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Mini #365 · Wednesday

Our Mini Crossword Hints — September 30, 2026

Step-by-step hints for Mini #365, 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: "Woe is me!"Hint
  1. Hint 1: This is an exclamation of dismay or regret, often said when something goes wrong.
  2. Hint 2: Think of a dramatic sigh someone might utter after bad news, like a classic lament.
  3. Hint 3: It means an expression of grief or dismay, and it starts with A.
5 Across: Girl's name, or a type of heatherHint
  1. Hint 1: This clue points to both a common first name and a flowering shrub.
  2. Hint 2: The plant is a type of evergreen shrub often used in gardens, and the name is a popular one for girls.
  3. Hint 3: It's a female name that also names a heather plant, and it starts with E.
6 Across: CorrectHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about what you'd say when something is accurate or proper.
  2. Hint 2: This word means free from error, the opposite of wrong.
  3. Hint 3: It means accurate or proper, and it starts with R.
7 Across: What's left after a fireHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about the remains after something burns completely.
  2. Hint 2: This is the gray or white powdery residue left when fire consumes material.
  3. Hint 3: It means the residue from burning, and it starts with A.
8 Across: Places settings on the tableHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about preparing a table before a meal.
  2. Hint 2: This is what you do when you arrange plates, cups, and utensils before guests arrive.
  3. Hint 3: It means arranging tableware for a meal, and it starts with S.

Down

1 Down: Get up from bedHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about the first thing you do each morning.
  2. Hint 2: This means to get out of bed and start your day.
  3. Hint 3: It means to wake and get up, and it starts with A.
2 Down: Not heavyHint
  1. Hint 1: This describes something that doesn't weigh much.
  2. Hint 2: It's the opposite of heavy, often used to describe objects or even meals.
  3. Hint 3: It means not heavy, and it starts with L.
3 Down: Dull, throbbing painsHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about a dull pain you might feel in your muscles or joints.
  2. Hint 2: This word often pairs with 'pains' to describe a persistent, low-level discomfort.
  3. Hint 3: It means dull, continuous pains, and it starts with A.
4 Down: Saturdays, brieflyHint
  1. Hint 1: This is an abbreviation related to weekend days.
  2. Hint 2: Think of a short way to refer to the days at the end of the week, plural.
  3. Hint 3: It's short for the weekend days, and it starts with S.
5 Down: Long periods of historyHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about how historians divide up long stretches of time.
  2. Hint 2: This word refers to distinct periods in history, like the Ice Age or the Space Age.
  3. Hint 3: It means long historical periods, and it starts with E.

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 #365 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, 8-Across, 4-Down and 5-Down; the five-letter slots are 5-Across, 6-Across, 7-Across, 1-Down, 2-Down and 3-Down.

Clues to try first

  • 1-Across, “Woe is me!”, is written as a quotation, so the answer is usually something you could say with the same meaning.
  • 4-Down, “Saturdays, briefly”, is marked as a short form, so expect an abbreviated answer.

More for September 30, 2026

Rather see the grid first? Play Mini #365. 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 #364 (September 29, 2026), opens with 1-Across, “Obtains”; the day after, Mini #366 (October 1, 2026), opens with 1-Across, “New York City taxis”.

September 30, 2026 Mini Crossword hints FAQ

Are these hints for the September 30, 2026 Mini Crossword?
Yes. Every clue on this page is from our own September 30, 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/2026-09-30 reveals one answer at a time.