This page lists every Across and Down answer for the NYT Mini puzzle for 21 October 2026. Two hints about each answer’s letters are folded below (first the first letter, then the first and last letter), followed by the answers in their own folds and the solved grid at the end.
Today’s grid is 5 squares wide and 5 squares high. It has 5 Across answers and 5 Down answers.
This puzzle was made by Sam Ezersky and edited by Joel Fagliano.
The empty grid below shows each answer’s number in the square where it starts.
NYT Mini – Across hints and answers for October 21, 2026
There are 5 Across answers. Each row in the tables below is one answer, identified by its number in the grid. Open the folds one at a time: first letters, then first and last letters, then answers.
Hint 1 · first letters
| No. | Letters | First letter |
|---|---|---|
| 1A | 4 | P |
| 5A | 4 | I |
| 6A | 5 | G |
| 8A | 4 | U |
| 9A | 4 | P |
Hint 2 · first and last letters
Each dot stands for one hidden letter. An answer with fewer than 4 letters shows only its first letter.
| No. | Letters | First and last letter |
|---|---|---|
| 1A | 4 | P · · S |
| 5A | 4 | I · · N |
| 6A | 5 | G · · · I |
| 8A | 4 | U · · S |
| 9A | 4 | P · · T |
Across answers for 21 October 2026
| No. | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1A | PASS |
| 5A | ITON |
| 6A | GENAI |
| 8A | UGGS |
| 9A | PSST |
NYT Mini – Down hints and answers for October 21, 2026
There are 5 Down answers. Each row in the tables below is one answer, identified by its number in the grid. Open the folds one at a time: first letters, then first and last letters, then answers.
Hint 1 · first letters
| No. | Letters | First letter |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 3 | P |
| 2D | 5 | A |
| 3D | 5 | S |
| 4D | 5 | S |
| 7D | 3 | I |
Hint 2 · first and last letters
Each dot stands for one hidden letter. An answer with fewer than 4 letters shows only its first letter.
| No. | Letters | First and last letter |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 3 | P · · |
| 2D | 5 | A · · · P |
| 3D | 5 | S · · · S |
| 4D | 5 | S · · · S |
| 7D | 3 | I · · |
Down answers for 21 October 2026
| No. | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1D | PIG |
| 2D | ATEUP |
| 3D | SONGS |
| 4D | SNAGS |
| 7D | IST |
NYT Mini solved grid for October 21, 2026
The fold below hides a picture of the full grid with every answer filled in. Open it after finishing the puzzle.
Show the solved grid
More NYT Mini: Yesterday’s puzzle · Play NYT Mini on The New York Times
Also today: Wordle · Connections · Strands · Pips · Phrazle · Quordle · Keyword · Colordle · Unwordle · Hurdle · NYT Crossword · NYT Midi · Jumble · Spelling Bee · Letter Boxed · Parseword · Poeltl
Earlier days: 20 Oct · 19 Oct · 18 Oct · 17 Oct · 16 Oct · 15 Oct · 14 Oct
Questions about NYT Mini
How is NYT Mini played?
The grid has white and black squares. Each numbered clue has one answer, written one letter per white square from the square bearing the clue’s number, Across from left to right or Down from top to bottom. Where an Across answer and a Down answer cross, they share that letter.
Where can a person play NYT Mini?
Play on The New York Times Games site or in the NYT Games app: NYT Mini.
Leave a Reply