Want a nudge before seeing the answers? Start with the letter hints below, then open the spoiler section for the complete solution to the Thursday, May 15, 2025 NYT Mini Crossword.
Hints for the May 15 Mini
Each hint gives the first or last letter of the answer without revealing the full entry.
Across
- Direction opposite of WSW: ends with E.
- Shoot out, as lava from a volcano: starts with S.
- “In what place?”: starts with W.
- Plants you didn’t plant, perhaps: ends with S.
- Like Mini crosswords … and a phonetic description of this puzzle?: starts with E.
Down
- Fencing swords: starts with E.
- Prone to geeking out: starts with N.
- Farm animals that sound like vowels not seen in this puzzle?: ends with S.
- Stadium at which the Beatles performed an iconic 1965 concert: starts with S.
- Org. for Hulk Hogan and John Cena: starts with W.
Spoilers: full answers
The answers are listed in clue order.
Across
| No. | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1 | ENE |
| 4 | SPEW |
| 5 | WHERE |
| 6 | WEEDS |
| 7 | EASY |
Down
| No. | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1 | EPEES |
| 2 | NERDY |
| 3 | EWES |
| 4 | SHEA |
| 5 | WWE |
What ties the clues together
The final across answer, EASY, is a self-referential clue: it describes Mini crosswords and serves as a phonetic description of the puzzle. Its intersecting down entry, EWES, answers the clue about farm animals that sound like vowels missing from the grid.
Where to play
In May 2025, Forbes reported that the Mini could be played on the NYT website or NYT Games app, while access to the archives required an NYT Games subscription. Access rules can change, so check the current NYT Games listing for the latest terms.
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