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. on the weekdays, unlike some of the others that start over at midnight.
So, if you’re working on today’s Mini on Thursday, May 22, 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 Thursday, May 22, 2025
Here are additional clues for each of the words in today’s Mini Crossword.
NYT Mini Across Hints
1 Across: Part of a fleet — HINT: Starts with the letter “S”
5 Across: Answer to Gollum’s riddle in “The Hobbit,” which starts “This thing all things devours — birds, beasts, trees, flowers” — HINT: Starts with the letter “T”
6 Across: “See ya!” — HINT: Ends with the letter “R”
7 Across: Second-most popular girl’s name of the 2020s, after Olivia — HINT: Starts with the letter “E”
8 Across: Not keeping secrets — HINT: Ends with the letter “N”
NYT Mini Down Hints
1 Down: Sticker on an envelope — HINT: Ends with the letter “P”
2 Down: “I’d like another card,” in blackjack — HINT: Starts with the letter “H”
3 Down: “Uhh, that is to say …” — HINT: Starts with the letter “I”
4 Down: The “p” of m.p.h. — HINT: Starts with the letter “P”
6 Down: Name taken by the new pope — HINT: Starts with the letter “O”
Answers to NYT’s The Mini Crossword for Thursday, May 22, 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: Part of a fleet — SHIP
5 Across: Answer to Gollum’s riddle in “The Hobbit,” which starts “This thing all things devours — birds, beasts, trees, flowers” — TIME
6 Across: “See ya!” — LATER
7 Across: Second-most popular girl’s name of the 2020s, after Olivia — EMMA
8 Across: Not keeping secrets — OPEN
NYT Mini Down Answers
1 Down: Sticker on an envelope — STAMP
2 Down: “I’d like another card,” in blackjack — HITME
3 Down: “Uhh, that is to say …” — IMEAN
4 Down: The “p” of m.p.h. — PER
6 Down: Name taken by the new pope — LEO
That’s it! How quickly were you able to complete today’s Mini?!
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