Many of us have a daily ritual of playing the New York Times word games. Whether you love Wordle, Connections, or Strands, the NYT Mini Crossword is a fan favorite that shouldn’t be missed.
While the full NYT Crossword requires a subscription, the Mini is free for everyone. Keep in mind that the Mini resets every evening at 10 p.m. ET, rather than at midnight.
If you are stuck on the Wednesday, March 25, 2026 puzzle, we have you covered. Below, you will find helpful hints followed by the full answer key.
Hints for Today’s NYT Mini Crossword
If you just need a little nudge to finish the grid yourself, use these extra clues.
Across Hints
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1 Across: Instrument in bluegrass music — HINT: Starts with “B”
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6 Across: Publication with the headline “C.I.A. Realizes It’s Been Using Black Highlighters All These Years,” with “The” — HINT: Starts with “O”
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7 Across: Cut-off point for cropped jeans — HINT: Ends with “E”
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8 Across: Hilarious person — HINT: Starts with “R”
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9 Across: Place to hibernate — HINT: Ends with “N”
Down Hints
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1 Down: “Tens across the ___!” — HINT: Ends with “D”
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2 Down: 1982 film in which Carol Burnett played Miss Hannigan — HINT: Starts with “A”
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3 Down: Japanese camera brand — HINT: Ends with “N”
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4 Down: Sudden shock — HINT: Ends with “T”
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5 Down: Final number in a countdown — HINT: Starts with “O”
NYT Mini Crossword Answers (March 25, 2026)
Warning: Spoilers ahead! Only scroll down if you want to see the full solutions for today’s puzzle.
Across Answers
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1 Across: BANJO
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6 Across: ONION
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7 Across: ANKLE
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8 Across: RIOT
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9 Across: DEN
Down Answers
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1 Down: BOARD
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2 Down: ANNIE
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3 Down: NIKON
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4 Down: JOLT
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5 Down: ONE
