Need help with today's NYT Mini Crossword? Here are all the clues, hints, and full answers for Wednesday, March 18, 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. Wednesday's puzzles tend to sit at a satisfying middle difficulty — approachable, but with a clue or two that'll make you pause.
Across Clues and Answers — March 18, 2026
1 Across: Word before "card," "flood" or "photography"
Hint: Think of a sudden burst of bright light — or something your phone does constantly.
Answer: FLASH
6 Across: Joust weapon
Hint: A long pole used by knights on horseback in medieval combat.
Answer: LANCE
7 Across: Brain, heart or lungs
Hint: These are all vital internal body parts — the kind doctors pay close attention to.
Answer: ORGAN
8 Across: "Frozen" reindeer
Hint: Not Rudolph — think Elsa's world, not Santa's.
Answer: SVEN
9 Across: What can be found on frozen roads or frozen margaritas
Hint: A four-letter mineral that serves two very different purposes depending on the temperature outside.
Answer: SALT
Down Clues and Answers — March 18, 2026
1 Down: Follow a dentist's recommendation
Hint: Something you're told to do daily but probably skip more than you'd like to admit.
Answer: FLOSS
2 Down: Baby bug
Hint: The early stage of an insect's life — worm-like, not yet recognisable as its adult form.
Answer: LARVA
3 Down: Shape made in the snow
Hint: A classic winter activity involving lying flat on your back and moving your arms and legs.
Answer: ANGEL
4 Down: Very little
Hint: A single syllable word meaning barely enough — a near-synonym of "sparse."
Answer: SCANT
5 Down: Egg layer
Hint: You'll find this bird in a farmyard, and her eggs on your breakfast plate.
Answer: HEN
Quick Answer Summary — March 18, 2026
Across:
- 1A: FLASH
- 6A: LANCE
- 7A: ORGAN
- 8A: SVEN
- 9A: SALT
Down:
- 1D: FLOSS
- 2D: LARVA
- 3D: ANGEL
- 4D: SCANT
- 5D: HEN
Today's Puzzle Debrief
Wednesday's Mini felt neatly constructed around that shared corner of FLASH and FLOSS — both starting with FL and crossing cleanly at the first letter.VEN is a lovely misdirect if you were picturing Christmas rather than Kristoff's loyal reindeer, and SALT earning double duty across icy roads and cocktail rims is exactly the kind of lateral clue-writing the Mini does best. SCANT may have been the trickiest answer to land without a crossing letter or two to guide you in.
More Daily Puzzle Help
Looking for hints from other days? Check out our recent guides:
- Tuesday March 17, 2026 NYT Mini Crossword Hints and Answers
- Monday March 16, 2026 NYT Mini Crossword Hints and Answers
- Sunday March 15, 2026 NYT Mini Crossword Hints and Answers
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