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Mini #357 · Tuesday

Our Mini Crossword Hints — September 22, 2026

Step-by-step hints for Mini #357, 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
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Across

1 Across: Enthusiastic, like a big fanHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about how someone acts when they really love a hobby or team.
  2. Hint 2: This word describes a super enthusiastic supporter, like a devoted sports fan.
  3. Hint 3: It means extremely eager or passionate, and it starts with A.
5 Across: Took a position in an argumentHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about picking a stance during a debate.
  2. Hint 2: This is what you did when you supported one point of view over another.
  3. Hint 3: It means aligned or supported a position, and it starts with S.
7 Across: Common pain reliever brandHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a brand you might find in a medicine cabinet.
  2. Hint 2: It's a well-known over-the-counter pain relief brand, often used for headaches.
  3. Hint 3: It's a common pain reliever brand name, and it starts with A.
8 Across: Simple and unadornedHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about something with no extra decoration or complexity.
  2. Hint 2: This word describes something basic, clear, and without frills.
  3. Hint 3: It means simple or unadorned, and it starts with P.
9 Across: Trusted partner or friendHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about someone you can always count on.
  2. Hint 2: This word describes a partner you trust completely, like a close companion in a cause.
  3. Hint 3: It means a trusted friend or supporter, and it starts with A.

Down

1 Down: Right away, in an office memoHint
  1. Hint 1: This is office shorthand for urgency.
  2. Hint 2: It's an abbreviation meaning 'immediately' that you'd see in a memo or email.
  3. Hint 3: It means right away, and it starts with A.
2 Down: Fancy country houseHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about a luxurious home in the countryside.
  2. Hint 2: This word describes a grand estate or mansion, often found in Europe.
  3. Hint 3: It means a fancy country house, and it starts with V.
3 Down: Absolutely perfectHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about something so perfectly suited that you couldn't imagine it better.
  2. Hint 2: This word describes something that's exactly what you'd wish for, flawless in every way.
  3. Hint 3: It means absolutely perfect or fitting, and it starts with I.
4 Down: Angel's oppositeHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about the opposite of a heavenly figure.
  2. Hint 2: This word describes a wicked or mischievous being, often depicted with horns.
  3. Hint 3: It means the opposite of an angel, and it starts with D.
6 Down: Refuse to admitHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about refusing to accept something as true.
  2. Hint 2: This word means to say something isn't true or to refuse a request.
  3. Hint 3: It means to refuse to admit or acknowledge something, and it starts with D.

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 #357 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 four-letter slots are 1-Across, 9-Across, 1-Down and 6-Down; the five-letter slots are 5-Across, 7-Across, 8-Across, 2-Down, 3-Down and 4-Down.

Clues to try first

None of the ten clues is a fill-in-the-blank, a quotation, a question-mark clue or a marked short form. Read each one as a plain definition first. The shortest clue is 3-Down, “Absolutely perfect”, at two words; the longest is 5-Across, “Took a position in an argument”, at six words.

More for September 22, 2026

Rather see the grid first? Play Mini #357. 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 #356 (September 21, 2026), opens with 1-Across, “Sculpture of a head and shoulders”; the day after, Mini #358 (September 23, 2026), opens with 1-Across, “A soak in the tub”.

September 22, 2026 Mini Crossword hints FAQ

Are these hints for the September 22, 2026 Mini Crossword?
Yes. Every clue on this page is from our own September 22, 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/2026-09-22 reveals one answer at a time.