Mini Crossword October 15, 2026: Clues & Answers

Constructed by Sam Ezersky, edited by Joel Fagliano.

The written hints below were assembled automatically from the puzzle data rather than composed by an editor — accurate, just plainer than usual.

Recap

The 5 by 5 grid carried 10 clues. A1 GRAYS, A6 ROMEO, A7 ALIEN, A8 ZESTY, A9 EXS, D1 GRAZE, D2 ROLEX, D3 AMISS, D4 YEET, D5 SONY. This recap was assembled automatically from the puzzle data rather than written by an editor.

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.

Hint 1: Grid facts

Counted off the grid.

Grid

5 × 5

Clues

5 across, 5 down

Answer lengths

3–5 letters
Hint 2: Across clues, with an extra nudge each

Open only the one you want.

1 Across — Hairs that are signs of aging (5)

Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading across, opening with G.

6 Across — Lover boy in the House of Montague (5)

Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading across, opening with R.

7 Across — U.F.O. pilot (5)

Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading across, opening with A.

8 Across — Full of sharp flavor (5)

Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading across, opening with Z.

9 Across — "___ and Oh's" (2010s pop hit) (3)

Auto-generated hint: 3 letters, reading across, opening with E.
Hint 3: Down clues, with an extra nudge each

Same treatment, the other way.

1 Down — Munch on grass (5)

Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading down, opening with G.

2 Down — Fancy watch brand (5)

Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading down, opening with R.

3 Down — "Something's ___" ("This doesn't seem right") (5)

Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading down, opening with A.

4 Down — Throw hard, in Gen Z slang (4)

Auto-generated hint: 4 letters, reading down, opening with Y.

5 Down — PlayStation maker (4)

Auto-generated hint: 4 letters, reading down, opening with S.
Hint 4: First letter of every answer

One letter each.

1 Across

G… (5 letters)

6 Across

R… (5 letters)

7 Across

A… (5 letters)

8 Across

Z… (5 letters)

9 Across

E… (3 letters)

1 Down

G… (5 letters)

2 Down

R… (5 letters)

3 Down

A… (5 letters)

4 Down

Y… (4 letters)

5 Down

S… (4 letters)
Hint 5: Where the grid opened up

Last rung before the filled answers.

9 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

Every clue from that grid, with its answer

Each clue opens on its own: the nudge first, the answer folded one level deeper.

Across

1Hairs that are signs of aging5
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading across, opening with G.
Show answer
GRAYS
6Lover boy in the House of Montague5
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading across, opening with R.
Show answer
ROMEO
7U.F.O. pilot5
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading across, opening with A.
Show answer
ALIEN
8Full of sharp flavor5
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading across, opening with Z.
Show answer
ZESTY
9"___ and Oh's" (2010s pop hit)3
Auto-generated hint: 3 letters, reading across, opening with E.
Show answer
EXS

Down

1Munch on grass5
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading down, opening with G.
Show answer
GRAZE
2Fancy watch brand5
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading down, opening with R.
Show answer
ROLEX
3"Something's ___" ("This doesn't seem right")5
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading down, opening with A.
Show answer
AMISS
4Throw hard, in Gen Z slang4
Auto-generated hint: 4 letters, reading down, opening with Y.
Show answer
YEET
5PlayStation maker4
Auto-generated hint: 4 letters, reading down, opening with S.
Show answer
SONY

This grid by the numbers

Date: Thursday, October 15, 2026
Grid: 5 × 5
Clues: 10 — 5 across, 5 down
Answer lengths: 3–5 letters

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