Mini Crossword September 26, 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

   7 × 7

   Clues

   7 across, 11 down

   Answer lengths

   3–7 letters

2. 2 Hint 2: Across clues, with an extra nudge each

   Open only the one you want.

   1 Across — Alphabet song lyric before "Now I know my ABCs" (7)

   Part of a familiar children's song sequence

   8 Across — Sea creature whose name sounds like "Ah, baloney!" (7)

   Type of marine snail with a large shell

   9 Across — Skin markings after a sunny day on the links (7)

   Result of spending time outdoors unprotected

   10 Across — Gen ___ (member of the "MTV generation") (3)

   Generation label for people born in the 1960s-80s

   11 Across — Medieval weapon (7)

   Historical battle weapon with a long handle

   15 Across — Fasting intermittently, say (7)

   Eating pattern for weight management or health

   16 Across — Phrases differently (7)

   Expressing something in different wording

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

   Same treatment, the other way.

   1 Down — Shake, like a dog's tail (3)

   Move a body part back and forth quickly

   2 Down — Gaming console with a number in its name (7)

   Popular gaming system with a numerical name

   3 Down — Prestigious J.D. program in New Haven, Conn. (7)

   Prestigious law degree from a well-known university

   4 Down — Creamy pasta sauce (7)

   Rich and creamy sauce for pasta dishes

   5 Down — "Believe it or ___ ..." (3)

   Phrase used to express skepticism or doubt

   6 Down — Double-helix molecule (3)

   Molecule that contains genetic instructions

   7 Down — Buddhism branch associated with gardens (3)

   School of Buddhism that emphasizes meditation

   11 Down — "___ favor" (basic Spanish phrase) (3)

   Spanish word for 'of' or 'from'

   12 Down — What snowboarders try to catch (3)

   What athletes try to catch while airborne

   13 Down — Crossed (out) (3)

   Marked or deleted with a cross

   14 Down — Creatures on U.F.O.s, for short (3)

   Alien beings, in science fiction

4. 4 Hint 4: First letter of every answer

   One letter each.

   1 Across

   W… (7 letters)

   8 Across

   A… (7 letters)

   9 Across

   G… (7 letters)

   10 Across

   X… (3 letters)

   11 Across

   P… (7 letters)

   15 Across

   O… (7 letters)

   16 Across

   R… (7 letters)

   1 Down

   W… (3 letters)

   2 Down

   X… (7 letters)

   3 Down

   Y… (7 letters)

   4 Down

   A… (7 letters)

   5 Down

   N… (3 letters)

   6 Down

   D… (3 letters)

   7 Down

   Z… (3 letters)

   11 Down

   P… (3 letters)

   12 Down

   A… (3 letters)

   13 Down

   X… (3 letters)

   14 Down

   E… (3 letters)

5. 5 Hint 5: Where the grid opened up

   Last rung before the filled answers.

   10 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