NYT Mini Crossword Answers, Hints for Wednesday, June 4, 2025 (nyt crossword clues)

Puzzled about a nickname missing “-uel”? Or unsure what summer in San Francisco feels like? Don’t worry—I’ve got you covered with helpful hints and the full answers for today’s NYT Mini Crossword.

The Mini version of The New York Times crossword is a quick, bite-sized puzzle for daily brain exercise. Unlike the full-sized crossword, the Mini usually features a compact 5×5 grid with around three to five clues across and down. However, the size can vary slightly—especially on Saturdays when things get a little more challenging.

While the larger NYT crossword requires a subscription, the Mini is completely free to play through the New York Times website or via the NYT Games app. But if you’re hoping to access past puzzles, you’ll need to sign up for a NYT Games subscription to browse through the archives.

Below are your extra hints and today’s official NYT Mini Crossword clues and answers for Wednesday, June 4.

Fair warning: Spoilers are ahead, so scroll at your own risk:

Clue Hints – Across

• 1 Across: A kids’ TV character named Fireman ______
• 4 Across: A shape often associated with dog chew toys
• 5 Across: Describes a memory that’s not so vivid
• 6 Across: Golf term for finishing a hole in two strokes under par
• 7 Across: The place where your socks seem to mysteriously disappear

Clue Hints – Down

• 1 Down: The texture of cereal left sitting in milk
• 2 Down: If it’s over 90 degrees, it’s this type of angle
• 3 Down: First name shared by a fictional VP and a bestselling vampire author
• 4 Down: A wild animal that’s also part of a key scene in “Lord of the Flies”
• 5 Down: What happens when someone is fed

Official NYT Mini Crossword Clues & Answers – June 4

Across

• 1 Across: Shortened name missing “-uel” – SAM
• 4 Across: Find in a paleontologist’s dig – BONE
• 5 Across: Typical summer weather in San Francisco – FOGGY
• 6 Across: Nickname for a golf score of two under par – EAGLE
• 7 Across: Appliance where laundry gets dried – DRYER

Down

• 1 Down: Mushy, like over-soaked cereal – SOGGY
• 2 Down: Something to keep in mind when taking a selfie – ANGLE
• 3 Down: Variety of lemon that’s sweet and not too tart – MEYER
• 4 Down: Wild pig, hunted in “Lord of the Flies” – BOAR
• 5 Down: U.S. central bank, often referenced with “the” – FED

My time today: 56 seconds.

I hit a snag on 1 Across. Initially, I went with “MAN” thinking of “Manuel” as the origin, which seemed logical at first glance. Plus, I mistakenly typed an “I” instead of a “Y” in “DRYER,” which threw off the whole bottom row. That misstep cost me time as I had to rethink the grid and double-check every cross.

Once I realized 1 Down wasn’t right, I reevaluated. “SOGGY” made more sense than my original guess, which cleared things up. As for 3 Down, I wasn’t familiar with the lemon variety at first. “METER” didn’t sit right—then it clicked: “MEYER” was the correct fit. That confirmed “SAM” as the right answer for 1 Across.

Come back tomorrow for more crossword fun—I’ll have the latest Mini answers and insights waiting for you!