Skip to main content
Mini #353 · Friday

Our Mini Crossword Hints — September 18, 2026

Step-by-step hints for Mini #353, our own daily mini crossword. Looking for the New York Times Mini? That’s a different puzzle, published on nytimes.com.

Play puzzle firstAnswer key
All hints
10 clues
Spoiler-light

Across

1 Across: Black-and-white whale also called a killer whaleHint
  1. Hint 1: Think of a famous marine mammal known for its striking coloring.
  2. Hint 2: This ocean predator is often called a killer whale and performs in aquariums.
  3. Hint 3: A large black-and-white sea mammal, starts with O.
5 Across: Shopping center with many storesHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a place people go to buy things from many different stores.
  2. Hint 2: You might spend a Saturday wandering this indoor complex full of shops.
  3. Hint 3: A large retail building with multiple stores, starts with M.
6 Across: Light brown eye color, or a common nutHint
  1. Hint 1: This word describes both an eye color and a type of nut.
  2. Hint 2: Think of a light brownish color often paired with green in eyes, and also a popular nut in chocolate spread.
  3. Hint 3: A light brown shade or a nut used in Nutella, starts with H.
7 Across: "Slow down there!"Hint
  1. Hint 1: This is something you'd shout to tell someone to slow down or stop.
  2. Hint 2: It's an exclamation used to calm a person or animal down quickly.
  3. Hint 3: A word meaning 'slow down' or 'wait a second,' starts with W.
8 Across: Spun wool, or a long tall taleHint
  1. Hint 1: This word can mean a story that's exaggerated or hard to believe.
  2. Hint 2: Think of thread used for knitting, or a wildly exaggerated story someone tells.
  3. Hint 3: Spun fiber for knitting or a tall tale, starts with Y.

Down

1 Down: Nebraska's largest cityHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a major city in the Midwest, known for steaks.
  2. Hint 2: It's the biggest city in Nebraska, home to a famous zoo.
  3. Hint 3: Nebraska's largest city, starts with O.
2 Down: Blade for a close shaveHint
  1. Hint 1: This tool is used for shaving hair close to the skin.
  2. Hint 2: You'd use this sharp blade for a smooth, close shave.
  3. Hint 3: A sharp blade for shaving, starts with R.
3 Down: Free of dirtHint
  1. Hint 1: This describes something free of dirt or mess.
  2. Hint 2: Think of the opposite of dirty or messy.
  3. Hint 3: A word meaning spotless or tidy, starts with C.
4 Down: Every last bitHint
  1. Hint 1: This word means everything, with nothing left out.
  2. Hint 2: It's used to describe totality — every single part.
  3. Hint 3: A word meaning 'everything' or 'entirely,' starts with A.
6 Down: Interstate, for shortHint
  1. Hint 1: This is an abbreviation you'd see on a road sign.
  2. Hint 2: It's short for a major road that connects cities or states.
  3. Hint 3: Abbreviation for a major road, starts with H.

Use hints slowly

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

See answers

Before you open a hint

Mini #353 has ten clues, so this page holds 30 hints. Hint 1 points you at the idea, hint 2 narrows it down, and hint 3 all but gives it away. On this date, all ten third hints name the answer's first letter.

Short answers have the fewest possible fills, so they make a good start. The three-letter slots are 4-Down and 6-Down; the four-letter slots are 1-Across, 5-Across, 7-Across and 8-Across; the five-letter slots are 6-Across, 1-Down, 2-Down and 3-Down.

Clues to try first

  • 7-Across, “Slow down there!”, is written as a quotation, so the answer is usually something you could say with the same meaning.
  • 6-Down, “Interstate, for short”, is marked as a short form, so expect an abbreviated answer.

More for September 18, 2026

Rather see the grid first? Play Mini #353. When you're done, the answer key reveals one answer at a time, and the printable copy is there for paper solvers. The day before, Mini #352 (September 17, 2026), opens with 1-Across, “Hairstyle worn in a knot”; the day after, Mini #354 (September 19, 2026), opens with 1-Across, “Feel unwell”.

September 18, 2026 Mini Crossword hints FAQ

Are these hints for the September 18, 2026 Mini Crossword?
Yes. Every clue on this page is from our own September 18, 2026 puzzle, with three hints each, from a gentle nudge to a strong push. The answers themselves are on the answer key page.
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/2026-09-18 reveals one answer at a time.