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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchThese are the answers to the Friday, February 21, 2025 NYT Mini Crossword. “February 21” is ambiguous without a year: a separate 2026 puzzle is also documented, but its answer grid is not established here. Spoilers follow.
Friday, February 21, 2025: NYT Mini answers
The clue wording and answers below are from Forbes contributor Kris Holt’s February 20, 2025 guide. View the source guide.
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Across
- 1 Across — Elevator alternative: STEPS
- 6 Across — Evil corporation on Apple TV+’s Severance: LUMON
- 7 Across — Ring-shaped coral reef: ATOLL
- 8 Across — Aura of confidence: MOJO
- 9 Across — ___ Lanka: SRI
Down
- 1 Down — Severely criticizes: SLAMS
- 2 Down — One-on-one academic coach: TUTOR
- 3 Down — A head of our time?: EMOJI
- 4 Down — Preppy shirt: POLO
- 5 Down — Show with a recently aired 50th anniversary special: S.N.L.
Why the year matters
February 21 does not identify a unique Mini. The Forbes guide identifies the answer key above as the Friday, February 21, 2025 puzzle. A separate page documents a February 21, 2026 puzzle, but the available excerpt does not establish that puzzle’s answers. Do not use the 2025 grid as an answer key for another year.
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The New York Times says the Mini is a compact crossword: fill white squares with letters so words or phrases cross, using Across and Down clues. For historical puzzles, the official Crossword Archive instructions describe switching to the Mini archive, selecting a month and year, and choosing a puzzle. The archive is available on the web and in the Games app; access varies by subscription, so check the live help page for current terms.
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For a hint while solving, NYT’s in-game lifesaver control can check or reveal a square, an answer, or the entire puzzle. According to the NYT Crossword Archive help page, a correctly solved board triggers music and a congratulatory message; a filled board without that message still has at least one incorrect square. NYT’s Mini Crossword help page also describes where to play and the publication schedule, which can change or vary by day.
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