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 Sunday, March 9, 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 Sunday, March 9, 2025
Here are additional clues for each of the words in today’s Mini Crossword.
NYT Mini Across Hints
1 Across: All over the ___ — HINT: It starts with the letter “M”
4 Across: Exasperated words before trailing off into a facepalm — HINT: It ends with the letter “T”
7 Across: Kendrick who won five Grammys for 2024’s “Not Like Us” — HINT: It starts with the letter “L”
8 Across: Rapper in a beef with 7-Across — HINT: It ends with the letter “E”
9 Across: “The birds and the bees” — HINT: It starts with the letter “S”
NYT Mini Down Hints
1 Down: Not spicy, as salsa — HINT: It ends with the letter “D”
2 Down: Slightly open, as a door — HINT: It starts with the letter “A”
3 Down: Mountain lions — HINT: It ends with the letter “S”
5 Down: Alcohol whose varieties include junmai (“pure rice”) and nigori (“cloudy”) — HINT: It starts with the letter “S”
6 Down: Dino with short arms — HINT: It ends with the letter “X”
Answers to NYT’s The Mini Crossword for Sunday, March 9, 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: All over the ___ — MAP
4 Across: Exasperated words before trailing off into a facepalm — IJUST
7 Across: Kendrick who won five Grammys for 2024’s “Not Like Us” — LAMAR
8 Across: Rapper in a beef with 7-Across — DRAKE
9 Across: “The birds and the bees” — SEX
NYT Mini Down Answers
1 Down: Not spicy, as salsa — MILD
2 Down: Slightly open, as a door — AJAR
3 Down: Mountain lions — PUMAS
5 Down: Alcohol whose varieties include junmai (“pure rice”) and nigori (“cloudy”) — SAKE
6 Down: Dino with short arms — TREX
That’s it! How quickly were you able to complete today’s Mini?!
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