NYT Mini Crossword Sunday Answers: Clues and tips to solve the September 7 puzzle

The NYT Mini Crossword has become a daily ritual for puzzle enthusiasts across the world. Compact yet stimulating, this bite-sized version of The New York Times’ full crossword offers a quick challenge without demanding too much time. Unlike the traditional crossword, which requires a subscription, the Mini is free-to-play and accessible both on the web and via the official NYT app.

For Sunday, September 7, 2025, the NYT Mini Crossword brought a fun mix of pop culture references, classic wordplay, and logical associations. Below is a detailed look at today’s NYT Mini Crossword clues and answers to help solvers check their progress or get a nudge in the right direction.

What Makes the NYT Mini Popular?

The Mini has gained immense popularity because of its approachability. Typically solved in under five minutes, it delivers a satisfying puzzle experience to both casual players and seasoned crossword fans. It also allows solvers to tackle archives through the mobile app, giving them the option to revisit past puzzles.

The design is simple: a 5x5 grid, fewer clues, and straightforward word associations. Yet, even with its small size, the Mini is known to throw in clever twists that keep players engaged.

Across Clues and Answers for September 7, 2025

Here are today’s Across solutions, as per a report by Forbes:

• 1A: Winner over scissors, loser to paper — ROCK
  
• 5A: Angelina of Mr. & Mrs. Smith — JOLIE
  
• 6A: “What a time to be ___!” — ALIVE
  
• 7A: Halloween costume with red horns — DEVIL
  
• 8A: Member of the C-suite — EXEC
  

Each of these clues demonstrates the Mini’s unique blend of pop culture, everyday sayings, and professional jargon.

Down Clues and Answers for September 7, 2025

The Down section leaned more toward brand names and classic trivia, as mentioned in a report by Forbes:

• 1D: Watch brand with the slogan “A Crown for Every Achievement” — ROLEX
  
• 2D: Martini garnish — OLIVE
  
• 3D: Honda model with a palindromic name — CIVIC
  
• 4D: Boat’s bottom — KEEL
  
• 5D: Green gemstone — JADE
  

These entries balanced simplicity with knowledge of consumer culture, making today’s puzzle both accessible and entertaining.

NYT Mini Crossword Solving Experience

Today’s puzzle carried a moderate difficulty level, striking a balance between trivia-based clues like “ROLEX” and easy-to-spot answers such as “ROCK.” Solvers familiar with pop culture would have quickly recognized “JOLIE” and “DEVIL,” while wordplay lovers found satisfaction in entries like “CIVIC.”

Many regular players reported completing the puzzle within a few minutes, underscoring why the Mini has become a go-to puzzle for a quick intellectual exercise.

FAQs

What is the NYT Mini Crossword?

The NYT Mini Crossword is a smaller, quicker version of The New York Times Crossword, designed for short daily solving sessions. It is free-to-play online and via the NYT app.

What were today’s Across answers for the Mini Crossword (Sept 7, 2025)?

The Across answers were ROCK, JOLIE, ALIVE, DEVIL, and EXEC.