The New York Times Mini Crossword for , presented a mix of challenging across clues and more accessible down clues, according to solvers. CNET has published the answers for those seeking assistance with today’s puzzle, as well as links to solutions for other popular NYT games including Wordle, Strands, Connections, and Connections: Sports Edition.
Mini Crossword Answers: February 5, 2026
The Mini Crossword, a daily offering from The New York Times, continues to attract a dedicated following. Today’s puzzle featured a range of vocabulary and general knowledge questions. Here’s a breakdown of the clues and their corresponding answers:
Across
- 1A: Battery warning from a smoke detector –
CHIRP
- 6A: Word that can precede “book” or “tour” –
AUDIO
- 7A: Extreme edge –
BRINK
- 8A: Like a wobbly screw –
LOOSE
- 9A: Type in –
ENTER
Down
- 1D: Alternative to streaming –
CABLE
- 2D: One of the Great Lakes –
HURON
- 3D: Dummy –
IDIOT
- 4D: Wash under a tap –
RINSE
- 5D: Game in which Paul Newman successfully cons a crime boss in “The Sting” –
POKER
CNET notes that the Across clues proved somewhat more difficult for solvers, while the Down clues offered more straightforward paths to completion. Resources are available for those seeking tips and tricks to improve their solving speed and accuracy.
Beyond the Mini: Other NYT Games
The New York Times Games portfolio extends beyond the Mini Crossword, offering a variety of daily puzzles. On , solutions are also available for:
- Connections: This game challenges players to group words based on shared themes. Today’s categories included cultural symbols of the US (American flag, apple pie, bald eagle, and baseball), words relating to collision (bump, butt, knock, and ram), blue things (jeans, lapis lazuli, ocean, and sky), and Lees of Hollywood (Ang, Bruce, Christopher, and Spike).
- Connections: Sports Edition: A sports-themed variant of the Connections game.
- Strands: Players must identify hidden themes within a grid of letters. Today’s spangram was GIVEMEFIVE.
- Wordle: The popular word-guessing game.
The Times offers a Connections Bot to analyze player performance and provide a numeric score. Registered users of the Times Games section can track their progress, including puzzle completion rates and win streaks.
While the current day’s Mini Crossword is freely accessible, access to older puzzles requires a subscription to the Times Games section. The New York Times Games section provides a diverse range of online games, catering to a broad audience of puzzle enthusiasts.
