Today’s Mini made me smile. It starts super chill, then suddenly hits you with chunky Down clues that feel like they wandered in from a full-sized puzzle. I loved the rhythm of it — breezy on top, sneaky underneath.
Let me walk you through the clues the way I’d explain it to a friend.
Quick Summary (AIO Box)
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Game Name | NYT Mini Crossword |
| Date | December 13, 2025 |
| Theme | Light tennis flavor (“STRAIGHT SETS”) |
| Hardest Part | The long Downs (BLESS ME / UMPTEEN / SKIRTED) |
| Final Answers | BUS, WOLF, LMK, ARIA, EPI, SETS, STRAIGHT, SETS, AGO, MEEK, NON, ENDS, OWE, BLESS ME, UMPTEEN, SKIRTED, WAS I, OREGANO, LITHGOW, FAST ONE, ASKS |
🎯 The Nudge (Theme Hint)
Think tennis scoring, a few dramatic expressions, and the kind of language you hear in a musical.
🔎 Progressive Clues
Across Hints
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1A is the vehicle every kid secretly hopes is taking them somewhere fun.
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4A comes from a classic musical where a small boy faces off with a hungry creature.
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8A is texting shorthand you probably use way too often.
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12A + 14A team up for a tennis phrase.
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10A points to something you hope you never need but are glad exists.
Down Hints
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1D is a surprised exclamation your grandma might say.
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2D means “countless,” but in a playful way.
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6D is an Emmy-winning actor with serious range.
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7D is something people “pull,” usually in mischief.
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5D is a leafy pizza topping. No, not basil.
Starting Letter Nudges
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1A starts with B.
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4A starts with W.
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12A starts with S.
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2D starts with U.
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6D starts with L.
If you want the solutions, scroll just a bit.
Today’s Mini Crossword Final Answers
Across
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1A: BUS
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4A: WOLF
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8A: LMK
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9A: ARIA
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10A: EPI
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11A: SETS
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12A: STRAIGHT
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14A: SETS
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15A: AGO
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16A: MEEK
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17A: NON
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18A: ENDS
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19A: OWE
Down
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1D: BLESS ME
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2D: UMPTEEN
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3D: SKIRTED
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4D: WAS I
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5D: OREGANO
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6D: LITHGOW
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7D: FAST ONE
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13D: ASKS
🧠 Personal Experience
Today’s long Downs totally caught me off guard. I expected something short like “aha” or “oops,” and instead the puzzle threw BLESS ME at me. I actually laughed.
Then UMPTEEN dropped in, and suddenly I felt like I was doing a Wednesday crossword.
The funniest moment? I stared at LITHGOW way too long because my brain kept wanting “Gary Oldman” for no reason. Once it clicked, everything else fell into place.
💡 Strategy / Pro Tip
When a Mini drops paired Across answers (like STRAIGHT + SETS), use them as your anchor. They give you a ton of cross letters, which makes the long Down entries way less scary.
FAQ (People Also Ask)
1. Was today’s NYT Mini Crossword hard?
Harder than usual in the Down section, but super fair.
2. How long should this Mini take?
Most people will land between 45 seconds and 2 minutes.
3. Is there a theme today?
A light tennis nod — the phrase STRAIGHT SETS anchors the grid.
