March 19, 2026 NYT Mini Crossword Hints and Answers

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword for Thursday, March 19, 2026 is a relatively breezy one — but even easy grids can throw you off when a clue is phrased in an unexpected way. Below you’ll find every across and down clue with its answer, laid you need.

Play the puzzle directly at mini on the NYT Games site.

What Is the NYT Mini Crossword?

The NYT Mini Crossword is a 5×5 daily crossword puzzle published by The New York Times. It’s a condensed version of the full NYT Crossword, designed to be solvable in just a few minutes. Each puzzle features five across clues and five down clues, with answers typically ranging from three to five letters. The Mini is free to play on the NYT Games website and app, and a new puzzle drops every day at midnight Eastern time. It has become one of the most popular quick-play word games alongside Wordle and Connections, perfect for a morning brain warm-up.

Across Clues and Answers

1 Across: Ghost’s word

This is a classic Halloween-style exclamation — the kind a ghost shouts to startle you.

Answer: BOO

4 Across: Magician’s “And just like that, it’s gone!”

Think of what a magician says when something vanishes in a flash during a trick.

Answer: POOF

5 Across: With 7-Across, it’s full of stars

This clue only makes sense when paired with 7-Across. Together they form a two-word phrase describing a star-filled sky after dark.

Answer: NIGHT

6 Across: White bills in Monopoly

In the classic board game Monopoly, the $1 denomination notes are white. These are the smallest-value bills in the game.

Answer: ONES

7 Across: See 5-Across

This is the second half of the paired clue. Combined with NIGHT (5-Across), it completes the phrase NIGHT SKY.

Answer: SKY

Down Clues and Answers

1 Down: Score of 4 on a par 3

In golf, scoring one over par on any hole is called this. On a par 3 hole, that means finishing in 4 strokes.

Answer: BOGEY

2 Down: ___ and aahs

A familiar expression used to describe sounds of wonder or admiration. You might hear these at a fireworks display.

Answer: OOHS

3 Down: Frequently, in poetry

Poets often shorten common words for meter and rhythm. This is the poetic abbreviation of “often.”

Answer: OFT

4 Down: Like the sands of Harbour Island, Bahamas

Harbour Island in the Bahamas is famous worldwide for its distinctive beach, where the sand has a rosy hue due to crushed coral and shells.

Answer: PINK

5 Down: Dissenting votes

In a vote or election, these are the votes cast against a proposal or candidate. The singular form is a common way to say “no.”

Answer: N

More Daily Puzzle Help

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

Also playing other NYT puzzles today? Here are same-day guides for March 18, 2026:

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.