Here are the clues and answers for the Wednesday, September 24, 2025, NYT Mini Crossword. The date is easy to misread: this answer key is for the 2025 Wednesday puzzle, not a puzzle dated September 24, 2026.
Across clues and answers
| Clue | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1A. Pond gunk | SCUM |
| 5A. With 8-Across, like an unlimited buffet | ALL YOU |
| 8A. See 5-Across | CAN EAT |
| 9A. Opponent of Athens in the Peloponnesian War | SPARTA |
| 10A. “Keep it down!” | SHH |
Down clues and answers
| Clue | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1D. Outs that advance the runner, in baseball lingo | SACS |
| 2D. Put your hands together | CLAP |
| 3D. Bone on the same side of the arm as the pinky | ULNA |
| 4D. Mike who voiced Shrek | MYERS |
| 6D. Hippocratic ___ (doctor’s pledge) | OATH |
| 7D. State with license plates that read “Greatest Snow on Earth” | UTAH |
A note about the 1-Across clue
Forbes contributor Erik Kain’s September 24, 2025 answer guide gives 1-Across as “Pond gunk.” Its hints section instead prints “Pond Kunk,” an apparent typo. The answer is SCUM. Read Kain’s guide.
Difficulty and solving time
Kain described the puzzle as neither the easiest nor the toughest Mini he had seen recently. He reported a personal solving time of 57 seconds, starting with SCUM and SPARTA before filling crossing answers including CLAP, MYERS, and OATH. That is his experience, not a general benchmark.
Quick Recap
#1 Best Overall
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
