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Mini Crossword Hints — May 18, 2026

Open one clue at a time. Each row moves from gentle nudge to stronger help without revealing the full answer.

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10 clues
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Across

1 Across: Alternatives, for shortHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about other options besides the main choice.
  2. Hint 2: This is a shortened form of a word meaning 'other options' or 'substitutes'.
  3. Hint 3: It means options other than the usual one, and starts with A.
5 Across: Full of flavor, as a ripe orangeHint
  1. Hint 1: This word describes fruit that's bursting with taste.
  2. Hint 2: You'd use this word for a steak or fruit that's moist and flavorful, not dry.
  3. Hint 3: It means full of liquid and flavor, and starts with J.
7 Across: Italian bitter liqueurHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a type of drink you might sip after dinner in Italy.
  2. Hint 2: It's a category of herbal, bitter Italian liqueurs often enjoyed as a digestif.
  3. Hint 3: It's the general term for bitter Italian liqueurs, and starts with A.
8 Across: Relating to the kidneysHint
  1. Hint 1: This word relates to a pair of organs in your lower back.
  2. Hint 2: Doctors use this adjective when discussing kidney function or disease.
  3. Hint 3: It means having to do with the kidneys, and starts with R.
9 Across: Military alliance with 30+ member nationsHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a well-known international defense organization.
  2. Hint 2: It's the alliance that includes the US, UK, and many European countries, headquartered in Brussels.
  3. Hint 3: It's the acronym for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and starts with N.

Down

1 Down: Open a little, as a doorHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about a door that's not fully closed or fully open.
  2. Hint 2: This word describes something slightly opened, like a door left unlatched.
  3. Hint 3: It means partly open, and starts with A.
2 Down: SI unit of luminous fluxHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a scientific unit related to light.
  2. Hint 2: It measures how much visible light a source emits, part of the metric system.
  3. Hint 3: It's the SI unit of luminous flux, and starts with L.
3 Down: Disney princess in 'The Princess and the Frog'Hint
  1. Hint 1: She's a Disney princess with a New Orleans connection.
  2. Hint 2: This princess dreams of opening her own restaurant and turns into a frog.
  3. Hint 3: It's the name of the princess in a film also starring a frog, and starts with T.
4 Down: Acorn-chasing squirrel in the 'Ice Age' filmsHint
  1. Hint 1: This character never manages to catch his favorite snack.
  2. Hint 2: This prehistoric squirrel-like creature famously chases an acorn throughout an animated franchise.
  3. Hint 3: It's the acorn-obsessed character from an animated movie series, and starts with S.
6 Down: Carpe diem, in modern slangHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a trendy way to say 'live in the moment.'
  2. Hint 2: It's an abbreviation popularized in pop culture meaning you only get one life to live.
  3. Hint 3: It's slang for seizing the day, and starts with Y.

Use hints slowly

Reveal the first hint, try the grid again, then come back only if the crossing letters still do not move.

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