Need help with today's NYT Mini Crossword? Here are all the clues, hints, and full answers for Sunday, March 22, 2026. Hints come first — scroll past them only when you're ready for the full solutions.
What Is the NYT Mini Crossword?
The NYT Mini Crossword is a fast 5×5 crossword puzzle published daily by The New York Times. It's designed to be solved in minutes, making it a perfect daily brain warm-up before tackling the full crossword. Sunday editions tend to be a touch more playful with their cluing, so don't be surprised if one or two entries catch you off guard.
Hints for Today's Mini Crossword — March 22, 2026
Not ready for the answers yet? Here are gentle clues to nudge you in the right direction:
Across
- 1 Across: Think of a well-known late-night television personality with the initials C.J.
- 6 Across: A German river valley whose name sounds a lot like the word for a popular alcoholic drink.
- 7 Across: A fizzy, sweetly familiar brand — one of the biggest names in a particular type of soda.
- 8 Across: Something you'd expect to see spinning on the reels at a casino.
- 9 Across: A US state in the South — home to the Lone Star flag.
Down
- 1 Down: A word for clever, artful skill — the kind a trickster or artisan might have.
- 2 Down: A major international airport serving a large Midwestern city.
- 3 Down: A well-known open-source operating system that forms the foundation for Android.
- 4 Down: The world's most populous nation as of recent records.
- 5 Down: Small, slippery amphibians often found near ponds.
Across Clues and Answers — March 22, 2026
1 Across: Jost of "Saturday Night Live"
Answer: COLIN
Colin Jost is a head writer and Weekend Update anchor on Saturday Night Live, a role he has held since 2014.
6 Across: German wine valley whose name rhymes with "wine"
Answer: RHINE
The Rhine is one of Europe's most important rivers, flowing through Germany and giving its name to some of the country's most celebrated wine regions.
7 Across: Big name in root beer
Answer: AANDW
A&W is one of the oldest and most recognised root beer brands in North America, stretching back over a century.
8 Across: Common slot machine symbol
Answer: FRUIT
Classic slot machines are famously decorated with fruit symbols — cherries, lemons, and melons — a tradition dating back to early mechanical machines that dispensed fruit-flavoured gum as prizes.
9 Across: James Talarico's state
Answer: TEXAS
James Talarico is a Texas state legislator, representing a district in the Austin area.
Down Clues and Answers — March 22, 2026
1 Down: Cunning skill
Answer: CRAFT
Craft can mean a trade or art form, but it also carries the sense of cleverness or cunning — as in "a crafty move."
2 Down: Chicago airport
Answer: OHARE
O'Hare International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the United States, serving the Chicago metropolitan area. It is named after World War II naval aviator Edward "Butch" O'Hare.
3 Down: Operating system on which Android is partly based
Answer: LINUX
Android is built on top of the Linux kernel, making Linux one of the most widely used operating systems in the world — even if most people never see it directly.
4 Down: World's most populous country
Answer: INDIA
India overtook China to become the world's most populous country in 2023, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion people.
5 Down: Small salamanders
Answer: NEWTS
Newts are small semi-aquatic salamanders found across Europe, Asia, and North America. They are a favourite of nature enthusiasts and often spotted in garden ponds.
Full Answer Grid — March 22, 2026
Across
- 1 Across: COLIN
- 6 Across: RHINE
- 7 Across: AANDW
- 8 Across: FRUIT
- 9 Across: TEXAS
Down
- 1 Down: CRAFT
- 2 Down: OHARE
- 3 Down: LINUX
- 4 Down: INDIA
- 5 Down: NEWTS
A Note on Today's Trickiest Clue
The entry most likely to slow solvers down today is 7 Across. The clue "Big name in root beer" points to A&W, but the way the answer fills the grid — as AANDW — can feel awkward if you're not expecting an ampersand to be spelled out. If you were thinking of five-letter beverage brands and drawing a blank, that's exactly why. Once the crossing letters start appearing, it clicks into place.
More Daily Puzzle Help
Looking for hints from other days? Check out our recent Mini Crossword guides: