Mini Crossword November 10, 2026: Clues & Answers

Mini Crossword hints, one rung at a time

Five rungs, from grid facts to a nudge per clue. The recap above already summed the grid up, so this ladder is here for anyone replaying it fresh rather than as a spoiler shield.

1. 1 Hint 1: Grid facts

   Counted off the grid.

   Grid

   5 × 5

   Clues

   5 across, 5 down

   Answer lengths

   3–5 letters

2. 2 Hint 2: Across clues, with an extra nudge each

   Open only the one you want.

   1 Across — ___ as a button (4)

   Common phrase for describing someone's appearance

   5 Across — Computer operating system since 1969 (4)

   Early operating system developed at Bell Labs

   6 Across — Units of ice cream or beer (5)

   Measurement units for liquids or frozen treats

   8 Across — Green-skinned monster, perhaps (4)

   Mythical creature often depicted as large and ugly

   9 Across — ___ as a pin (4)

   Idiomatic expression for something being very tidy

3. 3 Hint 3: Down clues, with an extra nudge each

   Same treatment, the other way.

   1 Down — Container for ice cream or beer (3)

   Common household item for serving cold treats

   2 Down — Worker's collective (5)

   Organized group of workers with shared interests

   3 Down — Slightest bit of color (5)

   Small amount of a color or hue

   4 Down — Background actor (5)

   Actor who appears in the background of a scene

   7 Down — Word before "... go!" (3)

   Command often used in sports or games

4. 4 Hint 4: First letter of every answer

   One letter each.

   1 Across

   C… (4 letters)

   5 Across

   U… (4 letters)

   6 Across

   P… (5 letters)

   8 Across

   O… (4 letters)

   9 Across

   N… (4 letters)

   1 Down

   C… (3 letters)

   2 Down

   U… (5 letters)

   3 Down

   T… (5 letters)

   4 Down

   E… (5 letters)

   7 Down

   S… (3 letters)

5. 5 Hint 5: Where the grid opened up

   Last rung before the filled answers.

   1 Down was the shortest entry at 3 letters, and every crossing it made handed over a free letter elsewhere.

   Open the answers, clue by clue