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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Here are first-letter hints for the Thursday, February 12, 2026, NYT Mini Crossword, followed by the complete answer key. Stop before the solution section if you want to solve it yourself.
First-letter hints
Each hint gives the first letter only. Clues and answers are listed in puzzle order; answers appear in the next section.
Across
- 1 Across: Tequila cocktail that often comes in a salt-rimmed glass, casually — M
- 5 Across: Signature export of Cuba — C
- 6 Across: Bowl over — A
- 7 Across: Flood regulator — L
- 8 Across: Classroom station — D
Down
- 1 Down: Acted without saying anything — M
- 2 Down: Desert plant used in tequila production — A
- 3 Down: Demolishes — R
- 4 Down: Language from which we get “cosmos” and “democracy” — G
- 5 Down: Berkeley campus, for short — C
Complete answer key
Spoilers below. The answers are reported by Forbes; the NYT help pages explain the game but do not reproduce this specific answer key.
Across
- 1 Across: MARG
- 5 Across: CIGAR
- 6 Across: AMAZE
- 7 Across: LEVEE
- 8 Across: DESK
Down
- 1 Down: MIMED
- 2 Down: AGAVE
- 3 Down: RAZES
- 4 Down: GREEK
- 5 Down: CAL
How to play and find the puzzle
The NYT describes The Mini as a smaller version of its Crossword. As in the full crossword, solve Across and Down clues to fill white squares with letters that form crossing words or phrases. NYT says The Mini is available to subscribers whose subscription includes Games access, including Games, All Access, and Home Delivery; play options include the NYT Games app, nytimes.com/crosswords, and the News app. Its in-game help control can check or reveal a square, an answer, or the entire puzzle. NYT Mini Crossword help
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According to the NYT schedule, weekday and Saturday puzzles become available at 10 p.m. EST on the preceding day; Sunday puzzles become available at 6 p.m. EST on Saturday. These are the publisher’s stated times in Eastern Standard Time. NYT Mini Crossword help
To revisit an earlier puzzle, use the NYT archive, switch to The Mini, and navigate by month and year. The website and app support archived puzzles. Games and All Access subscribers have archive access; non-subscribers have limited access. NYT archive help
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