April 20, 2026 NYT Mini Crossword Hints and Answers

Today’s mini puzzle for Monday, April 20, 2026 is a clean, accessible grid — a solid start to the week. All nine clues are covered below, with hints first and the full answer revealed beneath each one so you can choose how much help you want.

What Is the NYT Mini Crossword?

The NYT Mini Crossword is a compact 5×5 crossword published every day by The New York Times. Unlike the full Sunday puzzle, which can take over an hour, the Mini is designed to be completed in a few minutes. It features five across clues and four down clues, making it an ideal daily brain warm-up. The puzzle resets at midnight Eastern Time, and a new one is always waiting the next morning. It’s free to play on the NYT Games site and app, no subscription required.

Across Clues and Answers

1 Across: All-caps reply to a spammy political text

Hint: It’s a four-letter word you’d text back to opt out of unwanted messages — the standard one-word way to unsubscribe from any automated text campaign.

Answer: STOP

5 Across: Number of seasons that “Seinfeld” and “The Office” each ran

Hint: Both classic sitcoms share the exact same number of seasons. Think single digits — higher than eight, but it’s not ten.

Answer: NINE

6 Across: Wild party, informally

Hint: A slang term for a raucous, out-of-control celebration. It’s more intense than a gathering, and definitely louder than a get-together.

Answer: RAGER

7 Across: Swedish furniture giant

Hint: You know this brand by its flat-pack boxes, meatballs, and four capitalized letters. One of the most recognized retail names on the planet.

Answer: IKEA

8 Across: Long-lasting salon treatment

Hint: This chemical hair treatment uses curling rods and a neutralizing solution. The results can last months — it’s all in the name.

Answer: PERM

Down Clues and Answers

1 Down: Chinese zodiac animal

Hint: This reptilian zodiac sign is associated with wisdom, cunning, and transformation. It slithers its way through the 12-animal cycle.

Answer: SNAKE

2 Down: Chinese zodiac animal

Hint: Another Chinese zodiac animal — this one is associated with power, courage, and is the third sign of the cycle. It’s a big cat.

Answer: TIGER

3 Down: Hour following midnight

Hint: Written as a time on a clock, this is the very first hour after midnight ticks over. Two words, abbreviated.

Answer: ONE AM

4 Down: The “p” of m.p.h.

Hint: M.p.h. stands for miles per hour — this clue is asking what “p” stands for in that abbreviation.

Answer: PER

6 Down: Tombstone letters

Hint: Three letters you’d see carved on a gravestone as a common epitaph abbreviation. Often said aloud at a funeral.

Answer: RIP

More Daily Puzzle Help

Looking for more puzzle answers? Check out these recent dotwordle.com guides:

Shahid Maqsood

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.