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Mini #406 · Tuesday

Our Mini Crossword Hints: November 10, 2026

Step-by-step hints for Mini #406, 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: Places to grab a drinkHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about places people go out to socialize over drinks.
  2. Hint 2: These are establishments serving alcoholic beverages, often with stools and a counter.
  3. Hint 3: A place to grab a pint or cocktail, starts with B.
5 Across: Digital read on a KindleHint
  1. Hint 1: This is about how you read on a modern device rather than paper.
  2. Hint 2: It's the digital version of a book you'd read on an e-reader.
  3. Hint 3: An electronic version of a printed book, starts with E.
7 Across: Dutch cheese with a red wax coatingHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a type of cheese named after its country of origin.
  2. Hint 2: Picture a round cheese often sold with a bright red or yellow wax rind.
  3. Hint 3: A mild Dutch cheese known for its wax coating, starts with G.
8 Across: Sweetener in a bowl on the tableHint
  1. Hint 1: Think of what you'd add to coffee or tea to make it less bitter.
  2. Hint 2: This is the crystalline substance often kept in a small bowl for drinks or cereal.
  3. Hint 3: A sweet substance used to sweeten foods and drinks, starts with S.
9 Across: Quiz or examHint
  1. Hint 1: This is something students dread before a big grade.
  2. Hint 2: It's a short word for an assessment of knowledge, like a pop quiz.
  3. Hint 3: An evaluation of what you've learned, starts with T.

Down

1 Down: Pleads earnestlyHint
  1. Hint 1: This describes asking for something with a lot of emotion or urgency.
  2. Hint 2: Think of someone on their knees asking desperately for mercy or help.
  3. Hint 3: To plead earnestly for something, starts with B.
2 Down: Roughly, or concerningHint
  1. Hint 1: This word is used when you're giving an approximate figure or topic.
  2. Hint 2: It's what you'd say before giving an estimate, like 'around' or 'regarding.'
  3. Hint 3: A word meaning approximately or regarding, starts with A.
3 Down: Makeup for the cheeksHint
  1. Hint 1: This is part of a makeup routine focused on the face.
  2. Hint 2: It's the blush-like product applied to add color to the cheeks.
  3. Hint 3: A cosmetic used to add pink or red color to cheeks, starts with R.
4 Down: Fizzy soft drinksHint
  1. Hint 1: Think of bubbly drinks you'd order at a diner.
  2. Hint 2: These are carbonated beverages like cola or root beer.
  3. Hint 3: Carbonated soft drinks, starts with S.
6 Down: Little racing vehicle on a trackHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a small vehicle you'd find at a fun racing venue.
  2. Hint 2: Think of the mini race cars used in amusement park or competitive racing circuits.
  3. Hint 3: A small motorized vehicle used for racing, starts with K.

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 #406 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 5-Across, “Digital read on a Kindle”; if one is unfamiliar, work its crossing answers first.

More for November 10, 2026

Rather see the grid first? Play Mini #406. 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 #405 (November 9, 2026), opens with 1-Across, “Young woman, informally”; the day after, Mini #407 (November 11, 2026), opens with 1-Across, “Stylish and fashionable”.

November 10, 2026 Mini Crossword hints FAQ

Are these hints for the November 10, 2026 Mini Crossword?
Yes. Every clue on this page is from our own November 10, 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/2026-11-10 reveals one answer at a time.