The Mini represents a smaller edition of The New York Times‘ renowned daily crossword. While the complete crossword presents a longer test needing both intellect and resilience, The Mini provides a distinct experience.
With a limited number of clues to decipher, the daily puzzle acts as a swift gauge of agility for numerous players.
When a challenging clue disrupts a player’s flow, it can be exasperating! If you find yourself struggling with The Mini — much like Wordle and Connections — we’re here to assist.
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How to navigate Pips, the latest NYT game
Below are the clues and solutions for NYT’s The Mini for Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025:
Across
S, as in shaker
The solution is Salt.
Cawing bird
The solution is Crow.
___ shrimp (oxymoron)
The solution is Jumbo.
Most frequently used instrument in New York Times crosswords, with more than 800 occurrences
The solution is Oboe.
Units of corn
The solution is Ears.
Down
Type of gear for diving
The solution is Scuba.
Knight’s armor
The solution is Armor.
Sections of the brain
The solution is Lobes.
Number of teeth for Goofy
The solution is Two.
Presidential first name of the 2020s
The solution is Joe.
If you’re on the lookout for additional puzzles, Mashable has games available now! Visit our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
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