Today's NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Oct. 21

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today's Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands and Connections puzzles.

The New York Times Crossword Puzzle is legendary. But if you don't have that much time, the Mini Crossword is an entertaining substitute. The Mini Crossword is much easier than the old-school NYT Crossword, and you probably can complete it in a couple of minutes. But if you're stuck, we've got the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times' games collection. If you're looking for today's Wordle, Connections and Strands answers, you can visit CNET's NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let's get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

The completed NYT Mini Crossword puzzle for Oct. 21, 2024.

NYT/Screenshot by CNET

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Toe ___ (goofy term for a pad on a cat's foot)
Answer: BEAN

5A clue: Tummy
Answer: BELLY

6A clue: Purple flower that symbolizes one's first love
Answer: LILAC

7A clue: Matures, as cheese
Answer: AGES

8A clue: Feathery farm female
Answer: HEN

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: "Sad" color joked about in viral TikTok videos
Answer: BEIGE

2D clue: Comedian DeGeneres
Answer: ELLEN

3D clue: "'Tis a pity!"
Answer: ALAS

4D clue: Home o' MoMA
Answer: NYC

5D clue: Just kinda meh
Answer: BLAH

How to play more Mini Crosswords

The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day's Mini Crossword for free, but you'll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.