NYT Mini Crossword — September 17, 2026
Hints — one at a time
Hint 1 of 5
Today's five-by-five opens with the sound an insurance-mascot duck famously makes, then the name of the eccentric uncle from a popular Netflix show, played by a former SNL star.
Hint 2 of 5
Continue across with a harsh word for someone acting foolishly, and a phrase for expenses adding up to a certain sum.
Hint 3 of 5
The last across answer names the metal containers you'd find at a college keg party.
Hint 4 of 5
Down starts with a word for a person's distinctive quirky habit, and a word describing punishment or criticism that goes too far.
Hint 5 of 5
Finish down with getting a perfect score on something, the little lumps found in milk that hasn't been homogenized, and a popular high-fat, low-carb eating plan.
The answer — spoilers!
Reveal the full answer
- Noise heard in an Aflac commercial — QUACK
- ___ Fester, "Wednesday" character played by Fred Armisen — UNCLE
- Total moron — IDIOT
- Total, as expenses — RUNTO
- Containers for some basement parties — KEGS
- Unique mannerism — QUIRK
- Excessive, as criticism or punishment — UNDUE
- Scoring 100% on — ACING
- Lumps in non-homogenized milk — CLOTS
- Kind of high-fat, low-carb diet — KETO
This puzzle by the numbers
- 5 across, 5 down
- QUACK (5)
Counted from our own archive of NYT Mini Crossword answers — not published anywhere else.
