The NYT Mini Crossword remains a favorite for daily puzzlers worldwide: a 5×5 grid, clever clues, and just enough challenge to wake up your brain (or wind it down after a busy day). Whether you’re sipping coffee in New York, commuting in London, or relaxing in Patna, the “Mini” delivers a satisfying few minutes of vocabulary-workout.
Today’s puzzle (November 28, 2025) is themed — many clues reference Black Friday shopping and holiday-season quirks. It’s lighthearted, timely, and accessible — perfect for both seasoned solvers and newcomers.
If you find yourself stuck or want to double-check your fill-ins, this guide gives you gentle hints, full answers (spoilers included), and strategic tips so you can finish smart and fast.
What to Expect from Today’s Puzzle
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Format: Standard weekday Mini (5×5 grid) with five Across and five Down entries.
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Theme / Vibe: Black Friday / holiday-shopping oriented — expect consumer-culture references, retail-shopping clues, and gift tropes.
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Complexity: Easy to moderate. Some entries are straightforward, everyday words; others rely on cultural/seasonal context or abbreviations.
Hints for November 28, 2025 Clues
Here are today’s clues with subtle hints to help you solve — without spoiling everything at once.
🔹 Across
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1A. “Major tech purchases on Black Friday”
➤ Think plural, often electronics, often bought in a sale rush, three letters. -
4A. “Hit the mall”
➤ Four letters. A common verb for going out to shop. -
5A. “When many arrive at stores on Black Friday”
➤ Five letters. What you are if you show up early — possibly before crowd rush. -
6A. “’Buy one, get one ___’”
➤ Four letters. Classic sale phrase completion — deals fans know it. -
7A. “Clichéd holiday gift for dad”
➤ Three letters. A stereotypical present often associated with dads.
🔹 Down
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1D. “Number of days that the first Thanksgiving feast lasted”
➤ Five letters. Historical-feast trivia. -
2D. “Small, mouselike rodent”
➤ Four letters. Think of a rodent, but not a rat or mouse — a bit different. -
3D. “Intelligence bureau worker”
➤ Three letters. Often used to refer to a spy in movies and books. -
4D. “Traditional garment worn at an Indian wedding”
➤ Four letters. A common ethnic outfit in South Asia. -
5D. “Movement of money between accounts, for short”
➤ Three letters. A common banking abbreviation term.
✅ Answers (Spoiler Section)
If you just want the full grid completed, here are the official answers for Nov 28, 2025.
Across:
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1A: TVS
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4A: SHOP
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5A: EARLY
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6A: FREE
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7A: TIE
Down:
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1D: THREE
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2D: VOLE
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3D: SPY
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4D: SARI
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5D: EFT
Strategy Tips: Solve Smarter & Faster
Here are tips to make today’s Mini (and future ones) easier and more enjoyable:
1. Start with short answers
Short Across or Down entries (like TVS, TIE, SPY, EFT) are often the quickest to guess — and once they’re in place, their letters help lock in intersecting words.
2. Use theme context to your advantage
Since today’s puzzle revolves around Black Friday and holiday shopping, lean on that context when you see clues related to deals, malls, gifts, etc. It narrows down likely answers.
3. Watch for abbreviations and pluralization
Clues like “major tech purchases” or “movement of money … for short” often rely on plural forms or acronyms/abbreviations — think “TVS”, “EFT”, “FREE (as part of sale phrase)”.
4. Fill Down after Across (or vice versa) depending on what you get first
If you guess a strong Across answer, check its Down intersections right away — often filling one helps confirm several more.
5. Use process of elimination
If a clue seems generic (“small rodent,” “gift for dad”), list all common possibilities in your mind and see what fits with crossing letters already filled.
Why the NYT Mini Appeals Globally (US, UK & India)
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Accessibility: A quick, 5–6 minute puzzle — perfect for morning coffee breaks or evening relaxation.
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Universality of language: Uses everyday English words and short clue-answers, making it friendly to non-native speakers too.
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Cultural resonance: Occasional use of globally relevant themes (like Black Friday) makes puzzles timely and relatable in many countries.
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Mobile-friendly: Works well on smartphone — widely used across India and mature markets alike.
Whether you’re solving on the NYT app during a commute, or after dinner at home, the Mini gives you a small daily win.
Final Thoughts: Build the Habit, Enjoy the Small Wins
Today’s puzzle (Nov 28, 2025) rides on a seasonal vibe — tech deals, holiday gifts, sale-rush stores — but the logic behind the words remains simple: short entries, common vocabulary, and cross-letter interplay.
With the hints and answers above, you can breeze through the grid — or, better yet, use the strategies to solve it first, then check your work. Either way, the Mini gives you a quick shot of satisfaction, a subtle brain workout, and a moment of calm in a busy day.
If you’d like, I can set up a daily article template for you — so that for every day you get a ready-to-publish NYT Mini summary (with meta tags, hints, answers) emailed or pushed to you.
Happy solving — and see you tomorrow for the next Mini challenge!
