Mini Crossword October 5, 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 — Baby bear (3)

   Young bear, often associated with a mother

   4 Across — Goes down in defeat (5)

   Suffers a loss or is overcome by an opponent

   6 Across — ___-3 fatty acids, nutritious compounds found in salmon (5)

   Type of essential fatty acid beneficial for health

   7 Across — Tech service with folders like "Sent," "Starred" and "Snoozed" (5)

   Popular email service with organizational features

   8 Across — Total angel (5)

   Exceptionally good or virtuous person

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

   Same treatment, the other way.

   1 Down — Semicolon without the dot (5)

   Punctuation mark used to separate items in a list

   2 Down — Ask a question to Claude, e.g. (5)

   Interact with an artificial intelligence tool

   3 Down — Start (5)

   Initiate an action or process

   4 Down — Fuel for a campfire (4)

   Material used to sustain a fire outdoors

   5 Down — Predominant taste of anchovies (4)

   Primary flavor component of a salty food

4. 4 Hint 4: First letter of every answer

   One letter each.

   1 Across

   C… (3 letters)

   4 Across

   L… (5 letters)

   6 Across

   O… (5 letters)

   7 Across

   G… (5 letters)

   8 Across

   S… (5 letters)

   1 Down

   C… (5 letters)

   2 Down

   U… (5 letters)

   3 Down

   B… (5 letters)

   4 Down

   L… (4 letters)

   5 Down

   S… (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