NYT Mini Crossword Answers, Hints for Friday, December 26, 2025

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, 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 Friday, December 26, 2025, 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, December 26, 2025

Here are additional clues for each of the words in today’s Mini Crossword.

NYT Mini Across Hints

1 Across: Furry and green, say — HINT: Starts with the letter “M”

6 Across: State known for its potatoes — HINT: Ends with the letter “O”

7 Across: Like a faithful friend — HINT: Starts with the letter “L”

8 Across: Had a beverage — HINT: Ends with the letter “K”

9 Across: Pronoun frequently paired with “her” — HINT: Ends with the letter “E”

Related: 16 Games Like Wordle To Give You Your Word Game Fix More Than Once Every 24 Hours

NYT Mini Down Hints

1 Down: Not spicy, as salsa — HINT: Ends with the letter “D”

2 Down: Reasons for wrinkled noses — HINT: Starts with the letter “O”

3 Down: Words from a doctor checking your tonsils — HINT: Ends with the letter “H”

4 Down: Comedian Gillis — HINT: Ends with the letter “E”

5 Down: Part of an egg used to make hollandaise sauce — HINT: Starts with the letter “Y”

Answers to NYT’s The Mini Crossword for Friday, December 26, 2025

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: Furry and green, say — MOSSY

6 Across: State known for its potatoes — IDAHO

7 Across: Like a faithful friend — LOYAL

8 Across: Had a beverage — DRANK

9 Across: Pronoun frequently paired with “her” — SHE

NYT Mini Down Answers

1 Down: Not spicy, as salsa — MILD

2 Down: Reasons for wrinkled noses — ODORS

3 Down: Words from a doctor checking your tonsils — SAYAH

4 Down: Comedian Gillis — SHANE

5 Down: Part of an egg used to make hollandaise sauce — YOLK

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