Need help with today's NYT Mini Crossword? Here are all the clues, hints, and full answers for Thursday, March 19, 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. Today's puzzle is a compact but clever one — a few of the clues lean on wordplay and trivia, so don't feel bad if one or two caught you off guard.
Across Clues and Hints — March 19, 2026
1 Across: Ghost's word
Hint: The classic spooky exclamation. Answer: BOO
4 Across: Magician's "And just like that, it's gone!"
Hint: A word meaning something vanished in an instant, often said dramatically. Answer: POOF
5 Across: With 7-Across, it's full of stars
Hint: This clue pairs with 7-Across to form a two-word phrase. Think outdoors, after dark. denomination in the board game — you get a lot of these at the start. Answer: ONES
7 Across: See 5-Across
Hint: The second half of the phrase started by 5-Across. Answer: SKY
Down Clues and Hints — March 19, 2026
1 Down: Score of 4 on a par 3
Hint: In golf, this is one over par — not the worst, but not great either. Answer: BOGEY
2 Down: ___ and aahs
Hint: Complete the phrase — sounds of wonder and admiration. Answer: OOHS
3 Down: Frequently, in poetry
Hint: A poetic, old-fashioned word for "often." Answer: OFT
4 Down: Like the sands of Harbour Island, Bahamas
Hint: Harbour Island is famous for its unusually coloured beaches — not white, not golden. Answer: PINK
5 Down: Dissenting votes
Hint: The plural of a word meaning "no" in a formal vote. Answer: NOS
Full Answer Summary — March 19, 2026
Across
- 1A: BOO
- 4A: POOF
- 5A: NIGHT
- 6A: ONES
- 7A: SKY
Down
- 1D: BOGEY
- 2D: OOHS
- 3D: OFT
- 4D: PINK
- 5D: NOS
Today's grid had a playful feel — NIGHT SKY spanning two clues was a neat construction, and BOGEY is the kind of golf term that trips up non-sports players. PINK for Harbour Island is a lovely bit of geography trivia that many solvers may not have known off the top of their heads.
More Daily Puzzle Help
Looking for other recent Mini Crossword guides? Here are the most recent:
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- Sunday March 15, 2026 NYT Mini Crossword Hints and Answers
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