As soon as the sun begins to set, my day isn’t truly complete until I’ve conquered all the free word games that the New York Times has to offer. Each evening, it has become a ritual for many of us to work through the daily Connections, Connections Sports Edition, Wordle, and Strands puzzles. And let’s not forget about The Mini Crossword too!
While The New York Times is renowned for “The Crossword,” a larger puzzle for paid subscribers, The Mini has its own dedicated fan base. Unlike some of the other games that reset at midnight, The Mini resets at 10 p.m.
So, if you find yourself working on today’s Mini Crossword on Sunday, March 8, 2026, and need a little guidance (trust me, I’ve been there), get ready to delve into the clues and solutions for each line. We’ve separated them into hints for both “Across” and “Down” words, followed by the corresponding answers.
Hints:
Across:
1. Chew on that! — Hint: Ends with the letter “M”
4. Like clothes in the hamper — Hint: Starts with the letter “D”
6. Late time to stay up on a weekday — Hint: Ends with the letter “M”
7. Using few words effectively — Hint: Ends with the letter “Y”
8. Traffic increases it, for short — Hint: Starts with the letter “E”
Down:
1. Climate activist Thunberg — Hint: Starts with the letter “G”
2. Home to Capitol Reef National Park, which surprisingly is not by the ocean — Hint: Ends with the letter “H”
3. Repeated exclamation — Hint: Ends with the letter “Y”
4. Freakin’ awesome — Hint: Starts with the letter “E”
5. Rolling ____ (super rich) — Hint: Ends with the letter “T”
Now, before we reveal the answers to today’s Mini Crossword, make sure you’re ready to know exactly what the correct words are.
Answers:
Across:
1. Chew on that! — GUM
4. Like clothes in the hamper — DIRTY
6. Late time to stay up on a weekday — ONEAM
7. Using few words effectively — PITHY
8. Traffic increases it, for short — ETA
Down:
1. Climate activist Thunberg — GRETA
2. Home to Capitol Reef National Park, which surprisingly is not by the ocean — UTAH
3. Repeated exclamation — MYMY
4. Freakin’ awesome — DOPE
5. Rolling ____ (super rich) — INIT
This puzzle challenge is not just a pastime – it’s a moment to unwind, engage, and sharpen our minds. So, the next time you’re looking for a mental workout, dive into the world of word games and challenge yourself to conquer the Mini Crossword.
Peace Nero is a writer and blogger who loves to explore different topics of self-development. She shares her personal experiences in order to help people discover their true purpose in life.