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Mini Crossword Hints — July 17, 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: Phone someoneHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about how you'd reach out to a friend using a telephone.
  2. Hint 2: This is the action of dialing someone up to talk, not texting or emailing.
  3. Hint 3: It means to ring someone on the phone; starts with C.
5 Across: Distant and reservedHint
  1. Hint 1: This describes someone's personality or demeanor in social situations.
  2. Hint 2: Think of someone who seems cold, standoffish, or keeps others at arm's length.
  3. Hint 3: It means emotionally distant or unfriendly; starts with A.
7 Across: Baseball fielder's hand coveringHint
  1. Hint 1: This is baseball equipment worn on one hand.
  2. Hint 2: A fielder slips this onto their hand to catch the ball.
  3. Hint 3: It's the leather mitt used to catch a baseball; starts with G.
8 Across: Lessened, as painHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about what happens to discomfort over time.
  2. Hint 2: This describes pain that has become less intense or was relieved.
  3. Hint 3: It means made less severe, as in soothed; starts with E.
9 Across: Belonging to that womanHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a possessive word used for a female owner.
  2. Hint 2: If something belongs to 'she,' you'd use this word instead of 'her' as a possessive pronoun.
  3. Hint 3: It means belonging to a female person; starts with H.

Down

1 Down: Where a bird might be keptHint
  1. Hint 1: Think of a container used to house a pet.
  2. Hint 2: A parrot or canary would typically be kept inside one of these with bars.
  3. Hint 3: It's an enclosure with bars for a pet bird; starts with C.
2 Down: God, in IslamHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a religious term referring to a deity in a major world religion.
  2. Hint 2: In Islamic faith, this is the name used for the one supreme being.
  3. Hint 3: It's the Arabic name for God in Islam; starts with A.
3 Down: Not tightHint
  1. Hint 1: This describes clothing or a fit that isn't tight.
  2. Hint 2: Think of the opposite of snug or fitted.
  3. Hint 3: It means not tight or fitting loosely; starts with L.
4 Down: Romantic partnerHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a term for someone you're romantically involved with.
  2. Hint 2: Think of a boyfriend, girlfriend, or significant other.
  3. Hint 3: It means a person's romantic partner; starts with L.
6 Down: F.B.I. agents, informallyHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a casual nickname for certain law enforcement agents.
  2. Hint 2: Think of a slang term used for federal agents, especially in movies.
  3. Hint 3: It's an informal word for FBI agents; starts with F.

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 17, 2026 Mini Crossword hints FAQ

Are these hints for the July 17, 2026 Mini Crossword?
Yes. Every clue on this page is for the July 17, 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/2026-07-17 reveals one answer at a time.