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Mini #393 · Wednesday

Our Mini Crossword Hints: October 28, 2026

Step-by-step hints for Mini #393, 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: Physician, for shortHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a common short way to refer to someone who treats patients.
  2. Hint 2: Think of the abbreviation you'd see on a hospital office door or prescription pad.
  3. Hint 3: It means a medical professional, informally, and starts with D.
4 Across: Italian greeting or goodbyeHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a word Italians use both when arriving and leaving.
  2. Hint 2: You might hear it in an Italian restaurant as a friendly hello or farewell.
  3. Hint 3: It means an informal Italian greeting, and starts with C.
5 Across: Not dull, like a good knifeHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about the opposite of dull or blunt.
  2. Hint 2: A good knife should have this quality so it cuts well.
  3. Hint 3: It describes something with a fine cutting edge, and starts with S.
6 Across: Broadcasts on TVHint
  1. Hint 1: This is what networks do with their shows.
  2. Hint 2: Think of the word for when a program is transmitted or shown to viewers.
  3. Hint 3: It means transmits on television, and starts with A.
7 Across: Settle a billHint
  1. Hint 1: This is what you do when you owe someone money.
  2. Hint 2: Think of the simple act of handing over money to settle what's owed.
  3. Hint 3: It means to give money for something you owe, and starts with P.

Down

1 Down: Book for daily personal entriesHint
  1. Hint 1: This is something you might keep by your bed to record your thoughts.
  2. Hint 2: Think of a personal journal where you write what happened each day.
  3. Hint 3: It's a book for daily writings about your life, and starts with D.
2 Down: Rowboat propellersHint
  1. Hint 1: These are the tools you use to move a small boat through water.
  2. Hint 2: Think of the long poles you dip into water to row.
  3. Hint 3: They are the paddles used to propel a rowboat, and start with O.
3 Down: Police officer, informallyHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a casual word for someone who enforces the law.
  2. Hint 2: Think of a nickname often used for a police officer on patrol.
  3. Hint 3: It's an informal term for a law enforcement officer, and starts with C.
4 Down: ___ Pet (sprouting novelty gift)Hint
  1. Hint 1: This is a quirky gift that grows green 'hair' when watered.
  2. Hint 2: Think of the novelty planter shaped like an animal or head that sprouts sprouts.
  3. Hint 3: It's the brand name of a sprouting novelty pet, and starts with C.
5 Down: Tree fluid used to make syrupHint
  1. Hint 1: This is the liquid that flows inside trees.
  2. Hint 2: Think of what's collected from maple trees to make a sweet syrup.
  3. Hint 3: It's the fluid inside a tree used for syrup, and starts with S.

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 #393 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 1-Across, 7-Across, 3-Down and 5-Down; the four-letter slots are 4-Across, 6-Across, 2-Down and 4-Down; the five-letter slots are 5-Across and 1-Down.

Clues to try first

  • 4-Down, “___ Pet (sprouting novelty gift)”, is a fill-in-the-blank: say the phrase out loud and the missing word often jumps out.
  • 1-Across, “Physician, for short”, is marked as a short form, so expect an abbreviated answer.
  • Some clues lean on a name or title, such as 6-Across, “Broadcasts on TV” and 4-Down, “___ Pet (sprouting novelty gift)”; if one is unfamiliar, work its crossing answers first.

More for October 28, 2026

Rather see the grid first? Play Mini #393. 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 #392 (October 27, 2026), opens with 1-Across, “Romantic outing, or a calendar entry”.

October 28, 2026 Mini Crossword hints FAQ

Are these hints for the October 28, 2026 Mini Crossword?
Yes. Every clue on this page is from our own October 28, 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/2026-10-28 reveals one answer at a time.