If you’re anything like me, the day is not complete until I complete 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.
If you’re working on today’s Mini on Friday, March 28, 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!
Related: 16 Games Like Wordle To Give You Your Word Game Fix More Than Once Every 24 Hours
Hints for NYT’s The Mini Crossword on Friday, March 28, 2025
Here are additional clues for each of the words in today’s Mini Crossword.
NYT Mini Across Hints
1 Across: Like crackers after the box is left open — HINT: It starts with the letter “S”
6 Across: Targets of facial cleansers — HINT: It ends with the letter “S”
7 Across: Patronized, as a restaurant — HINT: It starts with the letter “A”
8 Across: House occupied by a Presbyterian minister (yes, there’s a word for this!) — HINT: It ends with the letter “E”
9 Across: Material that’s an anagram of 1-Across and 4-Down — HINT: It starts with the letter “S”
NYT Mini Down Hints
1 Down: Bombards with texts, say — HINT: It ends with the letter “S”
2 Down: The “z” in x + y = z — HINT: It starts with the letter “T”
3 Down: Stadium’s covered counterpart — HINT: It ends with the letter “A”
4 Down: Most’s opposite — HINT: It starts with the letter “L”
5 Down: Lauder in the beauty aisle — HINT: It ends with the letter “E”
Answers to NYT’s The Mini Crossword for Friday, March 28, 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: Like crackers after the box is left open — STALE
6 Across: Targets of facial cleansers — PORES
7 Across: Patronized, as a restaurant — ATEAT
8 Across: House occupied by a Presbyterian minister (yes, there’s a word for this!) — MANSE
9 Across: Material that’s an anagram of 1-Across and 4-Down — SLATE
NYT Mini Down Answers
1 Down: Bombards with texts, say — SPAMS
2 Down: The “z” in x + y = z — TOTAL
3 Down: Stadium’s covered counterpart — ARENA
4 Down: Most’s opposite — LEAST
5 Down: Lauder in the beauty aisle — ESTEE
That’s it! How quickly were you able to complete today’s Mini?!
Up Next:
Related: 15 Fun Games Like Connections to Play Every Day
