Struggling with today’s NYT Mini Crossword? Our guide for the March 9, 2025, puzzle is here to assist! The New York Times Mini Crossword is a compact version of the classic daily puzzle—shorter and quicker but just as engaging. It’s the perfect challenge for wordplay lovers who want a fun mental workout without the time commitment of a full-sized grid. Available both in print and online, it’s a daily dose of brain-teasing fun for solvers of all skill levels.
Need a hand with today’s puzzle? Below, you’ll find all the clues listed—simply select the one you’re stuck on to reveal the answer. No spoilers for the ones you’re still solving!
1A All over the ___ NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Over (adjective)
- Finished or completed
Answer:
[spoiler]MAP[/spoiler]
Hint 2: OVER (adverb)
- Spanning a duration of time
- Covering the whole area
4A Exasperated words before trailing off into a facepalm NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Trailing (noun)
- The act of following tracks or marks left by a person or animal in pursuit.
Answer:
[spoiler]IJUST[/spoiler]
Hint 2: Exasperated (adjective)
- Extremely irritated or lacking patience.
7A Kendrick who won five Grammys for 2024’s “Not Like Us” NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Five (noun)
- A basketball team consisting of five players.
- A playing card, domino, or die displaying five pips on its face.
Answer:
[spoiler]LAMAR[/spoiler]
Hint 2: Five (adjective)
- Equal to one more than four.
8A Rapper in a beef with 7-Across NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Across (adverb)
- In a transverse direction.
Answer:
[spoiler]DRAKE[/spoiler]
Hint 2: Rapper (noun)
- A hinged metal device, often decorative, used to knock on a door.
- A musician who performs rap music.
9A “The birds and the bees” NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: (Noun)
- The characteristics that differentiate organisms based on their reproductive roles.
- Actions related to sexual intercourse.
Answer:
[spoiler]SEX[/spoiler]
Hint 2: (Verb)
- To arouse sexually.
- To determine the gender of young chickens.
1D Not spicy, as salsa NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Spicy (adjective)
- Causing a burning or tingling sensation on the taste buds.
- Hinting at or implying sexual impropriety.
Answer:
[spoiler]MILD[/spoiler]
Hint 2: Salsa (noun)
- A flavorful, spicy sauce made with tomatoes, onions, and chili peppers, commonly served with Mexican dishes.
2D Slightly open, as a door NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Slightly (adverb)
- In a thin or slender way.
- To a minor extent or degree.
Answer:
[spoiler]AJAR[/spoiler]
Hint 2: Door (noun)
- An opening in a wall that serves as an entry or exit for a room or building, which can be closed by a door.
- Any structure or passage that allows access or escape.
3D Mountain lions NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Mountain (noun)
- A large landform that rises significantly above its surrounding area, taller than a hill.
- (Often followed by “of”) A vast quantity or great extent of something.
Answer:
[spoiler]PUMAS[/spoiler]
5D Alcohol whose varieties include junmai (“pure rice”) and nigori (“cloudy”) NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Alcohol (noun)
- A beverage or liquor that contains alcohol as its active ingredient.
- A group of volatile hydroxyl compounds derived from hydrocarbons through distillation.
Answer:
[spoiler]SAKE[/spoiler]
Hint 2: Include (verb)
- To grant participation or the right to be part of something, allowing involvement in its roles and responsibilities.
- To incorporate as a component of a larger whole, adding to a set, group, or category.
6D Dino with short arms NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Short (adjective)
- Lacking enough quantity to fulfill a need.
- Abrupt or curt in manner, often to the point of rudeness.
Answer:
[spoiler]TREX[/spoiler]
Hint 2: Short (verb)
- To deceive someone by giving them less money than owed.
- To cause a short circuit in an electrical system.
