The Monday, September 7, 2026, NYT Mini Crossword provides a smooth start to the week. While Monday puzzles are typically designed to be the most accessible in the New York Times weekly cycle, today’s grid includes clever wordplay and references to other popular games like Wordle and Settlers of Catan.
If you are stuck on the chessboard dimensions or a tricky bit of internal wordplay, the full list of solutions is provided below. This puzzle was verified against the official New York Times clues and confirmed for the September 7 date.
Hints and Context
Several clues in today’s Mini lean on specific trivia and word construction. One clue references a common five-letter word often used by Wordle players to exhaust vowel options early. Another requires a bit of literal thinking, asking for a body part hidden inside a specific word. For board game enthusiasts, you will need to recall both the layout of a standard chessboard and the resources collected in the strategy game Catan.
SPOILER WARNING: The answers for the September 7 NYT Mini Crossword are listed below.
Across Clues and Answers
- 1-Across: Tool with teeth — SAW
- 4-Across: Number of rows on a chessboard — EIGHT
- 6-Across: Common Wordle starting word — ADIEU
- 7-Across: Kick back — RELAX
- 8-Across: Band’s grouping of songs — SET
Down Clues and Answers
- 1-Down: French fries and coleslaw, for two — SIDES
- 2-Down: Fleet of foot — AGILE
- 3-Down: Resource in the game Catan — WHEAT
- 4-Down: Body part in the heart of “heart” — EAR
- 5-Down: Attire for a black-tie wedding — TUX
Puzzle Breakdown
The clue for 6-Across (ADIEU) highlights a common strategy in Wordle. While its effectiveness is often debated by mathematicians due to the placement of its vowels, it remains a favorite for many players because it includes A, D, I, E, and U in a single turn.
The answer for 4-Down (EAR) is a bit of “hidden in plain sight” wordplay. The clue “Body part in the heart of ‘heart'” refers to the three letters found exactly in the middle of the word: h-EAR-t. More information on daily puzzle strategies can be found at CNET.
