The New York Times Mini Crossword for Wednesday, October 29, 2025, brings a fun and engaging mix of clues inspired by toys, skills, and wordplay. It’s compact, quick, and perfect for a few minutes of brain exercise.
🔹 ACROSS Clues, Hints, and Answers
| Number | Clue | Hint | Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1A | Skill taught at lifeguard training, for short | Ends with the letter ‘R’ | CPR |
| 4A | Bop it! | Starts with the letter ‘H’ | HEAD |
| 6A | Not given anything to eat | Ends with the letter ‘D’ | UNFED |
| 8A | Twist it! Pull it! | Starts with the letter ‘T’ | TAFFY |
| 9A | Best of the best | Ends with the letter ‘E’ | ELITE |
🔹 DOWN Clues, Hints, and Answers
| Number | Clue | Hint | Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1D | Means of getting trash to a basement dumpster | Starts with the letter ‘C’ | CHUTE |
| 2D | Word that can precede ‘code’ or ‘colony’ | Ends with the letter ‘L’ | PENAL |
| 3D | ‘Baby Beluga’ musician | Starts with the letter ‘R’ | RAFFI |
| 5D | Neatly skillful | Ends with the letter ‘T’ | DEFT |
| 7D | Change the color of, as hair | Starts with the letter ‘D’ | DYE |
🧠 About Today’s Puzzle
The NYT Mini Crossword is a 5×5 grid puzzle, designed to be a shorter and simpler version of the classic New York Times crossword.
Unlike the full-size crossword—which requires a paid subscription—the Mini is free for everyone and resets daily at 10 p.m. EST (around 8:30 a.m. IST the next day).
Today’s puzzle includes a playful theme tied to the nostalgic “Bop It!” toy and sweet treats like taffy.
It balances quick-thinking clues with everyday vocabulary, making it an ideal short challenge for crossword fans.
✅ Quick Recap
- Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2025
- Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
- Theme: “Bop It!” toy and candy references
- Grid Size: 5×5
- Best For: A fast and fun morning puzzle session
