NYT Mini Crossword · Answers

NYT Mini Crossword answers for Sunday, October 18, 2026

5x5 grid · Show any single answer, or the full grid at the bottom

A Sunday 5x5 by Joel Fagliano with a hide-and-seek joke at 4-Across and a texting abbreviation to close the Acrosses. Tap a clue to show just that answer.

Across

1. Harmless lie
FIB
4. Hard guy to find in a crowd?
WALDO
6. Milan's land
ITALY
7. Facial features missing from most emojis
NOSES
8. Texter's "Wow ... just wow"
SMH

Down

1. News ___
FLASH
2. Not doing anything
IDLE
3. They're "back in town," in a 1970s rock hit
BOYS
4. Comes in first
WINS
5. Tiny thing to split
ATOM

Full grid

Every answer, in grid order.

Across: FIB · WALDO · ITALY · NOSES · SMH
Down: FLASH · IDLE · BOYS · WINS · ATOM

Next on the board

Spelling Bee →

Center letter I, one pangram, 59 words to find.