The NYT Mini Crossword is a compact 5x5 grid puzzle known for its clever wordplay, pop culture references, and general knowledge clues. Despite its size, it offers a stimulating mental workout that crossword enthusiasts love to tackle daily.
Today’s puzzle includes a fun mix of slang, familiar phrases, and descriptive clues. Below, you'll find both across and down clues with their corresponding answers and context to help boost your crossword-solving skills.
NYT Mini Crossword Puzzle Answers May 27, 2025
Looking for help with today's (May 27, 2025) NYT Mini Crossword puzzle? Here are some hints and answers for today's NYT Mini Crossword Puzzle.
Today's NYT Mini Clues and Answers for May 27, 2025
| Clue | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1A. "___ the whole world gone mad?" | HAS | Has fits the phrase "Has the whole world gone mad?" |
| 4A. Cause of increased "Aww"s and decreased "Zzz"s | BABY | Baby causes more "aww" (adoration) and less sleep ("zzz"). |
| 5A. Romantic dozen | ROSES | Roses are commonly given in a romantic dozen (12 roses) |
| 6A. Still competing | INIT | Init is short for "in it," meaning still involved or competing. |
| 7A. Flower ___ (as described by 1-, 4-, 5- and 6-Across, read in order?) | BED | Bed forms "flower bed" from the combined answers. |
| 1D. Certain religious Jew | HASID | Hasid refers to a member of the Hasidic Jewish sect. |
| 2D. Help with a crime | ABET | Abet means to assist or encourage wrongdoing. |
| 3D. The "S" of iOS: Abbr. | SYS | Sys stands for "System" in iOS (Operating System). |
| 4D. Skeleton piece | BONE | Bone is a structural piece of the skeleton. |
| 5D. 4-Down in the chest | RIB | Rib is a bone located in the chest area. |
1A. "___ the whole world gone mad?" NYT Crossword - HAS
Why Is the Answer “HAS”?
This is a partial quote clue. The full expression is often “Has the whole world gone mad?” The answer "HAS" completes the phrase grammatically.
4A. Cause of increased "Aww"s and decreased "Zzz"s NYT Crossword - BABY
Why Is the Answer “BABY”?
A baby often elicits “Aww” because it’s cute, but also causes sleep deprivation (less "Zzz") for parents. A clever play on emotional vs. physical impact.
5A. Romantic dozen” NYT Crossword Clue
If you’re a fan of the New York Times Crossword, you’ve likely come across clues that play with language in clever ways. One such clue is:
“Romantic dozen” (5 letters) The answer is ROSES.
Why Is the Answer “ROSES”?
A dozen red roses is a classic romantic gift. The clue uses “dozen” as a playful way to allude to 12 roses without directly saying it.
6A. Still competing NYT Crossword - INIT
Why Is the Answer “INIT”?
“INIT” is short for “in it,” as in “still in the competition.” A casual, spoken form turned into crossword shorthand.
7A. Flower ___ (as described by 1-, 4-, 5- and 6-Across, read in order?) NYT Crossword - BED
Why Is the Answer “BED”?
When you read the answers to 1A (HAS), 4A (BABY), 5A (ROSES), and 6A (INIT) together, they hint at "flower bed"—a patch of ground where flowers grow. It’s also a wordplay linking several clue answers together.
1D. Certain religious Jew NYT Crossword - HASID
Why Is the Answer “HASID”?
A Hasid is a member of a Jewish religious group known as Hasidic Jews, distinguished by specific traditions, dress, and customs.
2D. Help with a crime NYT Crossword - ABET
Why Is the Answer “ABET”?
“Abet” means to assist or encourage someone in doing something wrong, especially a crime. Common legal term.
3D. The "S" of iOS: Abbr. NYT Crossword - SYS
Why Is the Answer “SYS”?
iOS stands for iPhone Operating System, where the "S" refers to “system.” "SYS" is a common abbreviation for "system."
4D. Skeleton piece NYT Crossword - BONE
Why Is the Answer “BONE”?
A “skeleton piece” is literally one of the many parts that make up a skeleton — and that part is a bone.
5D. 4-Down in the chest NYT Crossword - RIB
Why Is the Answer “RIB”?
Humans usually have 24 ribs (12 pairs), which form the ribcage that protects vital organs like the heart and lungs. Contrary to a common myth, men and women typically have the same number of ribs.
