If you’re looking for help with today’s NYT Mini Crossword, you’ve come to the right place! The Monday Mini is a great way to get your brain moving after the weekend—quick, clever, and full of those “aha!” moments we all love.
Whether you’re racing the clock or leisurely solving over your morning coffee, today’s Mini brings a fun mix of pop culture, nature, and daily life. Below, you’ll find a few hints for the trickier clues—and, if you’re totally stumped, the full list of answers too.
Let’s dive in!
The NYT Mini: A Snapshot
Unlike its big sibling, the full New York Times Crossword, the Mini is bite-sized and fast—perfect for a short break or a warm-up for longer puzzles. You can play it online or in the NYT app. Plus, it’s free! A nice treat for anyone who enjoys sharpening their mind without committing to a full 15×15 grid.
Also read: Wordle 1458: Hints, clues, and answer for June 16
Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Clues and Answers
Today’s Mini Crossword Hints (June 16th)
Need a gentle nudge before peeking at the answers? Here are the first letters of each answer to get you started:
Across Clues
1A. Slow ___ (primate with big eyes) — Starts with L
6A. Title character who says “I’ve often seen a cat without a grin…” — Starts with A
7A. National mammal of the United States — Starts with B
8A. Something to R.S.V.P. for — Starts with E
9A. Word commonly mixed up with “fewer” — Starts with L
Down Clues
1D. Where care instructions are often found on a garment — Starts with L
2D. Main ingredient in tapenade — Starts with O
3D. Gets up — Starts with R
4D. Array on a touchscreen — Starts with I
5D. Email status — Starts with S
Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answer(Monday, June 16th)
Now that you’ve tried your hand at it—or are just ready for a lifeline—here are the full answers to today’s grid:
Across
1A. LORIS – A slow-moving primate with big eyes, native to Southeast Asia. Easy to confuse with LEMUR, which may trip some solvers up.
6A. ALICE – From Alice in Wonderland. A whimsical literary reference that brought some charm to today’s grid.
7A. BISON – America’s official national mammal. Majestic and historic.
8A. EVENT – Commonly what you’d R.S.V.P. to. Weddings, parties, conferences—take your pick!
9A. LESS – Often misused when “fewer” would be grammatically correct, and vice versa.
Down
1D. LABEL – Check your shirt tag! That’s where you’ll find instructions like “Machine wash cold.”
2D. OLIVE – The star of many Mediterranean dishes and the main player in a good tapenade.
3D. RISE – A simple verb with lots of meaning. Get up, level up, show up.
4D. ICONS – All over your phone or tablet. Tap one to open an app.
5D. SENT – The status of that email you just fired off. Let’s hope you didn’t hit “Reply All” by mistake!
Related:
Solver’s Corner
This one was trickier than your typical Monday, if you ask me. The primate clue (1A) threw me off—I initially went with LEMUR, which fit the boxes but led to some odd crossings, especially 2D, which clearly had to be OLIVE. A quick rethink got me to LORIS, which not only fit the clue better but made the rest of the grid fall into place.
The literary nod to ALICE (6A) was a highlight, and I appreciated the blend of general knowledge and everyday terms like EVENT and LABEL. That’s the magic of the Mini—it doesn’t need to be long to be smart.
If you’re aiming for a speed run, this was a smooth 1-minute puzzle for experienced solvers, though newer players might linger around the 2–3 minute mark depending on how fast they recognize clues like BISON or LESS.
Also read: Today’s NYT Connections Hints and Answers for June 16, #737
Final Thoughts
Another solid Mini from the NYT puzzle team. Playful, balanced, and just challenging enough to stretch the brain without feeling overwhelming. Whether you nailed it in under a minute or took your time over a cup of coffee, the Mini always delivers a satisfying moment of victory.
If you also enjoy Wordle, Connections, or the full NYT Crossword, I post daily breakdowns and hints for those games too. Follow along for more puzzle commentary, solving tips, and fun facts from the world of wordplay.
