March 17, 2026 Today NYT Mini Crossword Hints and Answers

Stuck on the NYT Mini Crossword for March 17, 2026? Get all the across and down clues with full answers — COACH, APPLE, RELAX, DRUM, SASS, CARDS, OPERA, APLUS, CLAMS, and HEX.

What Is the NYT Mini Crossword?

The NYT Mini Crossword is a compact 5×5 version of the classic New York Times crossword puzzle. It launched in 2014 and has become a daily habit for millions of players want a quick word challenge that takes just a few minutes to complete. Unlike the full-size crossword, the Mini is designed to be accessible — but that doesn’t mean every clue is a pushover. With only five across and five down entries, a single tricky clue can bring your whole solve to a halt.

The puzzle resets every day at midnight Eastern Time and is free to play on the NYT Games app or website. If you’re here because one or two clues have you stumped, scroll to the right section below.

Across Clues and Answers

1 Across: One drawing X’s and O’s

This clue is a clever bit of wordplay. “Drawing X’s and O’s” sounds like it could be about tic-tac-toe, but think about who draws play diagrams on a whiteboard using those same symbols.

Answer: COACH

A football or basketball coach diagrams plays using X’s and O’s to represent players. Clean misdirection from the puzzle constructors.

6 Across: Company whose market cap (~$4 trillion) exceeds the G.D.P. of most countries

One of the most valuable companies in history, its market capitalization has crossed the $4 trillion mark — surpassing the entire economic output of nearly every nation on Earth.

Answer: APPLE

Apple Inc. has become a benchmark for extraordinary corporate valuation. The clue is practically a news headline.

7 Across: “Chill!”

A casual, one-word command telling someone to calm down or take it easy.

Answer: RELAX

Straightforward once you have a letter or two from the crossing downs.

8 Across: Do some rhythmic tapping

Think percussion. Think fingers on a desk. Think the beat of a song.

Answer: DRUM

To drum means to tap or beat rhythmically, whether on an actual instrument or just a tabletop while waiting for your coffee.

9 Across: Back talk

This is the kind of cheeky, disrespectful response that gets kids sent to their room.

Answer: SASS

Sass refers to impudent or rude back-talk. The double S on both ends makes it a distinctive-looking answer in the grid.

Down Clues and Answers

1 Down: What’s the deal?

The trickiest clue in today’s puzzle according to the puzzle notes. “What’s the deal?” could be interpreted as a question about a bargain or negotiation — but think more literally about who literally deals something someone deals cards around a table, the question “What’s the deal?” becomes a literal inquiry about what’s being distributed. A genuine head-scratcher until the crossings fill in.

2 Down: “The Phantom of the ___”

Complete the famous title.

Answer: OPERA

The Phantom of the Opera is one of the longest-running musicals in Broadway history. The blank completes the title simply and directly.

3 Down: Excellent grade

The gold standard on a graded paper.

Answer: APLUS

An A+ is the highest academic grade. In the grid, this runs as a single entry: APLUS.

4 Down: Sandpipers dig for them in the sand

Sandpipers are shorebirds that probe sandy beaches in search of a specific shellfish.

Answer: CLAMS

Clams burrow into wet sand at the shoreline, and sandpipers use their beaks to dig them out. A nice natural history clue.

5 Down: Evil spell

Witches cast these. Villains invoke them. Halloween decorations feature them.

Answer: HEX

A hex is a curse or evil spell. Short, punchy, and a satisfying three-letter fill for the corner of the grid.

More Daily Puzzle Help

Looking for hints and answers for other NYT puzzles today or from earlier this week? Check these recent posts:

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.