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Mini #402 · Friday

Our Mini Crossword Hints: November 6, 2026

Step-by-step hints for Mini #402, 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: Blow one's top, in a snitHint
  1. Hint 1: This describes a small fit of anger, often seen in casual speech.
  2. Hint 2: Think of storming off or getting huffy about something minor.
  3. Hint 3: To get annoyed or puffed up with irritation; starts with H.
5 Across: World's largest continentHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a geography fact about Earth's landmasses.
  2. Hint 2: Home to countries like China, India, and Russia, it's the biggest of seven.
  3. Hint 3: The largest continent by both area and population; starts with A.
6 Across: Like a noble gas that won't reactHint
  1. Hint 1: This describes chemical elements that tend to stay unreactive.
  2. Hint 2: Think of gases like helium or neon that don't bond with other elements.
  3. Hint 3: Chemically inactive or sluggish; starts with I.
7 Across: Where many college students live, for shortHint
  1. Hint 1: This is campus housing, often abbreviated.
  2. Hint 2: Think of the building where freshmen often share a room with a roommate.
  3. Hint 3: A short word for a college residence hall; starts with D.
8 Across: Peck on the cheekHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a small, affectionate gesture.
  2. Hint 2: Think of a light smooch given as a greeting or sign of affection.
  3. Hint 3: A brief touch of lips to show affection; starts with K.

Down

1 Down: Capital of VietnamHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a city name tied to Southeast Asian geography.
  2. Hint 2: It's the political center of a country once split into north and south.
  3. Hint 3: The capital city of Vietnam; starts with H.
2 Down: Website account holdersHint
  1. Hint 1: This refers to people who log into online platforms.
  2. Hint 2: Think of the people who have profiles or accounts on a website.
  3. Hint 3: People who register and use an online service; starts with U.
3 Down: Business companiesHint
  1. Hint 1: This refers to organizations involved in trade or industry.
  2. Hint 2: Think of law offices, consultancies, or other commercial enterprises you might work for.
  3. Hint 3: Organizations engaged in commercial activity; starts with F.
4 Down: Not lean, as meatHint
  1. Hint 1: This describes a type of meat with more marbling.
  2. Hint 2: Think of the opposite of lean cuts, with more visible grease or marbling.
  3. Hint 3: Describes meat that's rich in grease rather than lean; starts with F.
6 Down: Texter's "No clue," brieflyHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a common texting abbreviation for uncertainty.
  2. Hint 2: Think of a quick way to say you have no idea in a text message.
  3. Hint 3: Short for 'I don't know'; starts with I.

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 #402 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, “Where many college students live, for short”, is marked as a short form, so expect an abbreviated answer.
  • 6-Down, “Texter's ‘No clue,’ briefly”, is marked as a short form, so expect an abbreviated answer.
  • Some clues lean on a name or title, such as 1-Down, “Capital of Vietnam” and 6-Down, “Texter's ‘No clue,’ briefly”; if one is unfamiliar, work its crossing answers first.

More for November 6, 2026

Rather see the grid first? Play Mini #402. 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 #401 (November 5, 2026), opens with 1-Across, “Every last one”; the day after, Mini #403 (November 7, 2026), opens with 1-Across, “‘For your information,’ in a memo”.

November 6, 2026 Mini Crossword hints FAQ

Are these hints for the November 6, 2026 Mini Crossword?
Yes. Every clue on this page is from our own November 6, 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/2026-11-06 reveals one answer at a time.