Alright, if you’re someone who jumps into the NYT Mini Crossword with your morning coffee and got a bit stuck today — same. No shame in needing a little help, especially with that one clue that just wouldn’t click: “Pelvic bone.” It sounds straightforward, but if you blanked, you’re definitely not alone. The answer was ILIUM One of those anatomy terms we don’t use unless we’re watching a medical drama or doing crosswords.
Other clues were a bit easier, but still had that clever edge the mini’s known for. Like:
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“Oh, for heaven’s ___!” → That was SAKE
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“cine” or “multi” endings → Answer: PLEX
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“Kid’s excited cry” → You guessed it: WHEE
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“This will ___!” (“Unacceptable!”) → It’s NOT DO, which feels a bit old-school, but hey, it works
Honestly, it was one of those puzzles where even if you finished it fast, you probably had at least one “Wait, what is that?” moment.
Why This Little Puzzle Keeps People Hooked
Here’s the thing about the Mini — it’s short, sure, but it really makes your brain work in a fun way. It’s five clues across and five down, but somehow they always sneak in at least one thing that throws you off. Today it was probably ILIUM for most folks.
The fun is in the mix: you get stuff like pop culture (Keith Richards from The Rolling Stones was in there today), mixed with casual phrases and then… bam, anatomy class flashbacks.
A lot of folks treat it like a warm-up before the full NYT crossword, but even on its own, it gives you that satisfying little “I did it!” feeling — or makes you groan and Google it. Both count.
