Mini Crossword September 13, 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 — ___ Sun (juice drink) (5)

   Popular Italian-themed drink brand

   6 Across — Maximum poker bet (5)

   Poker term for a high-stakes bet

   7 Across — With 9-Across, injury treated with a raw steak in old cartoons (5)

   Color associated with bruises or injury

   8 Across — Only (4)

   Describing a solitary or isolated state

   9 Across — With 7-Across, application on a football player's face (3)

   Common cosmetic application in sports

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

   Same treatment, the other way.

   1 Down — The "C" of CNN (5)

   Telecommunications industry term for TV networks

   2 Down — Metal mixture (5)

   Mixture of metals with specific properties

   3 Down — What Superman is mistaken for (5)

   Object often mistaken for a superhero

   4 Down — "___ is great when you're hungry and you want 2,000 of something": Mitch Hedberg (4)

   Food item referenced in comedy quotes

   5 Down — Printer's supply (3)

   Stationery item for writing and printing

4. 4 Hint 4: First letter of every answer

   One letter each.

   1 Across

   C… (5 letters)

   6 Across

   A… (5 letters)

   7 Across

   B… (5 letters)

   8 Across

   L… (4 letters)

   9 Across

   E… (3 letters)

   1 Down

   C… (5 letters)

   2 Down

   A… (5 letters)

   3 Down

   P… (5 letters)

   4 Down

   R… (4 letters)

   5 Down

   I… (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