NYT Mini Crossword Answers: February 12, 2026

By Ian Livengood • Edited by Joel Fagliano

Welcome to your verified daily guide for the New York Times Mini Crossword. The puzzle for February 12, 2026 brings a fresh set of vocabulary challenges. Below, you will find our interactive solver and strategic breakdown.

💡 Daily Hint: Focus on the Across clues first. Today’s grid has a flow that rewards horizontal solving.

Interactive Solver

Click a clue to reveal the answer.

The Mini Crossword

1Tequila cocktail that often comes in a salt-rimmed glass, casually

MARG

5Signature export of Cuba

CIGAR

6Bowl over

AMAZE

7Flood regulator

LEVEE

8Classroom station

DESK

1Acted without saying anything

MIMED

2Desert plant used in tequila production

AGAVE

3Demolishes

RAZES

4Language from which we get “cosmos” and “democracy”

GREEK

5Berkeley campus, for short

CAL

How to Play NYT Mini

The Mini is a bite-sized version of the New York Times crossword. It uses a 5×5 grid (sometimes larger on Saturdays). The Goal: Fill all white squares with letters to form words, based on the Across and Down clues.

Speed Matters: Unlike the daily crossword, many players race to finish the Mini in under a minute.
Intersection is Key: Every square is part of two words. If you are stuck on an ‘Across’ clue, try solving the crossing ‘Down’ clue.

The Evolution of the Mini

Launched in 2014, the NYT Mini was created to appeal to a digital-first audience. Unlike the main crossword, which gets harder throughout the week, the Mini remains accessible daily. It has developed its own ‘voice,’ often referencing pop culture, tech terms, and slang that might not fit in a traditional puzzle. This unique flavor is largely attributed to Joel Fagliano, who has edited thousands of these puzzles.

Understanding Grid Mechanics

To master the Mini, you need to understand grid construction. In a 5×5 grid, every white square is part of two words (one Across, one Down). This high interconnectivity means that solving one clue often gives you 20% of the letters for all crossing words.

Rotational Symmetry: Notice how the black squares are often arranged? Valid crosswords usually have 180-degree rotational symmetry. While the Mini sometimes breaks this rule for ‘art’ grids, knowing this can sometimes help you predict where black squares might be.

Building Your Vocabulary

The Mini is famous for using ‘Crosswordese’—short words that appear frequently due to their vowel-heavy structure (like ‘ERE’, ‘ARIA’, or ‘ALOE’). Playing daily helps you internalize these words, making you a faster and more efficient solver over time.

Recent Solutions

Date	Editor	Status
Today	Joel Fagliano	Solved
February 11, 2026	Joel Fagliano	View

Frequently Asked Questions

When does it reset?

10 PM EST (Weekdays), 6 PM EST (Weekends).

Is it free?

Yes, free without subscription.

Check out more puzzles at WordFinder Tips.