Stuck on today’s NYT Mini Crossword? No worries—we’ve got you covered! The New York Times Mini Crossword is a compact yet challenging version of the classic daily puzzle. Designed for quick solving, it offers a fun brain workout without the time commitment of a full-sized crossword. Though smaller in size, it still delivers clever clues and satisfying “aha!” moments. Available both in print and online, it’s a daily favourite for puzzle lovers of all skill levels.
Need a Helping Hand? If today’s crossword has you stumped, we’ve compiled all the clues from the February 16, 2025, puzzle below. Simply search for the clue that’s giving you trouble and click to reveal the answer. This way, you can get just the hint you need—without spoiling the rest of the puzzle! Happy solving!
1A What has two hands around your wrist? NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Around (adverb)
- Describes movement across multiple locations or without a specific direction.
- Indicates a change to the opposite position or direction.
Answer:
[spoiler]WATCH[/spoiler]
Hint 2: Hands (noun)
- Refers to the available workforce or labour force.
- When used with “in,” it signifies custody or guardianship, particularly in divorce cases, referring to the right to care for and make decisions about a child.
6A Sneeze sound NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Sound (noun)
- In phonetics, a distinct unit of speech sound, regardless of whether it is a phoneme in a specific language.
- The perception or sensation of hearing something.
Answer:
[spoiler]ACHOO[/spoiler]
Hint 2: Sound (adjective)
- Based on clear reasoning and logic.
- Legally binding or effective.
7A Elevator choice NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Elevator (noun)
- A mechanical lift with a platform or enclosed cabin that moves vertically within a shaft to transport people between floors in a building.
- A control surface on an aircraft’s tailplane that adjusts ascent and descent.
Answer:
[spoiler]FLOOR[/spoiler]
Hint 2: Choice (noun)
- The selected person or object.
- The action of making a selection or decision.
8A ___ and Caicos NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Anagram – Rearrange the letters below to solve today’s answer.
RSKUT
Answer:
[spoiler]TURKS[/spoiler]
9A Magnetoreception, for many migratory birds and fish NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Migratory (adjective)
- Regularly moving from one place to another, often in pursuit of seasonal work.
Answer:
[spoiler]SENSE[/spoiler]
Hint 2: Anagram – Rearrange the letters below to solve today’s answer.
ESSEN
1D Floats, as a smell NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Smell (noun)
- A characteristic detected by the sense of smell.
- The overall ambiance or mood of a place or situation and its impact on people.
Answer:
[spoiler]WAFTS[/spoiler]
Hint 2: Smell (verb)
- Possess a quality that evokes a certain idea or impression.
- Perceive something not through direct senses but through intuition or instinct.
2D “I don’t have ___” (“Beats me”) NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Beats (noun)
- A 1950s American youth subculture that rejected materialism, conventional jobs, and traditional attire, embracing communal living, psychedelic experiences, anarchist ideals, and modern jazz styles like bebop.
Answer:
[spoiler]ACLUE[/spoiler]
Hint 2: Don (noun)
- A leader of an organized crime syndicate.
- A university professor, particularly at Cambridge or Oxford.
3D Rosebush protector NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Protector (noun)
- Someone who safeguards people or property.
Answer:
[spoiler]THORN[/spoiler]
Hint 2: Rosebush (noun)
- A shrub from the Rosa genus that produces roses.
4D Too many might be in the kitchen NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Many (adjective)
- A quantifier used with countable nouns, often preceded by “as,” “too,” “so,” or “that,” indicating a large but unspecified number.
Answer:
[spoiler]COOKS[/spoiler]
Hint 2: Kitchen (noun)
- A room designed and equipped for cooking and meal preparation.
5D Basketball game with a spelled-out score NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Basketball (noun)
- A sport played on a court between two teams of five players, where points are scored by shooting the ball through a raised hoop.
- An inflated ball specifically designed for playing basketball.
Answer:
[spoiler]HORSE[/spoiler]
Hint 2: Anagram – Rearrange the letters below to solve today’s answer.
ROHES
