For Tuesday, May 5, 2026, the NYT Mini answers are SMALL, PATIO, ALONG, RANK and EYE across; SPARE, MALAY, ATONE, LINK and LOG down. The year matters: the separate May 5, 2025 puzzle had different answers.
NYT Mini answers for Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Spoiler alert: The answer key is below. Forbes writer Kris Holt’s dated guide identifies this as the Tuesday, May 5, 2026 puzzle and supplies the clues and answers.
Across
| Clue | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. Word before “time” or “potatoes” | SMALL |
| 6. Spot for a backyard grill | PATIO |
| 7. Moving right ___ | ALONG |
| 8. Major or general | RANK |
| 9. Sprouting part of a potato | EYE |
Down
| Clue | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. Word before “time” or “ribs” | SPARE |
| 2. Language spoken in Kuala Lumpur | MALAY |
| 3. Make amends | ATONE |
| 4. Sausage segment | LINK |
| 5. Fuel for a firepit | LOG |
Forbes’ May 4, 2026 answer guide by Kris Holt is the source for this dated clue-and-answer set.
If you meant May 5, 2025
The year is easy to overlook, but the Monday, May 5, 2025 puzzle was different. Its answers were:
#1 Best Overall
| Direction | Answers |
|---|---|
| Across | DIMES, ICANT, NINJA, ELIOT, YAY |
| Down | DINE, ICILY, MANIAC, ENJOY, STAT |
These are from Forbes senior contributor Erik Kain’s May 4, 2025 guide; don’t combine this answer set with the 2026 puzzle.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to know about The Mini
Holt describes The Mini as a quick version of the larger, long-running New York Times crossword. The guide says most daily puzzles use a 5×5 grid with three to five clues in each direction, while some puzzles—especially Saturdays—are larger. It also reports that The Mini and archived puzzles require an NYT Games subscription; check current access terms with NYT Games if you need to play or open the archive.
Holt reported a personal completion time of 1:07 for the May 5, 2026 puzzle. That is the writer’s own time, not an average or a measure of puzzle difficulty.
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