Mini Crossword November 7, 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

   7 × 7

   Clues

   11 across, 9 down

   Answer lengths

   3–7 letters

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

   Open only the one you want.

   1 Across — Pupper (3)

   Term for a pet

   4 Across — Sight in a shark movie … or at the end of a French film (3)

   Part of a shark's body

   7 Across — "___ you serious?" (3)

   Phrase expressing surprise

   8 Across — Genetic molecule (3)

   Molecular structure in cells

   9 Across — Canine expert (7)

   Professional animal handler

   11 Across — Common word in a hotel Wi-Fi network name (5)

   Hotel network label

   12 Across — What Dorothy from "The Wizard of Oz" wants to get over? (7)

   Symbol of hope in a story

   14 Across — ___ Taylor (fashion brand) (3)

   Fashion brand founder's first name

   15 Across — Prefix with friendly (3)

   Environmental prefix

   16 Across — "The Tell-Tale Heart" writer (3)

   Author of classic horror

   17 Across — Barely manage, with "out" (3)

   Barely manage or survive

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

   Same treatment, the other way.

   1 Down — Father's Day honoree (3)

   Family member on Father's Day

   2 Down — Herb for spaghetti sauce (7)

   Herb used in Italian cooking

   3 Down — The real deal (7)

   Authentic or original item

   4 Down — Toy that's flying off the shelves? (7)

   Popular flying toy

   5 Down — On the shelves (7)

   Inventory status

   6 Down — Singer ___ King Cole (3)

   Singer with a smooth voice

   10 Down — Highest point value for a Scrabble tile (3)

   Scrabble tile point value

   12 Down — Jay-Z's genre (3)

   Music genre of a famous rapper

   13 Down — Misfortune (3)

   State of being unhappy

4. 4 Hint 4: First letter of every answer

   One letter each.

   1 Across

   D… (3 letters)

   4 Across

   F… (3 letters)

   7 Across

   A… (3 letters)

   8 Across

   R… (3 letters)

   9 Across

   D… (7 letters)

   11 Across

   G… (5 letters)

   12 Across

   R… (7 letters)

   14 Across

   A… (3 letters)

   15 Across

   E… (3 letters)

   16 Across

   P… (3 letters)

   17 Across

   E… (3 letters)

   1 Down

   D… (3 letters)

   2 Down

   O… (7 letters)

   3 Down

   G… (7 letters)

   4 Down

   F… (7 letters)

   5 Down

   I… (7 letters)

   6 Down

   N… (3 letters)

   10 Down

   T… (3 letters)

   12 Down

   R… (3 letters)

   13 Down

   W… (3 letters)

5. 5 Hint 5: Where the grid opened up

   Last rung before the filled answers.

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

   Open the answers, clue by clue