The NYT Mini Crossword for Sunday, September 27, 2026, introduces a specialized grid mechanic that may confuse players accustomed to the standard 5×5 layout. This puzzle utilizes a “snake” or “wrapped” format, where Across answers do not necessarily end at the right edge of the grid. Instead, they continue from the end of one row directly into the beginning of the next. While the horizontal answers wrap, the Down clues remain standard vertical words.
September 27 Mini Crossword Hints
Because of the wrapping grid, some answers are split across different numbers or share identical clues to reflect their symmetry. If you are stuck on the Sunday puzzle, consider these progressive hints before looking at the full solution.
Across Hints
- 1-Across: A three-letter word for being healthy or how clothes might “sit” on you.
- 4-Across and 8-Across: These two words combine to form a specific baseball achievement involving four runs.
- 6-Across and 7-Across: Both of these clues share the exact same description: “Alternative to theirs.”
Down Hints
- 1-Down: A five-letter word representing the animals of a particular region, often paired with “flora.”
- 2-Down: This five-letter answer refers to the specific phase of sleep where dreaming occurs.
- 3-Down: A three-letter abbreviation for six-point scores in American football.
- 4-Down: Places where people go to lift weights or exercise.
- 5-Down: A four-letter word meaning to make a liquid cloudy or muddy by stirring up sediment.
SPOILER WARNING: The full answers for the NYT Mini Crossword on September 27, 2026, are listed below.
NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Sept. 27
The wrapping grid for this Sunday puzzle results in the following answers for the Across and Down clues.
Across Answers
- 1-Across: FIT
- 4-Across: GRAND (Combined with 8-Across for “GRAND SLAM”)
- 6-Across: YOURS (Shared clue “Alternative to theirs”)
- 7-Across: MINE (Shared clue “Alternative to theirs”)
- 8-Across: SLAM
Down Answers
- 1-Down: FAUNA
- 2-Down: INREM
- 3-Down: TDS
- 4-Down: GYMS
- 5-Down: ROIL
The “snake” layout is a rare variation for the Mini, designed to make the 5×5 space feel more interconnected. By wrapping GRAND into YOURS, MINE, and SLAM, the puzzle allows for longer thematic phrases that would not typically fit in a standard five-column width.
