Mini Crossword September 18, 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 BART, A5 LMAO, A6 FOAMY, A7 OOZE, A8 XMEN, D1 BLOOM, D2 AMAZE, D3 RAMEN, D4 TOY, D6 FOX. 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 — San Francisco's rail system (4)

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

5 Across — Response to a funny text (4)

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

6 Across — Like beer from the tap, often (5)

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

7 Across — Move like honey (4)

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

8 Across — Group of Marvel superheroes (4)

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

Same treatment, the other way.

1 Down — Open up, as a flower (5)

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

2 Down — Wow (5)

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

3 Down — Noodle dish in a rich broth (5)

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

4 Down — Happy Meal inclusion (3)

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

6 Down — Animal known scientifically as "Vulpes vulpes" (3)

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

One letter each.

1 Across

B… (4 letters)

5 Across

L… (4 letters)

6 Across

F… (5 letters)

7 Across

O… (4 letters)

8 Across

X… (4 letters)

1 Down

B… (5 letters)

2 Down

A… (5 letters)

3 Down

R… (5 letters)

4 Down

T… (3 letters)

6 Down

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

Last rung before the filled answers.

4 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

1San Francisco's rail system4
Auto-generated hint: 4 letters, reading across, opening with B.
Show answer
BART
5Response to a funny text4
Auto-generated hint: 4 letters, reading across, opening with L.
Show answer
LMAO
6Like beer from the tap, often5
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading across, opening with F.
Show answer
FOAMY
7Move like honey4
Auto-generated hint: 4 letters, reading across, opening with O.
Show answer
OOZE
8Group of Marvel superheroes4
Auto-generated hint: 4 letters, reading across, opening with X.
Show answer
XMEN

Down

1Open up, as a flower5
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading down, opening with B.
Show answer
BLOOM
2Wow5
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading down, opening with A.
Show answer
AMAZE
3Noodle dish in a rich broth5
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading down, opening with R.
Show answer
RAMEN
4Happy Meal inclusion3
Auto-generated hint: 3 letters, reading down, opening with T.
Show answer
TOY
6Animal known scientifically as "Vulpes vulpes"3
Auto-generated hint: 3 letters, reading down, opening with F.
Show answer
FOX

This grid by the numbers

Date: Friday, September 18, 2026
Grid: 5 × 5
Clues: 10 — 5 across, 5 down
Answer lengths: 3–5 letters

More Mini Crossword

See the live Mini Crossword hints and answers page for the current grid, or browse every archived Mini Crossword date by month.

Try another puzzle

The live NYT Strands hints, spangram and answers page

Six theme words plus the spangram, with a read-only board that traces each answer.
The live NYT Connections hints and answers page

Sixteen tiles, four groups, and a graded hint ladder from nudge to full answer.