NYT Mini Crossword hints: NYT Mini Crossword answers and hints November 17: Here’s how to solve today’s puzzle

The NOW Mini Crosswordone of the most popular short-format puzzles from The New York Timescontinues to serve as a daily ritual for puzzle enthusiasts worldwide. Compact yet challenging, the Mini offers a quick but engaging test of vocabulary, recall and deduction. As players turned to the NOW Mini Crossword on Monday, November 17, 2025, several clues once again proved capable of halting even the most seasoned solvers.

For those seeking guidance, here are the curated hints and full answers for today’s grid.

NYT Mini Crossword: A Short Puzzle With a Growing Following

While the NYT’s traditional full-sized crossword remains a cultural staple, the Mini has carved its own identity among players who prefer a brisk challenge. With just a handful of Across and Down clues, the NOW Mini Crossword is viewed by many as a speed-run exercise, completed in under a minute on good days.
However, when a particularly ambiguous clue appears, it can delay a solver’s pace — prompting many to seek timely hints to maintain their daily streaks.

NYT Mini Crossword Across Clues and Hints

The Across grid on November 17 featured a blend of contemporary pop culture, office-life references, political identifiers and classic mythology.

Players looking for an entry point can revisit the clues below, as per a report by Mashable:

• Taylor Swift’s ___ Tour
  Hint: Shares its name with a historic, era-spanning music project.
• Counterpart of “found”
  Hint: Opposite of discovery.
• Difficult thing to achieve in a noisy office
  Hint: Highly valued in productivity circles.
• India’s prime minister since 2014
  Hint: The leader associated with the NDA’s longest-serving tenure.
• River of the underworld, in Greek myth
  Hint: Frequently referenced in epic poems and adaptations.

NYT Mini Crossword Down Clues and Hints

The Down clues broadened the grid with cinematic, royal, classic-game and science-based references:

• Will Ferrell holiday movie
  Hint: A feel-good Christmas favourite.
• Buckingham Palace has 775 of these
  Hint: A widely cited fact during tourist briefings.
• Fancy necktie
  Hint: Frequently worn at traditional horse-racing events.
• What’s found next to the Hall and Library on a Clue board
  Hint: Familiar to anyone who has played the classic mystery game.
• Carbon’s atomic number
  Hint: Early-period reference from the periodic table.

NYT Mini Crossword Answers for November 17, 2025

Below are the verified solutions for today’s puzzle:

Across Answers

Down Answers

FAQs

What time does the NYT Mini Crossword reset?

The puzzle refreshes every day at 10 p.m. ET, offering a new set of clues.

Is the NYT Mini Crossword free to play?

Yes. It is available free of cost on the NYT website and mobile app.