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Mini #397 · Sunday

Our Mini Crossword Hints: November 1, 2026

Step-by-step hints for Mini #397, 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: Resident of Dubai or RiyadhHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about who might live in the Middle East.
  2. Hint 2: This is a word for someone from countries like Saudi Arabia or the UAE.
  3. Hint 3: A person from that region of the world; starts with A.
5 Across: They separate roomsHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about the architecture of a building.
  2. Hint 2: These structural dividers keep one room from blending into another.
  3. Hint 3: The barriers between rooms in a house; starts with W.
7 Across: Have a heated debateHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about what happens when two people strongly disagree out loud.
  2. Hint 2: This is what you do when you're in a heated back-and-forth, trying to win a point.
  3. Hint 3: To quarrel verbally or make a case loudly; starts with A.
8 Across: Long deeply (for)Hint
  1. Hint 1: Think about a strong emotional craving.
  2. Hint 2: This is what you do when you deeply wish for something you don't have.
  3. Hint 3: To long for something intensely; starts with Y.
9 Across: Take a breakHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about what you do after working hard.
  2. Hint 2: This is simply pausing to relax and recover.
  3. Hint 3: To take a break and relax; starts with R.

Down

1 Down: On vacation, maybeHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about where you are when you're not home.
  2. Hint 2: This describes being somewhere other than your usual place, like on a trip.
  3. Hint 3: Not present, as in traveling; starts with A.
2 Down: Harder to findHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about scarcity.
  2. Hint 2: This describes something that's becoming more uncommon or harder to come by.
  3. Hint 3: More scarce or uncommon than before; starts with R.
3 Down: Green pond scumHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about what grows on top of a still pond.
  2. Hint 2: This is the slimy green plant-like growth you see floating on water.
  3. Hint 3: The green scum found on stagnant water; starts with A.
4 Down: Smudges, as a photoHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about what happens to an image when it's out of focus.
  2. Hint 2: This is what occurs when a picture gets smeared or fuzzy.
  3. Hint 3: To make an image fuzzy or indistinct; starts with B.
6 Down: Dispatched by mailHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about what happens to a letter after you drop it in the mailbox.
  2. Hint 2: This describes something that's been delivered through the postal system.
  3. Hint 3: Mailed or delivered by post; 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 #397 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

  • Some clues lean on a name or title, such as 1-Across, “Resident of Dubai or Riyadh”; if one is unfamiliar, work its crossing answers first.

More for November 1, 2026

Rather see the grid first? Play Mini #397. 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 #396 (October 31, 2026), opens with 1-Across, “Young horse”.

November 1, 2026 Mini Crossword hints FAQ

Are these hints for the November 1, 2026 Mini Crossword?
Yes. Every clue on this page is from our own November 1, 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/2026-11-01 reveals one answer at a time.