NYT mini crossword answers and hints for July 22, 2026

With today's NYT Mini Crossword, you can expect common, everyday words and abbreviations rather than obscure trivia. For what it's worth, the answers lean more recognizable than tricky.

Working on the daily Connections, Connections Sports Edition, Wordle, and Strands is a whole ritual for many of us. And we can't forget about the NYT's The Mini Crossword, too!

Although the NYT is known for "The Crossword," a larger puzzle for paid subscribers, The Mini has quite the fan following as well. This particular game resets at 10 p.m., unlike some of the others that start over at midnight.

So, if you're working on today's Mini Crossword on Wednesday, July 22, and need some help (I've been there), get ready to read the clues and solutions for each line. We have them separated into hints first for both "Across" and "Down" words, followed by "Across Answers" and "Down Answers," so be careful if you want to avoid spoilers as you scroll!

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Hints for NYT’s The Mini Crossword on Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Here are additional clues for each of the words in today's Mini Crossword.

NYT Mini Across Hints

1 Across: Mother chicken — HINT: Starts with the letter "H"

4 Across: Word after "leading" and "first" —HINT: Starts with the letter "L"

5 Across: Just peachy ... or a hint to the two letters that appear most often in this grid — HINT: Ends with the letter "Y"

6 Across: Bryant of "S.N.L." fame — HINT: Starts with the letter "A"

7 Across: Like overcooked chicken — HINT: Ends with the letter "Y"

Related: 16 Games Like Wordle To Give You Your Word Game Fix More Than Once Every 24 Hours

NYT Mini Down Hints

1 Down: Helpful — HINT: Starts with the letter "H"

2 Down: Swirl of water — HINT: Ends with the letter "Y"

3 Down: The Yankees, on scoreboards — HINT: Ends with the letter "Y"

4 Down: Supervillain's hideout — HINT: Starts with the letter "L"

5 Down: ____ joke — HINT: Ends with the letter "D"

Answers to NYT’s The Mini Crossword for Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Don't go any further unless you want to know exactly what the correct words are in today's Mini Crossword.

NYT Mini Across Answers

1 Across: Mother chicken — HEN

4 Across: Word after "leading" and "first" —LADY

5 Across: Just peachy ... or a hint to the two letters that appear most often in this grid — DANDY

6 Across: Bryant of "S.N.L." fame — AIDY

7 Across: Like overcooked chicken — DRY

NYT Mini Down Answers

1 Down: Helpful — HANDY

2 Down: Swirl of water — EDDY

3 Down: The Yankees, on scoreboards — NYY

4 Down: Supervillain's hideout — LAIR

5 Down: ____ joke — DAD

Related: NYT Mini Crossword Answers, Hints for Tuesday, July 21, 2026