Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Sunday, June 8

The New York Times Mini Crossword is a small, fun word puzzle that comes out every day. It’s like the regular big crossword puzzle but much smaller and quicker to solve. Today we’re looking at the puzzle from Sunday, June 8, 2025. This guide will explain all the answers in very simple terms so everyone can understand them.

About Today’s Puzzle
Today’s Mini Crossword isn’t super hard, but there are some clues that might make you stop and think. The first clue (1-Across) is especially tricky because it makes you think about space, but the answer is actually about sports. Don’t worry if you got stuck – we’ll explain everything clearly.

How the Mini Crossword Works

The Mini Crossword is a small grid with:

• 5 squares across

• 5 squares down

• 10 total clues (5 going across, 5 going down)

• All answers are short words (3-5 letters usually)

You can play today’s puzzle for free on the New York Times website or app. If you want to play older puzzles from past days, you need to pay for a subscription.

Today’s Across Answers Explained

1. Clue: Org. with shooting stars
   Answer: NBA
   Explanation: This clue is playing with words. “Shooting stars” usually means those bright lights in the night sky. But here, it means basketball players (stars) who shoot the ball. The NBA is the National Basketball Association where all the best players are.

2. Clue: Buildings with weather vanes, stereotypically
   Answer: BARNS
   Explanation: When people draw or imagine old farms, they often show barns with weather vanes on top that spin in the wind. This is a common picture in books and movies about farm life.

3. Clue: Swiss watch brand
   Answer: OMEGA
   Explanation: Omega is a very famous and expensive watch company from Switzerland. They make really nice watches that astronauts even wear in space!

4. Clue: What Santa, Gandalf and Dumbledore each have
   Answer: BEARD
   Explanation: All three of these characters – Santa Claus, Gandalf from Lord of the Rings, and Dumbledore from Harry Potter – are known for having long, white beards. Their beards are part of what makes them look wise and magical.

5. Clue: Pie in the ___
   Answer: SKY
   Explanation: This completes the saying “pie in the sky,” which means something that sounds nice but probably won’t really happen. Like if someone promises you something too good to be true.

Today’s Down Answers Explained

1. Clue: “I’m bad with ___” (party excuse)
   Answer: NAMES
   Explanation: At parties when you forget someone’s name, people often say “I’m bad with names” as an excuse. It’s a very common thing people say when they can’t remember who someone is.

2. Clue: Start of a billiards game
   Answer: BREAK
   Explanation: In pool or billiards, the “break” is the first hit where you smash the balls to start the game. It makes a loud cracking sound when done right.

3. Clue: Seeing red
   Answer: ANGRY
   Explanation: When people say they’re “seeing red,” it means they’re really mad or angry. It’s like the color red represents strong anger.

4. Clue: Timothée’s role in “A Complete Unknown”
   Answer: BOB
   Explanation: The actor Timothée Chalamet plays the singer Bob Dylan in a new movie called “A Complete Unknown.” Bob Dylan is a very famous musician.

5. Clue: Feeling blue
   Answer: SAD
   Explanation: When someone says they’re “feeling blue,” it means they’re feeling sad or down. Blue is often used as the color for sadness in songs and stories.

Tips for Solving Mini Crosswords

1. Start with the clues that seem easiest to you

2. Look for fill-in-the-blank clues first (like “Pie in the ___”)

3. Remember that sometimes words have double meanings

4. Use the letters you know from one word to help with others

5. Don’t get stuck too long on one clue – move on and come back

Where to Find More Puzzles

If you like the Mini Crossword, you might also enjoy:

• Wordle (the word guessing game)

• Strands (a word search game)

• Connections (grouping words together)

• Connections: Sports Edition (like Connections but all about sports)

All of these games are available on the New York Times Games website and app. The Mini Crossword updates every day at 10 PM Eastern Time, so you can always come back tomorrow for a new puzzle!

Our Thoughts

Today’s Mini Crossword had some fun clues that made you think in different ways. The “shooting stars” clue was especially clever because it wasn’t about space at all! The puzzle also included some current pop culture with the Bob Dylan movie clue.

Remember, everyone gets stuck sometimes on crossword clues. The more you practice, the better you’ll get at seeing how the clues work. The Mini Crossword is a great way to start your day or take a quick break while having fun with words.

Happy puzzling, and we’ll see you tomorrow for the next Mini Crossword!