If you’re anything like me, the day is not complete until I finish all of the free word games from the New York Times. Working on the daily Connections, Connections Sports Edition, Wordle, and Strands is a whole ritual for many of us. And we can’t forget about the NYT’s The Mini Crossword, too!
Although the NYT is known for “The Crossword,” a larger puzzle for paid subscribers, The Mini has quite the fan following as well. This particular game resets at 10 p.m., unlike some of the others that start over at midnight.
So, if you’re working on today’s Mini on for Today’s Mini Crossword on Friday, April 3, and need some help (I’ve been there), get ready to read the clues and solutions for each line. We have them separated into hints first for both “Across” and “Down” words, followed by “Across Answers” and “Down Answers,” so be careful if you want to avoid spoilers as you scroll!
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Hints for NYT’s The Mini Crossword on Friday, April 3, 2026
Here are additional clues for each of the words in today’s Mini Crossword.
NYT Mini Across Hints
1 Across: Jumped up … or a season in the past tense? — HINT: Ends with the letter “G”
7 Across: Basketball player, informally —HINT: Ends with the letter “R”
8 Across: ___ balloon — HINT: Starts with the letter “H”
9 Across: Tumbled down … or a season in the past tense? — HINT: Ends with the letter “L”
Related: 16 Games Like Wordle To Give You Your Word Game Fix More Than Once Every 24 Hours
NYT Mini Down Hints
1 Down: Be quiet! — HINT: Starts with the letter “S”
2 Down: Sound of disappearance — HINT: Ends with the letter “F”
3 Down: Memorization technique based on repetition — HINT: Starts with the letter “R”
4 Down: “C’mon, be ___” (“Help me out”) — HINT: Starts with the letter “A”
5 Down: Astronaut Armstrong — HINT: Ends with the letter “L”
6 Down: Dog’s warning — HINT: Ends with the letter “R”
Answers to NYT’s The Mini Crossword for Friday, April 3, 2026
Don’t go any further unless you want to know exactly what the correct words are in today’s Mini Crossword.
NYT Mini Across Answers
1 Across: Jumped up … or a season in the past tense? — SPRANG
7 Across: Basketball player, informally —HOOPER
8 Across: ___ balloon — HOTAIR
9 Across: Tumbled down … or a season in the past tense? — FELL
NYT Mini Down Answers
1 Down: Be quiet! — SHH
2 Down: Sound of disappearance — POOF
3 Down: Memorization technique based on repetition — ROTE
4 Down: “C’mon, be ___” (“Help me out”) — APAL
5 Down: Astronaut Armstrong — NEIL
6 Down: Dog’s warning — GRR
Related: NYT Mini Crossword Answers, Hints for Thursday, April 2, 2026