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Mini Crossword Hints — July 2, 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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All hints
10 clues
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Across

1 Across: Texting shorthand for "by the way"Hint
  1. Hint 1: Think about how people quickly type this phrase when adding a side note in a chat.
  2. Hint 2: It's a common abbreviation you'd use before mentioning something unrelated or extra.
  3. Hint 3: It means 'incidentally' and starts with B.
4 Across: ___ Lama (Tibetan spiritual leader)Hint
  1. Hint 1: This is a title associated with a prominent Buddhist religious figure.
  2. Hint 2: The current holder of this title is known worldwide as a symbol of Tibetan Buddhism and lives in exile.
  3. Hint 3: It's the spiritual leader's title and starts with D.
6 Across: Ring-shaped coral islandHint
  1. Hint 1: Picture a tropical landform often seen in the Pacific Ocean.
  2. Hint 2: It's a ring of coral that surrounds a central lagoon, often pictured in postcards of paradise islands.
  3. Hint 3: It's a circular reef island and starts with A.
7 Across: ___ Prize awarded for peace or literatureHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a famous international award given for outstanding achievements.
  2. Hint 2: It's named after the inventor of dynamite and honors work in fields like peace, literature, and science.
  3. Hint 3: It's the award named after Alfred and starts with N.
8 Across: Navigation aid in your car, for shortHint
  1. Hint 1: This device helps you find your way when driving somewhere new.
  2. Hint 2: It's the satellite-based system that tells you turn-by-turn directions in your car.
  3. Hint 3: It's the abbreviation for a satellite navigation system and starts with G.

Down

1 Down: Shapeless massesHint
  1. Hint 1: Think of something without a clear or defined form.
  2. Hint 2: These are lumps or masses that don't have any particular shape, like something gooey or amorphous.
  3. Hint 3: It means formless lumps and starts with B.
2 Down: Bedtime storyHint
  1. Hint 1: This is something a parent might read to a child before sleep.
  2. Hint 2: It's a short story, often fictional, told to entertain or lull someone to sleep.
  3. Hint 3: It's a short narrative and starts with T.
3 Down: Legal document naming your heirsHint
  1. Hint 1: This is an important legal paper people prepare for after they pass away.
  2. Hint 2: It's the document that spells out who inherits your belongings when you die.
  3. Hint 3: It's a legal document about inheritance and starts with W.
4 Down: "Oh, shoot!"Hint
  1. Hint 1: This is an exclamation of mild frustration or surprise.
  2. Hint 2: It's what you might say instead of stronger language when something goes wrong.
  3. Hint 3: It's a mild expression of disappointment and starts with D.
5 Down: On top ofHint
  1. Hint 1: This phrase describes a position relative to something else.
  2. Hint 2: It means positioned above or covering something else, like a topping.
  3. Hint 3: It means 'above' or 'covering' and starts with A.

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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July 2, 2026 Mini Crossword hints FAQ

Are these hints for the July 2, 2026 Mini Crossword?
Yes. Every clue on this page is for the July 2, 2026 puzzle, with three progressive hints each — from a gentle nudge to a stronger push, but never the full answer.
Is this the NYT Mini hints page?
No. This is an independent daily mini crossword. It is not affiliated with, authorized by, sponsored by, or endorsed by The New York Times.
What is the difference between hints and the answer key?
Hints move you toward the answer one step at a time so you can still solve it yourself. If you want to see a solution outright, the answer key at /answers/2026-07-02 reveals one answer at a time.