July 23, 2026archive
NYT Mini Crossword — July 23, 2026
Hints — one at a time
Hint 1 of 5
Today's mini leans on a folksy stringed instrument, a wise-guy nickname, a staring contest, strong dislike, and a row of squares.
Hint 2 of 5
One entry names the twangy instrument famously featured in a well-known bluegrass banjo tune.
Hint 3 of 5
Down below, you'll find a harsh critique, a spot where couples exchange rings, and a peppy way to say something's great.
Hint 4 of 5
There's also a preppy apparel brand known by its initials mashed together, and a short way of saying someone approved something.
Hint 5 of 5
The shortest across answer is just three letters — it's what you'd call a horizontal line of squares in this very grid.
The answer — spoilers!
Reveal the full answer
- Instrument in the bluegrass classic "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" — BANJO
- Smart ___ (wise guy) — ALECK
- Compete in a contest that's lost by blinking — STARE
- Strongly disliked — HATED
- One of eight on a chessboard, or five in a Mini crossword — ROW
- Criticize harshly — BASH
- Where wedding rings are exchanged — ALTAR
- "Cool beans!" — NEATO
- Preppy clothing brand — JCREW
- Gave the green light — OKED
This puzzle by the numbers
- 5 across, 5 down
- BANJO (5)
Counted from our own archive of NYT Mini Crossword answers — not published anywhere else.
