Mini Crossword September 15, 2026: Clues & Answers

Constructed 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 OBVI, A5 FEET, A6 FALSE, A8 CMON, A9 HAND, D1 OFF, D2 BEACH, D3 VELMA, D4 ITSON, D7 END. 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 — "That's a no-brainer!," slangily (4)

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

5 Across — 5,280 in a mile (4)

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

6 Across — F, on a test (5)

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

8 Across — "Give me a break!" (4)

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

9 Across — "Don't walk" symbol at a crosswalk (4)

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

Same treatment, the other way.

1 Down — Brand of bug spray with an exclamation point in its name (3)

Auto-generated hint: 3 letters, reading down, opening with O.

2 Down — Long ___, Calif. (5)

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

3 Down — Brainy member of the Scooby-Doo gang (5)

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

4 Down — "Let's do this thing" (5)

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

7 Down — Conclusion (3)

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

One letter each.

1 Across

O… (4 letters)

5 Across

F… (4 letters)

6 Across

F… (5 letters)

8 Across

C… (4 letters)

9 Across

H… (4 letters)

1 Down

O… (3 letters)

2 Down

B… (5 letters)

3 Down

V… (5 letters)

4 Down

I… (5 letters)

7 Down

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

Last rung before the filled answers.

1 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"That's a no-brainer!," slangily4
Auto-generated hint: 4 letters, reading across, opening with O.
Show answer
OBVI
55,280 in a mile4
Auto-generated hint: 4 letters, reading across, opening with F.
Show answer
FEET
6F, on a test5
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading across, opening with F.
Show answer
FALSE
8"Give me a break!"4
Auto-generated hint: 4 letters, reading across, opening with C.
Show answer
CMON
9"Don't walk" symbol at a crosswalk4
Auto-generated hint: 4 letters, reading across, opening with H.
Show answer
HAND

Down

1Brand of bug spray with an exclamation point in its name3
Auto-generated hint: 3 letters, reading down, opening with O.
Show answer
OFF
2Long ___, Calif.5
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading down, opening with B.
Show answer
BEACH
3Brainy member of the Scooby-Doo gang5
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading down, opening with V.
Show answer
VELMA
4"Let's do this thing"5
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading down, opening with I.
Show answer
ITSON
7Conclusion3
Auto-generated hint: 3 letters, reading down, opening with E.
Show answer
END

This grid by the numbers

Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Grid: 5 × 5
Clues: 10 — 5 across, 5 down
Answer lengths: 3–5 letters

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