Mini Crossword October 6, 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 5 by 5 grid carried 10 clues. A1 STOP, A5 PIXAR, A7 ELITE, A8 LEDTV, A9 TREY, D1 SPELT, D2 TILER, D3 OXIDE, D4 PATTY, D6 REV. 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

5 × 5

Clues

5 across, 5 down

Answer lengths

3–5 letters
Hint 2: Across clues, with an extra nudge each

Open only the one you want.

1 Across — "Cut it out!" (4)

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

5 Across — They created "Up," "Onward" and "Inside Out" (5)

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

7 Across — ___ Eight (tournament round) (5)

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

8 Across — Flatscreen product that might be "4K UHD" (5)

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

9 Across — N.F.L. tight end McBride (4)

Auto-generated hint: 4 letters, reading across, opening with T.
Hint 3: Down clues, with an extra nudge each

Same treatment, the other way.

1 Down — Variety of wheat in a grain bowl (5)

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

2 Down — Bathroom floor installer (5)

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

3 Down — Di- follower in CO2 (5)

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

4 Down — Hamburger unit (5)

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

6 Down — Make "Vroom!," as an engine (3)

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

One letter each.

1 Across

S… (4 letters)

5 Across

P… (5 letters)

7 Across

E… (5 letters)

8 Across

L… (5 letters)

9 Across

T… (4 letters)

1 Down

S… (5 letters)

2 Down

T… (5 letters)

3 Down

O… (5 letters)

4 Down

P… (5 letters)

6 Down

R… (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

1"Cut it out!"4
Auto-generated hint: 4 letters, reading across, opening with S.
Show answer
STOP
5They created "Up," "Onward" and "Inside Out"5
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading across, opening with P.
Show answer
PIXAR
7___ Eight (tournament round)5
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading across, opening with E.
Show answer
ELITE
8Flatscreen product that might be "4K UHD"5
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading across, opening with L.
Show answer
LEDTV
9N.F.L. tight end McBride4
Auto-generated hint: 4 letters, reading across, opening with T.
Show answer
TREY

Down

1Variety of wheat in a grain bowl5
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading down, opening with S.
Show answer
SPELT
2Bathroom floor installer5
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading down, opening with T.
Show answer
TILER
3Di- follower in CO25
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading down, opening with O.
Show answer
OXIDE
4Hamburger unit5
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading down, opening with P.
Show answer
PATTY
6Make "Vroom!," as an engine3
Auto-generated hint: 3 letters, reading down, opening with R.
Show answer
REV

This grid by the numbers

Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Grid: 5 × 5
Clues: 10 — 5 across, 5 down
Answer lengths: 3–5 letters

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