Need help with the Wednesday, May 21, 2025 NYT Mini? Start with the spoiler-free hints below, then open the answer list when you’re ready. This is the Mini crossword, not the full-size NYT crossword.
Hints for the May 21 Mini
Try these clues before revealing the complete grid answers. The hints give starting or ending letters and word associations without listing every solution.
Across
- 1-Across: Either role played by Michael B. Jordan in 2025’s Sinners; starts with T.
- 5-Across: An expression meaning “Wow, wow, wow!”; starts with O.
- 6-Across: A “Gr-” word that follows “green”; ends with E.
- 7-Across: A bit of land in the ocean; ends with E.
- 8-Across: Completes “Père _,” the French name for Santa Claus; starts with N.
Down
- 1-Down: The trunk of the body; ends with O.
- 2-Down: Completes “Wh-” following “white”; ends with E.
- 3-Down: Means to urge forward; starts with I.
- 4-Down: Completes “Bill _ the Science Guy”; starts with N.
- 6-Down: Alcohol paired with tonic; starts with G.
Spoilers: full answers
Stop here if you want to solve the puzzle without seeing the completed answer list.
| Direction | Clue | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Across | Either role played by Michael B. Jordan in 2025’s Sinners | TWIN |
| 5-Across | “Wow, wow, wow!” | OHMY |
| 6-Across | “Gr-” word that follows “green” | GRAPE |
| 7-Across | Bit of land in the ocean | ISLE |
| 8-Across | Père _, name for Santa Claus in France | NOEL |
| 1-Down | Trunk of the body | TORSO |
| 2-Down | “Wh-” word that follows “white” | WHALE |
| 3-Down | Urge forward | IMPEL |
| 4-Down | Bill _ the Science Guy | NYE |
| 6-Down | Alcohol paired with tonic | GIN |
A note on the 2-Down answer
Parade’s May 21 answer guide gives WHALE, which completes “white whale.” Forbes lists the same clue set but prints WHITE for 2-Down, an apparent transcription error: that answer does not fit the clue’s “Wh-” word following “white.” The clue-answer pairs and spellings shown here are reported by Parade; the conflicting entry appears in Forbes.
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