Mini Crossword October 23, 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 — Like bullet trains (4)

   High speed transportation mode

   5 Across — 1/12 of a foot (4)

   Unit of length in construction

   6 Across — Place for online discussion (5)

   Online community gathering spot

   8 Across — Fashion development (5)

   Style or aesthetic movement

   9 Across — Atlanta N.B.A. team (5)

   Georgia's professional basketball team

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

   Same treatment, the other way.

   1 Down — Like Staten Island, among all N.Y.C. boroughs in population (5)

   Population ranking among NYC boroughs

   2 Down — Best Picture winner after "Oppenheimer" (5)

   Recent Academy Award winner

   3 Down — Threaded fastener (5)

   Hardware used for joining parts

   4 Down — "Who'd have ___ it!?" (5)

   Expression of surprise or shock

   7 Down — Many characters on "Scrubs": Abbr. (3)

   Medical professionals' titles in TV

4. 4 Hint 4: First letter of every answer

   One letter each.

   1 Across

   F… (4 letters)

   5 Across

   I… (4 letters)

   6 Across

   F… (5 letters)

   8 Across

   T… (5 letters)

   9 Across

   H… (5 letters)

   1 Down

   F… (5 letters)

   2 Down

   A… (5 letters)

   3 Down

   S… (5 letters)

   4 Down

   T… (5 letters)

   7 Down

   M… (3 letters)

5. 5 Hint 5: Where the grid opened up

   Last rung before the filled answers.

   7 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