Loading today's puzzle...
MINI, the daily mini crossword
MINI is a small crossword on a 5x5 grid. A few squares are black, and the rest are letters. Each clue gives a short definition, and the answer is 3 to 5 letters long.
Everyone gets the same puzzle each day. It is an easy crossword puzzle you can finish in about three minutes. It is free, with no signup and no ads in the grid.
How to play
- Tap a square to pick it. Tap the same square again to switch between across and down.
- The clue for the word you are in shows above the keyboard. Type with the on-screen keys, or use a real keyboard.
- On a real keyboard, the arrow keys move around, Tab jumps to the next clue, Space switches direction, and Backspace erases.
- Tap any clue in the lists under the grid to jump to it. The number in brackets after a clue is how many letters the answer has.
- Stuck? Check marks the wrong letters. Reveal letter fills in the square you are on. Finish the grid and the puzzle is solved.
- Stars: 3 for a clean solve. Each revealed letter costs one star, and using Check costs one. The timer is only for fun and does not change your stars.
Tips
- Start with the 3-letter clues. Short answers fill in fast and give you letters for the longer words.
- Look at the number in brackets at the end of a clue. It tells you how many letters the answer has, which rules out a lot of guesses.
- Common word endings help: ED, ER, ING and S are very common in the answers.
- When two answers cross, a letter that fits both is usually right. Fill the sure ones first.
- Use Check at the end rather than after every word. You keep the three stars longer if you skip it.
Questions
What is a mini crossword?
A mini crossword is a small crossword, here 5x5 squares. It has fewer clues than a full-size crossword, so it takes minutes, not an hour. It suits a coffee break or a commute.
Is there a new puzzle every day?
Yes. A new daily mini crossword goes live at midnight your local time. Everyone gets the same puzzle. The archive has every past day if you want more.
How do stars and streaks work?
You get 3 stars for a solve with no hints. Each revealed letter costs one star, and using Check costs one. Solving the daily puzzle adds a day to your streak, and a free freeze each week covers one missed day.
Is this an easy crossword puzzle?
It is made to be easy to start. Every answer is a common English word, and every clue is a plain definition, so there are no names, puns, or trivia. It gets harder only because the grid is tight.
Where do the clues come from?
The clues are short definitions taken from WordNet, a lexical database from Princeton University. We pick the most common meaning of each answer and drop clues that give the answer away. WordNet 3.1 is copyright 2011 Princeton University and is used under the WordNet license. You can read it at wordnet.princeton.edu.