The NYT Mini Crossword for Wednesday, October 7, 2026, features a mix of biological trivia, Broadway history, and clever homophones. While the Mini is designed to be solved quickly, several clues today require specific knowledge of insect anatomy and pop culture beginnings.
Hints for the October 7 Mini Crossword
Across Clues
- 1-Across: This word completes the common idiom “___ not, want not.”
- 6-Across: To bother or get under someone’s skin.
- 7-Across: A three-word phrase for being struck with wonder or amazement.
- 8-Across: Plural title for men who have received a knighthood from the British Crown.
- 9-Across: The type of plain white shirt famously worn by James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause.
Down Clues
- 1-Down: A part of the human body that sounds exactly like the answer to 1-Across.
- 2-Down: The Broadway musical where actress Sadie Sink made her debut at just 10 years old.
- 3-Down: A specific type of drum that provides a sharp, cracking sound.
- 4-Down: What happens to a car when it is illegally parked or breaks down.
- 5-Down: An anatomical feature that a dragonfly surprisingly has five of.
SPOILER WARNING: The full list of answers for the October 7, 2026, NYT Mini follows below.
NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Oct. 7, 2026
Across Solutions
- WASTE (1A: “___ not, want not”)
- ANNOY (6A: Get under the skin of)
- INAWE (7A: Truly amazed)
- SIRS (8A: Knighted fellows)
- TEE (9A: Plain white article of clothing for James Dean)
Down Solutions
- WAIST (1D: Body part that’s a homophone of 1-Across)
- ANNIE (2D: Broadway musical in which Sadie Sink got her start)
- SNARE (3D: Part of a drum kit)
- TOWS (4D: Hauls away, as a car)
- EYE (5D: One of five for a dragonfly)
Puzzle Breakdown and Trivia
Today’s puzzle includes a few interesting facts that help bridge the gap between common knowledge and specialized trivia. The clue for 5-Down refers to the complex visual system of a dragonfly; while they are known for their two massive compound eyes, they also possess three smaller “simple” eyes called ocelli, which are used to detect light and maintain stability during flight.
In entertainment trivia, the answer to 2-Down highlights Sadie Sink’s early career. Before her breakout role in Stranger Things, Sink starred in the 2012 Broadway revival of Annie. At age 10, she initially played the role of Duffy and served as an understudy for Annie before eventually taking over the title role herself.
Finally, the puzzle utilizes a direct homophone link between WASTE (1-Across) and WAIST (1-Down), a common linguistic device in Mini Crosswords to help solvers fill out the top-left corner of the grid quickly.
