If you’re anything like me, the day is not complete until I finish all of the free word games from the New York Times. Working on the daily Connections, Wordle and Strands is a whole ritual for many of us. And we can’t forget about the NYT’s The Mini Crossword too!Although the NYT is known for “The Crossword,” a larger puzzle for paid subscribers, The Mini has quite the fan-following as well. This particular game resets at 10 p.m. on the weekdays, unlike some of the others that start over at midnight.So, if you’re working on today’s Mini on Sunday, May 18, 2025, and need some help (I’ve been there), get ready to read the clues and solutions for each line. We have them separated into hints first for both “Across” and “Down” words, followed by “Across Answers” and “Down Answers,” so be careful if you want to avoid spoilers as you scroll!

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Hints for NYT’s The Mini Crossword on Sunday, May 18, 2025

Here are additional clues for each of the words in today’s Mini Crossword.

NYT Mini Across Hints

1 Across: Golf shot that’s also a piece of computer hardware — HINT: Starts with the letter “C”

5 Across: Golf shot that’s also a piece of computer hardware — HINT: Stars with the letter “D”

6 Across: Screenwriter Sorkin — HINT: Starts with the letter “A”

7 Across: Nonreactive, chemically — HINT: Starts with the letter “I”

8 Across: “Bye-bye!” — HINT: Starts with the letter”S”

NYT Mini Down Hints

1 Down: Origami bird — HINT: Ends with the letter “E”

2 Down: Person added to the staff — HINT: Starts with the letter “H”

3 Down: Material used to plate the skin of the Parthenon Athena and the statue of Zeus at Olympia — HINT: Ends with the letter “Y”

4 Down: Five: Prefix — HINT: Starts with the letter “P”

5 Down: Speaker’s platform — HINT: Starts with the letter “D”

Answers to NYT’s The Mini Crossword for Sunday, May 18, 2025

Don’t go any further unless you want to know exactly what the correct words are in today’s Mini Crossword.

NYT Mini Across Answers

1 Across: Golf shot that’s also a piece of computer hardware — CHIP

5 Across: Golf shot that’s also a piece of computer hardware —DRIVE

6 Across: Screenwriter Sorkin — AARON7 Across: Nonreactive, chemically — INERT

8 Across: “Bye-bye!” — SEEYA

NYT Mini Down Answers

1 Down: Origami bird — CRANE2 Down: Person added to the staff — HIREE3 Down: Material used to plate the skin of the Parthenon Athena and the statue of Zeus at Olympia — IVORY4 Down: Five: Prefix — PENTA5 Down: Speaker’s platform — DAISThat’s it! How quickly were you able to complete today’s Mini?!

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