March 20, 2026 NYT Mini Crossword Hints and Answers

Stuck on today’s NYT Mini Crossword? Get all the clues and answers for the March 20, 2026 puzzle, including every Across and Down answer explained. CATEGORY: Mini Crossword

What Is the NYT Mini Crossword?

The mini is a compact 5×5 version of the New York Times crossword puzzle, designed to be completed in just a few minutes. Unlike the full-size NYT crossword, the Mini features only a handful of clues — typically five Across and five Down — making it accessible to beginners while still offering enough of a challenge to stump experienced solvers on tricky days.

The Mini publishes daily and resets at midnight Eastern Time. It’s free to play on the NYT Games platform and has become one of the most popular daily word games alongside Wordle and Connections. Whether you’re a casual player looking for a quick brain warm-up or a dedicated puzzler chasing a fast completion time, the Mini Crossword delivers a satisfying daily dose of wordplay.

Today’s March 20, 2026 puzzle features clues ranging from pop culture (a current chart-topping rapper) to everyday frustration (forgetting something on your way out the door). Read on for all the hints and answers.

Across Answers

1 Across: Cable channel that airs March Madness games

This network has been a home for college basketball tournament coverage, making it a sports fan staple every spring.

Answer: TBS

TBS (Turner Broadcasting System) is a basic cable channel well known for broadcasting NCAA March Madness games alongside its lineup of comedy programming and movies.

4 Across: Rapper with the 2026 #1 album “The Fall-Off”

This clue points to a North Carolina-born rapper who has been teasing this album title for years. It finally arrived and shot straight to the top of the charts in 2026.

Answer: JCOLE

J. Cole is one of the most acclaimed and commercially successful rappers of his generation. The Fall-Off was a long-anticipated project, and its chart performance in 2026 confirmed his continued dominance in hip-hop.

6 Across: Review thoroughly, as taxes

Think about what the IRS does to a tax return they want to scrutinize very carefully.

Answer: AUDIT

An audit is an official, detailed examination of financial records. In the context of taxes, being audited means the IRS is reviewing your return for accuracy and compliance.

7 Across: “Darn it!”

A mild exclamation of frustration — the kind of thing you might mutter when you’ve just realized something’s gone wrong.

Answer: CRAP

A common informal expression used when something goes unexpectedly or disappointingly wrong. Perfectly placed in a 4-letter crossword slot.

8 Across: Annoying things to realize you’ve left in the house

You’re already in the car. The door is locked. You pat your pockets and feel nothing.

Answer: KEYS

Few moments in daily life are more frustrating than locking yourself out or having to turn back after realizing you’ve left your keys behind. A very relatable clue for this 4-letter answer.

Down Clues and Answers

1 Down: Yesterday, tomorrow

Think about the word that sits between these two — the thing that is neither yesterday nor tomorrow.

Answer: TODAY

Yesterday, today, and tomorrow are the three basic units of time in everyday speech. A clean, classic crossword clue.

2 Down: Radar screen dots

Picture an old-fashioned radar display with small blips moving across the screen — each one representing something detected in range.

Answer: BLIPS

A blip is a small dot or flash on a radar screen indicating a detected object. The word is also used figuratively to mean a minor brief event.

3 Down: “On your marks … get ___ …”

Complete the classic starting phrase used at the beginning of a race.

Answer: SET

The full sequence is “On your marks … get set … go!” The word set signals that athletes should hold their final position before the starting signal.

4 Down: Playing card historically called a knave

In older English card decks, the face card we now call the Jack had a different name.

Answer: JACK

The Jack — ranked between the 10 and Queen in a standard deck — was historically referred to as a “knave,” meaning a servant or low-ranking male. The name Jack eventually became the standard in modern usage.

5 Down: Medical success

When a doctor or treatment achieves what it set out to do, the result is this.

Answer: CURE

A cure is the successful resolution of a disease or medical condition. In crossword terms, it’s a clean 4-letter answer that fits the hopeful tone of the clue perfectly.

More Daily Puzzle Help

Looking for help with other NYT puzzles today or from recent days? Check out these 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.