The New York Times Mini Crossword is a good way to perform daily mental exercise that packs clever wordplay and cultural references into its compact grid. Today’s puzzle, April 9, 2025, offers an interesting mix of clues that test your vocabulary and ability to think laterally. If you have successfully solved yesterday’s crossword problem, you can now dive into today’s solutions and unpack the cleverness behind each clue.
Complete Solutions for Today’s NYT Mini Crossword
Let’s break down each clue and its corresponding answer:
Across Clues
1. Smoke tendrils – WISPS
When smoke curls and forms delicate, thin streams in the air, these are called WISPS. The word perfectly captures these smoke formations’ ephemeral, fleeting nature, which drifts and disperse quickly.
6. Undo, as “I do’s” – ANNUL
This clue plays with the legal terminology around marriage. When someone wants to invalidate a marriage legally—essentially “undoing” their wedding vows or “I do’s”—the legal term is to ANNUL the marriage. An annulment differs from a divorce in treating the marriage as if it never happened legally.
7. What’s the point of church? – SPIRE
This is a clever wordplay clue! While one might think this is asking about the purpose or meaning of religious gatherings, it’s actually asking about the physical “point” of a church building, which is the SPIRE—the tall, pointed structure that often tops churches.
8. Adorable flab – PUDGE
This is a playful clue about how small amounts of “flab” or chubbiness are sometimes endearing, especially on babies or pets. The term PUDGE captures this concept—a slight, often cute plumpness seen as charming rather than concerning.
9. Like some prices and precipices – STEEP
Another clever wordplay clue that connects two seemingly unrelated things. Both prices and precipices (steep cliffs or drop-offs) can be described as STEEP—prices when they’re extremely high, and precipices when they’re sharply inclined.
Down Clues
1. Apple orchard pests – WASPS
This straightforward clue refers to common pests that plague apple orchards. WASPS are attracted to sweet fruit, especially as apples ripen, and they can be a nuisance for orchard workers and visitors during apple-picking season.
2. Two cents, so to speak – INPUT
This idiomatic clue refers to the expression “putting in one’s two cents,” which means offering your opinion or thoughts on a matter. Hence, providing your INPUT is another word for giving your opinion or thoughts.
3. Like a sarcastic dig – SNIDE
When someone makes a cutting remark with an undercurrent of contempt or mockery, we might describe that comment as SNIDE. This adjective captures the meanspirited nature of sarcastic digs designed to wound.
4. Get rid of – PURGE
A straightforward clue is looking for a synonym for eliminating or obliterating something. To PURGE is to cleanse or rid oneself of unwanted elements, whether physical items, digital files, or thoughts and emotions.
5. Succumb to a lullaby – SLEEP
The purpose of a lullaby is to soothe someone (usually a baby) into slumber. When you “succumb” to its gentle melody and rhythm, you fall asleep—hence the answer SLEEP.
The Completed Puzzle Grid
With all clues solved, the completed NYT Mini Crossword for April 9, 2025, looks like this:
What Makes Today’s Puzzle Interesting
Today’s Mini Crossword offers several noteworthy elements:
- Clever wordplay: The clue “What’s the point of church?” is a perfect example of misdirection, making you think about religion’s purpose before realizing it’s asking about the physical point (SPIRE) of a church building.
- Playful terminology: The use of “PUDGE” for “adorable flab” shows how language can transform something potentially harmful (excess body fat) into something endearing through word choice.
- Linguistic connections: The clue about “I do’s” connects everyday language (wedding vows) with specialized legal terminology (ANNUL), bridging casual and formal language.
- Visual imagery: Clues like “Smoke tendrils” (WISPS) and “Succumb to a lullaby” (SLEEP) evoke vivid mental pictures, adding a sensory dimension to the solving experience.
Conclusion
The April 9, 2025, NYT Mini Crossword showcases the puzzle’s ability to combine straightforward clues with clever wordplay and misdirection. From the concrete “Smoke tendrils” (WISPS) to the playfully ambiguous “What’s the point of church?” (SPIRE), it offers a satisfying mix of challenge and accessibility.
Like wisps of smoke, these mini puzzles may be small and fleeting—taking just a few minutes of your day—but they leave behind the satisfaction of conquering a mental challenge.
Did you solve today’s puzzle? Which clues gave you the most trouble? Share your experience in the comments, and keep your brain sharp by returning for tomorrow’s Mini Crossword Challenge!
