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Need help with the Thursday, February 12, 2026 NYT Mini? Start with the letter hints below, then open the spoiler sections for the complete Across and Down answers.
Across clues and hints
Try the clues first; each hint reveals only a letter or ending.
- 1 Across: Tequila cocktail that often comes in a salt-rimmed glass, casually. Hint: M___
- 5 Across: Signature export of Cuba. Hint: C____
- 6 Across: Bowl over. Hint: A___E
- 7 Across: Flood regulator. Hint: L___E
- 8 Across: Classroom station. Hint: D___
Down clues and hints
- 1 Down: Acted without saying anything. Hint: M____
- 2 Down: Desert plant used in tequila production. Hint: ____E
- 3 Down: Demolishes. Hint: R____
- 4 Down: Language from which we get “cosmos” and “democracy.” Hint: G____
- 5 Down: Berkeley campus, for short. Hint: ____L
Spoilers: full answers
Across
1A MARG · 5A CIGAR · 6A AMAZE · 7A LEVEE · 8A DESK
Down
1D MIMED · 2D AGAVE · 3D RAZES · 4D GREEK · 5D CAL
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Why 5 Down is CAL
One published answer listing gives DESK for 5 Down, duplicating 8 Across. Forbes and The Mini Hints both give CAL, and Forbes’s clue is “Berkeley campus, for short,” which fits CAL. The answer set above uses CAL.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to play the Mini
The New York Times Help Center describes the Mini as “a smaller version of the New York Times Crossword puzzle” and says it is available to anyone with a New York Times account. It lists NYT Games on the web, the NYT Games app, and the Play tab in the NYT News app as places to play. See the NYT Help Center details.
The Help Center says Games and All Access subscribers can solve past Mini puzzles in the archive. It also notes that a daily Mini is available the evening before its publish date. For a stuck square, answer, or whole puzzle, the page describes the lifesaver icon as a way to check or reveal it.
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