April 24, 2026 NYT Mini Crossword Hints and Answers

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword for Friday, April 24, 2026 has a playful theme running through it — drama royalty, circus acts, and a few tricky short entries that can trip up even fast solvers. If you got stuck on any clue, this guide walks through every Across and Down answer with hints along the way.

What Is the NYT Mini Crossword?

The mini is a 5×5 grid version of The New York Times daily crossword. Rather than the full puzzle’s 70+ clues, the Mini typically features around 10 clues total — five Across and five Down. It’s designed to be completed in under two minutes, and many players treat it as a daily speed challenge. That said, the NYT’s constructors are skilled at slipping in misdirections and wordplay that can stall even experienced solvers.

Across Clues and Answers

1-Across: With 6-Across, kind of person who loves when things are messy

Hint: Think of someone who thrives on chaos and conflict in social situations — a theatrical type. The two-part answer spans clues 1 and 6.

Answer: DRAMA

6-Across: See 1-Across

Hint: The second half of the two-word phrase from 1-Across. Think royalty — but of a very different kind.

Answer: QUEEN

Together, 1-Across and 6-Across form DRAMA QUEEN — someone who loves stirring the pot.

7-Across: Circus prop that provides extra height

Hint: Performers use these wooden or metal poles strapped to their legs to walk several feet off the ground at fairs and circuses.

Answer: STILT

8-Across: “___ boy!”

Hint: An exclamation of surprise or enthusiasm, often heard from an excited cartoon character. Rhymes with “boo.”

Answer: HOO

9-Across: Hoped-for symbol on a weather app

Hint: Nobody wants rain clouds. This 3-letter answer is what you’re hoping to see when you check the forecast before heading outside.

Answer: SUN

Down Clues and Answers

1-Down: Tosses out of a competition, informally

Hint: An abbreviation used in competitive sports and gaming when someone is disqualified. Plural form.

Answer: DQS

2-Down: ___ Chris Steak House (restaurant chain)

Hint: A well-known American steakhouse chain named after its founder. The first name is a possessive — think of a woman’s name.

Answer: RUTHS

The full name is Ruth’s Chris Steak House, a popular upscale steakhouse chain founded in New Orleans.

3-Down: Vowel quintet

Hint: Just write out all five standard English vowels in alphabetical order.

Answer: AEIOU

4-Down: Fruit that’s often in an Edible Arrangement

Hint: A juicy, refreshing fruit that comes in honeydew and cantaloupe varieties, commonly cut into decorative shapes for fruit bouquets.

Answer: MELON

5-Down: Crumb-carrying insect

Hint: This tiny insect is famous for carrying food many times its own body weight. You’ll find them at picnics.

Answer: ANT

More Daily Puzzle Help

Keep the streak going with more puzzle solutions from dotwordle.com:

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