NYT Mini Crossword Answers Today – Sunday, February 1, 2026

NYT Mini Crossword Answers – Sunday, February 1, 2026

Need today’s NYT Mini Crossword answers for Sunday, February 1, 2026? We’ve got the full grid solutions, clue breakdowns, and tips to help you finish quickly — or double-check your work!

Today’s 5×5 grid had a few clever misdirections (especially the “pounded sticky rice” clue) but stayed true to the Mini’s bite-sized fun.

Puzzle date: Sunday, February 1, 2026
Editor: Joel Fagliano (standard Mini constructor)
Play free: nytimes.com/crosswords (Mini tab) or NYT Games app

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Full NYT Mini Crossword Answers – Feb 1, 2026

Across

• 1A. Spot to shop → MART
• 5A. Pounded sticky rice sometimes filled with ice cream → MOCHI
  (Japanese sweet treat made from pounded glutinous rice — often filled or topped with ice cream)
• 6A. _ Chekhov, “Three Sisters” playwright → ANTON
  (Anton Chekhov — classic Russian playwright)
• 7A. Like many dive bars and bird feeds → SEEDY
  (Double meaning: shady/dive-bar vibe + literally covered in seeds for birds)
• 8A. Jekyll’s evil counterpart → HYDE
  (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde — the classic split-personality story)

Down

• 1D. What makes the world go ’round, per “Cabaret” → MONEY
  (Famous line from the musical: “Money makes the world go around”)
• 2D. Performed in a play → ACTED
• 3D. __ Island (U.S. state) → RHODE
  (Rhode Island — the smallest U.S. state)
• 4D. Itty-bitty → TINY
• 5D. Squish to a pulp, as potatoes → MASH
  (Mashed potatoes — classic comfort food)

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Why Today’s Mini Was Fun (and Slightly Tricky)

• Wordplay highlights — “Like many dive bars and bird feeds” is a brilliant double definition for SEEDY.
• Cultural nods — MOCHI (food trend), Cabaret song MONEY, Jekyll/Hyde classic.
• Quick starters — MART, HYDE, TINY, MASH easy anchors.
• Average time — Experienced solvers ~45–90 seconds; beginners 2–4 minutes.

Tip — Start with short 3–4 letter clues (MART, HYDE, TINY) to unlock crossings into longer words like MOCHI and MONEY.

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FAQ – NYT Mini Crossword February 1, 2026

Q: What are the answers to today’s NYT Mini Crossword (Feb 1, 2026)?
A: Across: MART, MOCHI, ANTON, SEEDY, HYDE
Down: MONEY, ACTED, RHODE, TINY, MASH

Q: What does “pounded sticky rice sometimes filled with ice cream” mean?
A: MOCHI — the Japanese dessert made from pounded glutinous rice, often served with ice cream fillings.

Q: Why “SEEDY” for dive bars and bird feeds?
A: Double definition: “seedy” = shady/dive-bar atmosphere, and bird feed is literally full of seeds.

Q: Where can I play the NYT Mini Crossword?
A: Free on nytimes.com/crosswords or in the NYT Games app (no subscription for Mini).

Q: How long is the NYT Mini supposed to take?
A: Most people solve it in 30 seconds to 3 minutes — designed to be quick!

Q: Was today’s Mini harder or easier than usual?
A: Fairly standard Sunday difficulty — some clever clues but short words kept it flowing.

Q: Got any tips for solving the Mini faster?
A: Start with the shortest clues (3–4 letters), look for common endings (-ED, -Y), and fill downs early to unlock acrosses.

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Finished already? Drop your time in the comments below!
⏱️ Under 1 minute? Legend status. Over 3 minutes? You’re still faster than most first-timers.

Come back daily for fresh NYT Mini Crossword answers, hints, and breakdowns. Happy solving! 🧩☕