The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times‘ revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.
With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.
So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player’s flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.
Here are the clues and answers to NYT’s The Mini for Friday, July 17, 2026:
Mashable Top Stories
Across
Spanish question word
Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today
National Ice Cream Month and National Hot Dog Month
Battery life, informally
Poker buy-ins
Tie up, as a ship
Down
Only world capital that starts with “Q”
Painful sore
Snake ___ (dice roll)
The daughter of Saturn, sister of Jupiter and mother to Mars, in Roman myth
Traffic snarl
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to the latest Mini Crossword.
Topics
Gaming
Mini Crossword
