Mini Crossword September 24, 2026: Clues & Answers

Constructed by Christina Iverson, edited by Joel Fagliano.

Recap

A fun and varied puzzle with a mix of culture, food, and everyday objects. The answers ranged from famous musicals and US Presidents to common kitchen herbs and bathroom fixtures. Solvers needed to think creatively to connect the clues to their 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.

Hint 1: Grid facts

Counted off the grid.

Grid

5 × 5

Clues

5 across, 5 down

Answer lengths

4–5 letters
Hint 2: Across clues, with an extra nudge each

Open only the one you want.

1 Across — Attendees of the Jellicle Ball, on Broadway (4)

Famous musical with feline characters

5 Across — Topping on a pizza margherita (5)

Herb commonly used in Italian cooking

6 Across — President who said "The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something" (5)

US President known for inspirational quotes

7 Across — Feature of many a smart toilet (5)

Luxury feature in high-end bathrooms

8 Across — Rattling kind of drum (5)

Drum type that produces a sharp sound
Hint 3: Down clues, with an extra nudge each

Same treatment, the other way.

1 Down — House in the woods (5)

Cozy retreat in a wooded area

2 Down — Carne ___ (beef dish) (5)

Type of grilled beef popular in Mexican cuisine

3 Down — Function in the Clock app (5)

Clock app feature for setting intervals

4 Down — Rock used in roofing (5)

Material used for roofing due to durability

5 Down — Moves up and down in the water (4)

Action of floating gently in water
Hint 4: First letter of every answer

One letter each.

1 Across

C… (4 letters)

5 Across

B… (5 letters)

6 Across

O… (5 letters)

7 Across

B… (5 letters)

8 Across

S… (5 letters)

1 Down

C… (5 letters)

2 Down

A… (5 letters)

3 Down

T… (5 letters)

4 Down

S… (5 letters)

5 Down

B… (4 letters)
Hint 5: Where the grid opened up

Last rung before the filled answers.

1 Across was the shortest entry at 4 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

1Attendees of the Jellicle Ball, on Broadway4
Famous musical with feline characters
Show answer
CATS
5Topping on a pizza margherita5
Herb commonly used in Italian cooking
Show answer
BASIL
6President who said "The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something"5
US President known for inspirational quotes
Show answer
OBAMA
7Feature of many a smart toilet5
Luxury feature in high-end bathrooms
Show answer
BIDET
8Rattling kind of drum5
Drum type that produces a sharp sound
Show answer
SNARE

Down

1House in the woods5
Cozy retreat in a wooded area
Show answer
CABIN
2Carne ___ (beef dish)5
Type of grilled beef popular in Mexican cuisine
Show answer
ASADA
3Function in the Clock app5
Clock app feature for setting intervals
Show answer
TIMER
4Rock used in roofing5
Material used for roofing due to durability
Show answer
SLATE
5Moves up and down in the water4
Action of floating gently in water
Show answer
BOBS

This grid by the numbers

Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026
Grid: 5 × 5
Clues: 10 — 5 across, 5 down
Answer lengths: 4–5 letters

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