Mini Crossword October 2, 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

   4–5 letters

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

   Open only the one you want.

   1 Across — Finger covering after eating Cheetos (4)

   Residue left on fingers after snacking

   5 Across — "That's amazing!" (5)

   Expression of astonishment or excitement

   7 Across — First country to use paper money, way back in the 7th century (5)

   Nation that pioneered paper currency

   8 Across — Extremely, extra, very (5)

   Prefix meaning beyond or excessively

   9 Across — Where "You Are," on a mall map (4)

   Directional indicator on a directory

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

   Same treatment, the other way.

   1 Down — Google ___ (4)

   Popular online document editing tool

   2 Down — "Yup, yup, yup" (5)

   Informal way to express agreement

   3 Down — Dating app action (5)

   Action taken when browsing potential matches

   4 Down — Printer powder (5)

   Consumable used in printing technology

   6 Down — Suffix with silver or glass (4)

   Suffix indicating a type of product

4. 4 Hint 4: First letter of every answer

   One letter each.

   1 Across

   D… (4 letters)

   5 Across

   O… (5 letters)

   7 Across

   C… (5 letters)

   8 Across

   S… (5 letters)

   9 Across

   H… (4 letters)

   1 Down

   D… (4 letters)

   2 Down

   U… (5 letters)

   3 Down

   S… (5 letters)

   4 Down

   T… (5 letters)

   6 Down

   W… (4 letters)

5. 5 Hint 5: Where the grid opened up

   Last rung before the filled answers.

   1 Across was the shortest entry at 4 letters, and every crossing it made handed over a free letter elsewhere.

   Open the answers, clue by clue