The Sunday, September 20, 2026, NYT Mini Crossword offers a 5×5 grid that leans into clever wordplay and linguistic transformations. Today’s puzzle features a mix of color-based trivia and a geographic clue tied to local wildlife.
Hints for Today’s Mini Crossword
If you are looking for a nudge in the right direction before checking the full solution set, consider these clues:
- 1-Down: Look at your smartphone dock; this app uses an envelope as its primary icon.
- 3-Down: This is a punny biology clue. While a salon might use heat, your biology determines your natural look.
- 6-Across: Think of a New England state. Both it and the animal in the clue start with “M” and end with “E.”
- 8-Across: This is the first word in the title of a famous French musical often referred to as “Les Miz.”
The most technical clue in this set is 4-Across, which requires identifying the earth-tone pigment “UMBER.” By replacing the “U” with an “A,” you get “AMBER,” shifting the shade from brown to a golden hue.
Spoiler Warning: The complete list of answers for the September 20, 2026, NYT Mini Crossword follows below.
NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Sept. 20, 2026
Across
- 1-Across: Running joke — GAG
- 4-Across: Shade of brown that becomes a shade of gold if you change its first letter to an “A” — UMBER
- 6-Across: State that shares the same first and last letters with MOOSE — MAINE
- 7-Across: Joined teams (with) — SIDED
- 8-Across: ___ Misérables — LES
Down
- 1-Down: App with an envelope logo — GMAIL
- 2-Down: Withstand — ABIDE
- 3-Down: Things that might make your hair curl? — GENES
- 4-Down: Sounds of hesitation — UMS
- 5-Down: Vibrant color for a sugar maple in autumn — RED
The Sunday grid maintains the standard 5×5 symmetry. The connection between 6-Across and the word “MOOSE” highlights Maine’s state animal while using the shared “M” and “E” structure as a hint. Additionally, 3-Down uses a classic crossword pun, where “GENES” refers to hereditary traits rather than salon products or denim. For players stuck on the color clues, the CNET puzzle guide offers further breakdowns of daily NYT word games.
