Mini Crossword October 4, 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 6 by 5 grid carried 11 clues. A1 CASK, A5 JOSIE, A6 SIMPLY, A7 KNICKS, A8 IXNAY, D1 COMIN, D2 ASPCA, D3 SILKY, D4 KEYS, D5 JINX, D6 SKI. 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

6 × 5

Clues

5 across, 6 down

Answer lengths

3–6 letters
Hint 2: Across clues, with an extra nudge each

Open only the one you want.

1 Across — Wine barrel (4)

Auto-generated hint: 4 letters, reading across, opening with C.

5 Across — Leader of the Pussycats, in comics and film (5)

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

6 Across — In a nutshell (6)

Auto-generated hint: 6 letters, reading across, opening with S.

7 Across — 2026 N.B.A. champions (6)

Auto-generated hint: 6 letters, reading across, opening with K.

8 Across — Denial that sounds like 7-Across in Pig Latin (5)

Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading across, opening with I.
Hint 3: Down clues, with an extra nudge each

Same treatment, the other way.

1 Down — "Santa Claus Is ___ to Town" (holiday hit) (5)

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

2 Down — Pet adoption org. (5)

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

3 Down — Like the texture of fine bedsheets (5)

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

4 Down — Bad things to leave locked in your house (4)

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

5 Down — "We said the same thing at the same time!" (4)

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

6 Down — Hit the slopes (3)

Auto-generated hint: 3 letters, reading down, opening with S.
Hint 4: First letter of every answer

One letter each.

1 Across

C… (4 letters)

5 Across

J… (5 letters)

6 Across

S… (6 letters)

7 Across

K… (6 letters)

8 Across

I… (5 letters)

1 Down

C… (5 letters)

2 Down

A… (5 letters)

3 Down

S… (5 letters)

4 Down

K… (4 letters)

5 Down

J… (4 letters)

6 Down

S… (3 letters)
Hint 5: Where the grid opened up

Last rung before the filled answers.

6 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

Every clue from that grid, with its answer

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

Across

1Wine barrel4
Auto-generated hint: 4 letters, reading across, opening with C.
Show answer
CASK
5Leader of the Pussycats, in comics and film5
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading across, opening with J.
Show answer
JOSIE
6In a nutshell6
Auto-generated hint: 6 letters, reading across, opening with S.
Show answer
SIMPLY
72026 N.B.A. champions6
Auto-generated hint: 6 letters, reading across, opening with K.
Show answer
KNICKS
8Denial that sounds like 7-Across in Pig Latin5
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading across, opening with I.
Show answer
IXNAY

Down

1"Santa Claus Is ___ to Town" (holiday hit)5
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading down, opening with C.
Show answer
COMIN
2Pet adoption org.5
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading down, opening with A.
Show answer
ASPCA
3Like the texture of fine bedsheets5
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading down, opening with S.
Show answer
SILKY
4Bad things to leave locked in your house4
Auto-generated hint: 4 letters, reading down, opening with K.
Show answer
KEYS
5"We said the same thing at the same time!"4
Auto-generated hint: 4 letters, reading down, opening with J.
Show answer
JINX
6Hit the slopes3
Auto-generated hint: 3 letters, reading down, opening with S.
Show answer
SKI

This grid by the numbers

Date: Sunday, October 4, 2026
Grid: 6 × 5
Clues: 11 — 5 across, 6 down
Answer lengths: 3–6 letters

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