NYT Mini Crossword — Hints & Answers for Wednesday, December 24, 2025

If the day isn’t complete without solving the New York Times word games, you’re not alone. The NYT Mini Crossword is a compact daily favorite that resets...

If the day isn’t complete without solving the New York Times word games, you’re not alone. The NYT Mini Crossword is a compact daily favorite that resets at 10 p.m., and today’s puzzle (Wednesday, December 24, 2025) has a mix of easy, clever and seasonal-feeling entries. Below you’ll find spoiler-free hints for each clue, followed by the full Across and Down answers if you want to check your grid.

Why the NYT Mini is so popular

The Mini Crossword delivers a quick, five-minute challenge that fits into coffee breaks, commutes and holiday downtime. Unlike the full NYT Crossword (which requires a subscription), the Mini is free and refreshes earlier — at 10 p.m. ET — so you can play before midnight routines.

How to use this guide

Want to avoid spoilers? Read only the hint sections and stop before the answer lists.
Need help finishing the grid? Skip to the “Answers” section.

Hints for NYT’s The Mini Crossword (Dec. 24, 2025)

Across hints

1 Across: Wordle or Boggle — HINT: Starts with the letter “G”
5 Across: Big Newton — HINT: Ends with the letter “C”
7 Across: Specialized vocabulary — HINT: Starts with the letter “L”
8 Across: “See you in a bit!” — HINT: Ends with the letter “R”
9 Across: Tone of many internet comments — HINT: Ends with the letter “K”

Down hints

1 Down: Sharks use them to breathe — HINT: Ends with the letter “S”
2 Down: From Singapore or South Korea, say — HINT: Starts with the letter “A”
3 Down: Large ocean ray — HINT: Ends with the letter “A”
4 Down: ___ beaver — HINT: Ends with the letter “R”
6 Down: Second-largest city in the Republic of Ireland, after Dublin — HINT: Starts with the letter “C”

Answers for NYT’s The Mini Crossword (Dec. 24, 2025)

If you’re ready for the solutions, here are the Across and Down answers for today’s Mini.

Across answers

1 Across: GAME (Wordle or Boggle)
5 Across: ISAAC (Big Newton)
7 Across: LINGO (Specialized vocabulary)
8 Across: LATER (“See you in a bit!”)
9 Across: SNARK (Tone of many internet comments)

Down answers

1 Down: GILLS (Sharks use them to breathe)
2 Down: ASIAN (From Singapore or South Korea, say)
3 Down: MANTA (Large ocean ray)
4 Down: EAGER (___ beaver)
6 Down: CORK (Second-largest city in the Republic of Ireland, after Dublin)

Quick solving tips

Fill the short, obvious answers first (GAME, GILLS) to get crossing letters.
Use letter patterns from filled words to narrow down trickier clues.
Don’t overthink playful clues in the Mini — they usually reward straightforward vocabulary.

Enjoyed the Mini? Try these related word games

If you love Wordle, Connections and the Mini, look for other short daily puzzles to mix up your routine — there are many Wordle alternatives and micro-crosswords available for free that refresh often.

Happy puzzling, and merry holidays — whether you use the hints or dive straight into the answers, the NYT Mini is a nice little brain break on December 24, 2025.