Mini Crossword October 18, 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 — Harmless lie (3)

   White lie, not malicious or hurtful

   4 Across — Hard guy to find in a crowd? (5)

   Iconic character in striped shirts

   6 Across — Milan's land (5)

   European country with a rich history

   7 Across — Facial features missing from most emojis (5)

   Facial features often cartoonishly omitted

   8 Across — Texter's "Wow ... just wow" (3)

   Text expression of shock or dismay

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

   Same treatment, the other way.

   1 Down — News ___ (5)

   Breaking news indicator, often urgent

   2 Down — Not doing anything (4)

   State of inactivity or laziness

   3 Down — They're "back in town," in a 1970s rock hit (4)

   Group referenced in a classic rock song

   4 Down — Comes in first (4)

   Achieves victory or success first

   5 Down — Tiny thing to split (4)

   Extremely small unit of matter splits

4. 4 Hint 4: First letter of every answer

   One letter each.

   1 Across

   F… (3 letters)

   4 Across

   W… (5 letters)

   6 Across

   I… (5 letters)

   7 Across

   N… (5 letters)

   8 Across

   S… (3 letters)

   1 Down

   F… (5 letters)

   2 Down

   I… (4 letters)

   3 Down

   B… (4 letters)

   4 Down

   W… (4 letters)

   5 Down

   A… (4 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