Mini Crossword October 7, 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 — "___ not, want not" (5)

   Phrase associated with frugality or conservation

   6 Across — Get under the skin of (5)

   Irritate or bother someone deeply

   7 Across — Truly amazed (5)

   Feeling a sense of reverent wonder

   8 Across — Knighted fellows (4)

   Title of respect for certain British men

   9 Across — "Plain white" article of clothing for James Dean (3)

   Simple, casual type of shirt

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

   Same treatment, the other way.

   1 Down — Body part that's a homophone of 1-Across (5)

   Part of the human body related to slimming

   2 Down — Broadway musical in which Sadie Sink got her start (at age 10!) (5)

   Popular musical based on a comic strip character

   3 Down — Part of a drum kit (5)

   Component that produces a sharp, crisp sound

   4 Down — Hauls away, as a car (4)

   Verb meaning to pull or tow something away

   5 Down — One of five for a dragonfly (3)

   One of the sensory organs of an insect

4. 4 Hint 4: First letter of every answer

   One letter each.

   1 Across

   W… (5 letters)

   6 Across

   A… (5 letters)

   7 Across

   I… (5 letters)

   8 Across

   S… (4 letters)

   9 Across

   T… (3 letters)

   1 Down

   W… (5 letters)

   2 Down

   A… (5 letters)

   3 Down

   S… (5 letters)

   4 Down

   T… (4 letters)

   5 Down

   E… (3 letters)

5. 5 Hint 5: Where the grid opened up

   Last rung before the filled answers.

   9 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