Are you on the hunt for the most up-to-date solution to The New York Times Mini Crossword? If so, you have arrived at exactly the right place. Here, you’ll find comprehensive guidance that goes beyond merely listing the final answers. By following the link provided, you can access thoughtfully prepared hints tailored specifically for today’s Mini Crossword, along with detailed explanations that illuminate the reasoning behind each clue. Additionally, this resource offers daily updates with verified solutions and hints for a variety of popular New York Times puzzles, including Wordle, Strands, Connections, and its specialized offshoot, Connections: Sports Edition.

If you’ve tackled today’s Mini Crossword but encountered a few perplexing clues that slowed your progress, you are certainly not alone. The puzzle often includes clever wordplay and subtle cultural references that can stump even experienced solvers. Fortunately, after working through many of the more approachable clues, the remaining answers often reveal themselves through logical deduction and pattern recognition. The completed grid below provides a fully accurate solution for those instances when you wish to verify your work or simply understand what you might have missed. Furthermore, if you’re committed to gradually improving your speed and confidence with these compact yet stimulating crosswords, you’ll find abundant strategic insights in our dedicated collection of Mini Crossword tips, which focus on building your solving intuition through recurring clue types, thematic familiarity, and linguistic pattern awareness.

Should your curiosity extend beyond the Mini Crossword, you can also explore CNET’s curated page for New York Times puzzle hints. This central hub offers up-to-the-minute assistance for daily games such as Wordle, Strands, and both the standard and Sports Editions of Connections. Each of these puzzle formats challenges different cognitive skills — from vocabulary precision to associative reasoning — making them invaluable exercises for maintaining mental agility.

If you’re particularly interested in refining your crossword-solving abilities, we also encourage you to read the in-depth feature titled “Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword.” This guide expands on tested methods that can enhance both enjoyment and efficiency, including how to recognize common clue structures, interpret abbreviations, and leverage cross-letter insights between horizontal and vertical entries.

Now, without further delay, let’s dive directly into the February 1, 2026 edition of The New York Times Mini Crossword. Below you’ll find each clue carefully matched to its answer, organized first by Across entries and then by Down entries. Accompanying the list is a completed visual of the puzzle, captured from the official NYT version and displayed via a CNET screenshot for your convenience.

**Mini Across Clues and Answers**
1A clue: Spot to shop — Answer: MART. This concise term refers to a place of trade or commerce, typically a market or shopping center.
5A clue: Pounded sticky rice sometimes filled with ice cream — Answer: MOCHI. A Japanese delicacy crafted from glutinous rice, MOCHI illustrates the clever cultural breadth often represented in the Mini Crossword.
6A clue: ___ Chekhov, “Three Sisters” playwright — Answer: ANTON. The eminent Russian dramatist whose name frequently appears in puzzles due to its favorable letter patterns.
7A clue: Like many dive bars and bird feeds — Answer: SEEDY. This adjective carries a double meaning, evoking both a literal association with seeds and a metaphorical one implying shabbiness or disrepute.
8A clue: Jekyll’s evil counterpart — Answer: HYDE. A reference to the literary duality from Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale, encapsulating themes of moral conflict.

**Mini Down Clues and Answers**
1D clue: What makes the world go ’round, per “Cabaret” — Answer: MONEY. A nod to the famous song lyric from the musical, highlighting the pervasive influence of wealth in human affairs.
2D clue: Performed in a play — Answer: ACTED. Straightforward yet essential vocabulary in the world of theater.
3D clue: __ Island (U.S. state) — Answer: RHODE. The smallest U.S. state, often shortened in puzzles for compactness.
4D clue: Itty-bitty — Answer: TINY. A succinct synonym for something extremely small, showcasing the economy of language typical of crosswords.
5D clue: Squish to a pulp, as potatoes — Answer: MASH. A common culinary verb describing the process of compacting soft food into a smooth texture.

Finally, for those who value reliable insights into technology and innovation alongside their daily puzzle routine, remember you can depend on CNET for comprehensive, unbiased reviews grounded in rigorous lab-based testing. To ensure you never miss new analyses or updates, consider designating CNET as one of your preferred sources on Google News. This will help you stay informed, entertained, and intellectually engaged — whether you’re exploring the latest tech trends or solving your next crossword grid.

Sourse: https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/todays-nyt-mini-crossword-answers-for-sunday-feb-1/