down: Electrician’s specialty — WIRES
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7 Down: Bar beverage — ALE
