Mini Crossword September 28, 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 — Golfer McIlroy (4)

   Famous Northern Irish professional golfer

   5 Across — What a best-selling book might be adapted into (5)

   Common film adaptation for popular novels

   6 Across — Nickname that drops "beth" (5)

   Familiar name related to a famous musical

   7 Across — Early 2000s babies are part of it (4)

   Generation often associated with social media

   8 Across — Tool for a lumberjack (3)

   Hand tool used for chopping down trees

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

   Same treatment, the other way.

   1 Down — Watch brand with a crown logo (5)

   Luxury watch brand with a distinctive symbol

   2 Down — Word like equine, feline or canine, but for sheep (5)

   Adjective describing something related to sheep

   3 Down — Charisma, in slang (4)

   Informal term for charm or appeal

   4 Down — Opposite of "nay" (3)

   Affirmative response in a formal vote

   5 Down — "Big" prefix (4)

   Prefix indicating large size or scale

4. 4 Hint 4: First letter of every answer

   One letter each.

   1 Across

   R… (4 letters)

   5 Across

   M… (5 letters)

   6 Across

   E… (5 letters)

   7 Across

   G… (4 letters)

   8 Across

   A… (3 letters)

   1 Down

   R… (5 letters)

   2 Down

   O… (5 letters)

   3 Down

   R… (4 letters)

   4 Down

   Y… (3 letters)

   5 Down

   M… (4 letters)

5. 5 Hint 5: Where the grid opened up

   Last rung before the filled answers.

   8 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