Many of us have a daily ritual of playing the free New York Times word games. Whether it’s Wordle, Connections, or Strands, the day just doesn’t feel complete without them. But for many fans, the NYT Mini Crossword is the most important part of that routine.
While the full-sized NYT Crossword is famous, the Mini has a huge following because it’s quick and fun. Keep in mind that the Mini resets every night at 10 p.m. ET, which is earlier than some other games.
If you are stuck on the puzzle for Sunday, March 22, 2026, we are here to help. Below, you will find helpful hints first, followed by the full list of answers.
NYT Mini Crossword Hints: Sunday, March 22, 2026
If you just need a small nudge to finish the grid yourself, here are some extra clues for today’s puzzle.
Across Hints
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1 Across: Jost of “Saturday Night Live” — HINT: Ends with the letter “N”
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6 Across: German wine valley whose name rhymes with “wine” — HINT: Starts with the letter “R”
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7 Across: Big name in root beer — HINT: Starts with the letter “A”
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8 Across: Common slot machine symbol — HINT: Ends with the letter “T”
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9 Across: James Talarico’s state — HINT: Starts with the letter “T”
Down Hints
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1 Down: Cunning skill — HINT: Starts with the letter “C”
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2 Down: Chicago airport — HINT: Ends with the letter “E”
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3 Down: Operating system on which Android is partly based — HINT: Ends with the letter “X”
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4 Down: World’s most populous country — HINT: Starts with the letter “I”
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5 Down: Small salamanders — HINT: Ends with the letter “S”
NYT Mini Crossword Answers: Sunday, March 22, 2026
Warning: Stop scrolling here if you do not want to see the spoilers! Below are the confirmed solutions for today’s grid.
Across Answers
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1 Across: COLIN
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6 Across: RHINE
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7 Across: AANDW
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8 Across: FRUIT
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9 Across: TEXAS
Down Answers
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1 Down: CRAFT
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2 Down: OHARE
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3 Down: LINUX
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4 Down: INDIA
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5 Down: NEWTS
NYT Mini Crossword Hints & Answers: Saturday, March 21, 2026