Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? The clues for 4-Across and 6-Across are the exact same, but the answers are different. Read on if you need help solving the puzzle today.
The Mini Crossword is a nice break from the tougher puzzles, and it takes only a fraction of the time of the vaunted, regular New York Times Crossword puzzle.
CNET publishes daily answers and hints for Wordle, The New York Times Mini Crossword, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.
Mini across clues and answers
1A clue: Gift decoration
Answer: BOW
4A clue: What might be all tied up for a basketball game
Answer: SCORE
6A clue: What might be all tied up for a basketball game
Answer: LACES
7A clue: Theme park that Walt Disney envisioned as a utopian city
Answer: EPCOT
8A clue: Small
Answer: WEE
The completed NYT Mini Crossword puzzle for Oct. 20, 2026.NYT/Screenshot by CNETMini down clues and answers
1D clue: Lawn bowling game
Answer: BOCCE
2D clue: Dunkable cookie
Answer: OREO
3D clue: Direction headed by Lewis and Clark
Answer: WEST
4D clue: Whole bunch
Answer: SLEW
5D clue: Not every hero wears one, in a saying
Answer: CAPE
CNET editor Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, a journalist and pop-culture junkie, is co-author of "Whatever Happened to Pudding Pops? The Lost Toys, Tastes and Trends of the '70s and '80s," as well as "The Totally Sweet '90s." She's been a journalist since 1989, working at Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, Twin Cities Sidewalk, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and NBC News Digital. She's Gen X in birthdate, word and deed. If Marathon candy bars ever come back, she'll be first in line. See full bio
English (US) ·