April 2, 2026 NYT Mini Crossword Hints and Answers

Today’s mini was a solid Thursday challenge, leaning on some clever misdirection — especially that Statue of Liberty angle running through two clues. If you got tripped up anywhere, here’s the full breakdown of every clue, hint, and answer.

What Is the NYT Mini Crossword?

The NYT Mini Crossword is a compact 5×5 crossword puzzle published daily by The New York Times. Unlike the full Sunday crossword — which can take an hour or more — the Mini is designed to be solved in a few minutes. It features five Across clues and five Down clues, with answers that range from three to five letters. The puzzle resets at midnight ET each day, and you can play it free on the NYT Games site. It has become one of the most popular daily word puzzles online, attracting both casual players and seasoned crossword fans who want a quick warm-up.

Across Clues and Answers

1 Across: Man’s name that’s Italian for “eight”

Hint: Think of a classic German-origin name that doubles as a number in another language. The word looks the same forwards and backwards.

Answer: OTTO

OTTO is a palindrome — it reads identically in both directions. In Italian, otto means the number eight. It is also a well-known given name across German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, carried by historical figures including several Holy Roman Emperors.

5 Across: Part of the Statue of Liberty that’s accessed by a double-helix staircase

Hint: It sits at the very top of Lady Liberty. Visitors can reach it by climbing a narrow, winding staircase modeled after a DNA structure.

Answer: CROWN

The CROWN of the Statue of Liberty contains 25 windows and seven rays representing the seven continents and seven seas. Tickets to visit the crown must be booked well in advance — it is one of the most sought-after experiences at the monument.

6 Across: See eye to eye

Hint: A common two-syllable verb meaning to be in alignment with someone’s opinion.

Answer: AGREE

To AGREE means to share the same view or opinion as another person. The clue “see eye to eye” is a well-worn idiom for mutual understanding, making this a clean misdirection if you were thinking of a noun rather than a verb.

7 Across: Spiked clubs used by knights

Hint: These medieval weapons had a heavy head studded with metal protrusions. The word is a plural noun, five letters.

Answer: MACES

MACES were blunt, flanged or spiked weapons used in hand-to-hand combat throughout the medieval period. They were particularly effective against armored opponents since the impact could transfer force through plate armor. Ceremonial maces are still used today as symbols of authority in parliaments and universities.

8 Across: Sharply clear, as a TV broadcast

Hint: This is an abbreviation you would see on a television’s input menu. Think crystal-clear picture quality.

Answer: INHD

IN HD refers to high-definition broadcasting. The phrase “in HD” entered everyday vocabulary as flat-screen televisions became standard, describing content broadcast or recorded at resolutions of 720p, 1080i, or 1080p and above.

Down Clues and Answers

1 Down: Instrument in a baseball stadium

Hint: You do not strum it or blow into it. It has keys, pipes, and a very big sound — you have likely heard it between innings.

Answer: ORGAN

The pipe ORGAN has been a fixture at baseball stadiums for decades, most famously used to play “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the seventh-inning stretch. Fenway Park and Wrigley Field are among the stadiums still known for their live organ music during games.

2 Down: Part of the Statue of Liberty that was once open to the public, but closed in 1916

Hint: Lady Liberty holds it in her raised right hand. Access was shut down after a nearby explosion damaged its thin walls.

Answer: TORCH

The TORCH of the Statue of Liberty was closed to visitors in 1916 following the Black Tom explosion, a sabotage attack by German agents on a nearby munitions depot in New Jersey. The blast caused structural damage to the arm, and the torch has been off-limits to the public ever since. A replica is displayed in the museum on the island.

3 Down: Coarse fabric for some suit jackets

Hint: This rough-textured woolen material is closely associated with the British Isles — particularly Scotland and Ireland.

Answer: TWEED

TWEED is a coarse, woolen cloth traditionally handwoven in the Scottish Borders and the Outer Hebrides. Harris Tweed, produced on the Isle of Harris, is one of the most recognized variants. The fabric is strongly associated with country pursuits, academia, and classic tailoring.

4 Down: Column to the right of the tens

Hint: In a number like 123, this column holds the digit 3. Think basic arithmetic place values.

Answer: ONES

The ONES column is the rightmost position in a standard whole number — representing single units with a place value of one. In 123, the digit 3 sits in the ones column, the 2 in the tens column, and the 1 in the hundreds column.

5 Down: Woman’s sleeveless undershirt, for short

Hint: This casual layering piece ends in a vowel. It is a shortened form of a longer garment name.

Answer: CAMI

CAMI is short for camisole — a lightweight, sleeveless top worn as an undergarment or as casual outerwear. The term comes from the French camisole, itself derived from the Spanish camisa (shirt).

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Shahid Maqsood is a digital entrepreneur and SEO specialist focused on building engaging web experiences. He is the creator of DotWordle, combining creativity with smart, user-friendly design.