The Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, NYT Mini Crossword offers a mix of professional golf references, modern slang, and specific biological terminology. As is typical for a Monday puzzle, the clues lean toward the straightforward side, though a few vocabulary words might require a quick mental refresh.
Hints for Today’s Mini Crossword
If you prefer to solve the grid with a few nudges rather than the full solution, here are hints for the most challenging entries:
- 1-Across: This professional golfer’s first name is often heard during the PGA Tour, specifically regarding Mr. McIlroy.
- 2-Down: You know canine (dog), feline (cat), and equine (horse). This is the equivalent term for sheep.
- 3-Down: A slang term popularized by Gen Z that describes someone’s natural charisma or romantic appeal.
- 5-Across: The destination for many best-selling novels once they leave the bookshelf for the big screen.
- 7-Across: The demographic cohort succeeding Millennials, specifically those born in the early 2000s.
For more detailed breakdowns of daily puzzles, Parade provides ongoing coverage of New York Times game solutions.
SPOILER WARNING: The full answers for the Sept. 28 NYT Mini Crossword follow below.
NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Sept. 28, 2026
Across Answers
- 1-Across (Golfer McIlroy): RORY
- 5-Across (What a best-selling book might be adapted into): MOVIE
- 6-Across (Nickname that drops ‘beth’): ELIZA
- 7-Across (Early 2000s babies are part of it): GENZ
- 8-Across (Tool for a lumberjack): AXE
Down Answers
- 1-Down (Watch brand with a crown logo): ROLEX
- 2-Down (Word like equine, feline or canine, but for sheep): OVINE
- 3-Down (Charisma, in slang): RIZZ
- 4-Down (Opposite of ‘nay’): YEA
- 5-Down (‘Big’ prefix): MEGA
Today’s grid is anchored by OVINE at 2-Down, a specific adjective used in biology to describe sheep-like characteristics. The intersection of RIZZ and GENZ highlights the puzzle’s continued integration of modern linguistic trends. For sports fans, RORY McIlroy provides an easy entry point at the top of the grid, while ROLEX and MOVIE fill out the remaining luxury and entertainment themes.
