Welcome to The Mini Hints. If you love the New York Times word games as much as I do, your daily routine probably isn’t complete until you’ve finished them all. From Wordle and Strands to the Connections puzzles, there is a lot to keep track of. But for many of us, the NYT Mini Crossword is the highlight of the day.
While the full-sized crossword is famous, the Mini has a huge fan base because it’s quick and fun. Remember, this puzzle resets every night at 10 p.m. ET, which is a bit earlier than the midnight reset for other games.
If you are stuck on the Thursday, April 9, 2026, puzzle, I’m here to help. Below, you will find hints for both the “Across” and “Down” clues. If those aren’t enough, keep scrolling further down to find the full answer key.
Hints for the NYT Mini Crossword: Thursday, April 9, 2026
Here are some extra clues to help you solve today’s puzzle without giving away the full word just yet.
Across Hints
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1 Across: A type of slip-on shoe or a plumbing problem in your bathtub. (HINT: Ends with the letter “G”)
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5 Across: A very old object from the past. (HINT: Starts with the letter “R”)
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7 Across: Doing something in a very strange or weird way. (HINT: Ends with the letter “Y”)
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8 Across: The metal spirals inside a mattress. (HINT: Ends with the letter “S”)
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9 Across: The place where a bird lives. (HINT: Starts with the letter “N”)
Down Hints
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1 Down: A brand of rubber slip-on shoe or a reptile you wouldn’t want in your tub. (HINT: Ends with the letter “C”)
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2 Down: Tricked someone or made them follow a path. (HINT: Ends with the letter “N”)
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3 Down: An old song that people from the Baby Boomer generation still love. (HINT: Starts with the letter “O”)
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4 Down: The parts of a fish that allow it to breathe underwater. (HINT: Ends with the letter “S”)
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6 Down: A small, fluid-filled bump on the skin. (HINT: Starts with the letter “C”)
Answers for the NYT Mini Crossword: Thursday, April 9, 2026
Warning: Stop scrolling here if you aren’t ready to see the solutions!
Across Answers
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1 Across: Slip-on shoe … or something you don’t want in your bathtub — CLOG
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5 Across: Ancient artifact — RELIC
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7 Across: In a most unusual way — ODDLY
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8 Across: Springs in a mattress — COILS
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9 Across: Raven’s haven — NEST
Down Answers
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1 Down: Slip-on shoe .. or something you really don’t want in your bathtub — CROC
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2 Down: Strung along — LED ON
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3 Down: Boomer’s bop, nowadays — OLDIE
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4 Down: Breathing organs for fish — GILLS
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6 Down: Fluid-filled lump — CYST
NYT Mini Crossword Hints & Answers: Wednesday, April 8, 2026
