Stuck on today’s NYT Mini Crossword? Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered! This compact yet challenging puzzle is a quick brain teaser for those who love word games but don’t have time for a full-sized crossword. Released daily both online and in print, the Mini Crossword offers a satisfying challenge without taking up too much of your day.
If you’re searching for a specific clue from the February 14, 2025 puzzle, you’ll find all the hints listed below. We’ve structured this guide so you can easily locate the clue you need without accidentally seeing answers to others you’re still working on. Happy solving!
1A What each knuckle represents in a famous mnemonic device NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Mnemonic (adjective)
- Relating to techniques that aid memory.
Answer:
[spoiler]MONTH[/spoiler]
Hint 2: Mnemonic (noun)
- A tool, such as a rhyme or acronym, used to assist recall.
6A Best Picture nominee starring Mikey Madison NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Nominee (noun)
- A politician running for public office.
Answer:
[spoiler]ANORA[/spoiler]
Hint 2: Picture (noun)
- A work of graphic art created by applying paint to a surface.
- A visual depiction of an object, scene, person, or concept on a surface.
7A Something set on a microwave NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Microwave (verb)
- To cook or heat using a microwave oven.
Answer:
[spoiler]TIMER[/spoiler]
Hint 2: Microwave (noun)
- A kitchen appliance that heats food by passing electromagnetic waves through it, generating heat as water molecules absorb energy.
- A short electromagnetic wave, longer than infrared but shorter than radio waves, used in radar, microwave ovens, and communication technologies like telephone, facsimile, video, and data transmission.
8A “Here’s to love!,” e.g. NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Love (noun)
- Intimate physical activities, often including sexual intercourse, between two people.
- A deep affection or strong devotion toward someone or something.
Answer:
[spoiler]TOAST[/spoiler]
Hint 2: Love (verb)
- To derive pleasure from something.
- To engage in sexual intercourse with someone.
9A Burnt ___ (barbecue tidbits) NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Barbecue (noun)
- Meat that has been grilled or cooked with a highly seasoned sauce.
- A grill or rack used for cooking meat over hot charcoal, typically outdoors.
Answer:
[spoiler]ENDS[/spoiler]
Hint 2: Barbecue (verb)
- To cook food outdoors on a barbecue grill.
1D Not glossy, as a photo NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Glossy (adjective)
- Shiny and reflective.
- Superficially attractive or deceptive in appearance.
Answer:
[spoiler]MATTE[/spoiler]
Hint 2: Glossy (noun)
- A magazine printed on high-quality paper.
- A photograph developed on smooth, shiny paper.
2D Publication with the headline “History Sighs, Repeats Itself,” with “The” NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Headline (noun)
- The title or caption of a newspaper article.
Answer:
[spoiler]ONION[/spoiler]
Hint 2: Headline (verb)
- To add a headline to a newspaper page or story.
- To widely or prominently publicize something.
3D Wanderer NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Wanderer (noun)
- A computer program that searches the internet for publicly accessible resources to add to a database, which can later be searched using a search engine.
- A person who lives a roaming and unsettled life.
Answer:
[spoiler]NOMAD[/spoiler]
Hint 2: Answer used in the past:
- ROVER (5 letters)
4D Lock of hair NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Hair (noun)
- An extremely small distance or space.
- A thin, cylindrical filament that naturally grows from the skin of mammals.
Answer:
[spoiler]TRESS[/spoiler]
Hint 2: Lock (noun)
- A security mechanism within an ignition switch that prevents vehicle use without the correct key.
- A section of a canal enclosed by gates, used to regulate water levels for raising or lowering passing vessels.
5D Comedian Kevin (with a name that’s fitting for Valentine’s Day) NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Valentine (noun)
- A card given or sent to someone, often a sweetheart, on Saint Valentine’s Day.
- A person chosen to receive a greeting on Saint Valentine’s Day.
Answer:
[spoiler]HART[/spoiler]
Hint 2: Comedian (noun)
- A performer who entertains by telling jokes and acting comically.
- An actor who plays a role in a comedy.
