NYT Mini Crossword #Daily
NYT Mini Crossword Answers for May 7, 2026
This archive page preserves the NYT Mini Crossword guide for May 7, 2026. Review the completed clues and answer logic after solving.
Current daily puzzle
Updated for
Guidance bridge
This archive guide reviews the completed Mini Crossword for May 7, 2026. Use it to revisit the across and down clues, answer logic, and tricky entries after the puzzle is solved.
Archive Snapshot
- Date
- May 7, 2026
- Across clues
- 5
- Down clues
- 5
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Hardest clue
- 1 Down
- Answers
- Answers included below
Why 1 Downis the hardest clue in today's NYT Mini Crossword
1 Down is the hardest clue because OLINE is a compact sports abbreviation. Solvers who do not follow football may understand the clue only after crossings reveal that it means offensive line, the group that includes the center, guards, and tackles.
How to Start Today's Mini Crossword
Look for common words that complete A-, B-, and C- phrases. The grid gets easier once the grade-style answers are placed.
Mini Crossword Archive: Across Clues
Open these spoiler-light prompts before checking the answer list.
1 Across
A-___ (top-quality)
Think of the phrase for something excellent or first-rate.
4 Across
B-___ (decent grade)
This completes a school-grade phrase just above a plain B.
5 Across
C-___ (group of execs)
This is the executive tier that includes CEOs and CFOs.
6 Across
Fails to be
Read this as a contraction without the apostrophe.
7 Across
Nonbinary pronoun
This is a common singular or plural pronoun.
Mini Crossword Archive: Down Clues
Open these spoiler-light prompts before checking the answer list.
1 Down
The center, guards and tackles on an N.F.L. team, for short
This is the shortened form of offensive line.
2 Down
Like the taste of browned butter
Browned butter has a rich roasted flavor.
3 Down
Language suffix
Think of language names like Japanese or Portuguese.
4 Down
Helpful label by a door handle
This tells you how to open the door.
5 Down
Get into a lotus pose, perhaps
This is the simple action before holding the pose.
Mini Crossword Archive: Solve Checks
Use these quick checks before opening the full answer list.
- Do the across answers form familiar hyphenated phrases with A, B, and C?
- Does OLINE expand cleanly to offensive line?
- Have you treated ESE as a suffix rather than a standalone language?
- Do all answers fit ordinary Mini Crossword no-space spelling?
What Matters in This Puzzle
Letter-grade phrasing opens the puzzle
A-ONE, B-PLUS, and C-SUITE all depend on reading the clue prefix as part of a familiar expression.
Abbreviations matter today
OLINE is not a normal dictionary word in most contexts. It works because the clue explicitly asks for a short football form.
Post-game archive analysis
May 7, 2026 NYT Mini Crossword Clue Breakdown
This archive page shows the completed across and down answers with short explanations, so it works as a review page rather than a live spoiler-light hint page.
Across Answers
1 Across
ONE
Clue: A-___ (top-quality)
A-ONE means top-quality or first-rate.
4 Across
PLUS
Clue: B-___ (decent grade)
B-PLUS is a decent grade above a B.
5 Across
SUITE
Clue: C-___ (group of execs)
C-SUITE refers to a group of senior executives.
6 Across
ISNT
Clue: Fails to be
ISNT is the crossword spelling of isn't, meaning fails to be.
7 Across
THEY
Clue: Nonbinary pronoun
THEY is commonly used as a nonbinary pronoun.
Down Answers
1 Down
OLINE
Clue: The center, guards and tackles on an N.F.L. team, for short
OLINE is short for offensive line, which includes the center, guards, and tackles.
2 Down
NUTTY
Clue: Like the taste of browned butter
Browned butter is often described as tasting NUTTY.
3 Down
ESE
Clue: Language suffix
ESE is a common suffix in language names such as Japanese and Portuguese.
4 Down
PUSH
Clue: Helpful label by a door handle
PUSH is a common label near a door handle.
5 Down
SIT
Clue: Get into a lotus pose, perhaps
To get into a lotus pose, you may first SIT.
How This Mini Crossword Archive Puzzle Works
The May 7 Mini is built around compact phrase completions. ONE, PLUS, and SUITE solve the A-, B-, and C- clues and give useful crossings. ISNT and THEY are direct once apostrophe-free crossword spelling is accepted. OLINE is the main hurdle, while NUTTY, ESE, PUSH, and SIT confirm the down side of the grid.
Caution Notes
Do not add apostrophes in stored answers
ISNT represents isn't, but the grid answer is stored without punctuation.
Keep C-SUITE as one phrase
SUITE belongs because C-suite means a group of executives. It is not asking for a room clue by itself.
Previous and Next Day
Compare today's clue logic with neighboring Mini Crossword guides.