Mini #12 — the answers

The Mini crossword from September 13, 2026: a 5×5 grid, 5 across and 5 down, filled in the order the crossings give it away.

The clues

Across

1. 1. Like 7 and 13 — ODD
2. 4. Toad’s bump, in folklore — WART
3. 6. Inbox filler — EMAIL
4. 8. Carpet feature — PILE
5. 9. Fisherman’s catcher — NET

Down

1. 1. Be in the red — OWE
2. 2. Like a basement, often — DAMP
3. 3. Exhaust, as energy — DRAIN
4. 5. Scrabble piece — TILE
5. 7. Tennis do-over — LET

The walkthrough

One way through: start at 1-Across, then let each answer feed the words it crosses — the slot with the most letters already showing is the one to fill next.

1. 1-Across, “Like 7 and 13” — nothing given yet: ODD.
2. 1-Down, “Be in the red” — O·· from the crossings: OWE.
3. 4-Across, “Toad’s bump, in folklore” — W··· from the crossings: WART.
4. 2-Down, “Like a basement, often” — DA·· from the crossings: DAMP.
5. 6-Across, “Inbox filler” — EM··· from the crossings: EMAIL.
6. 3-Down, “Exhaust, as energy” — DRA·· from the crossings: DRAIN.
7. 8-Across, “Carpet feature” — PI·· from the crossings: PILE.
8. 5-Down, “Scrabble piece” — TIL· from the crossings: TILE.
9. 9-Across, “Fisherman’s catcher” — NE· from the crossings: NET.
10. 7-Down, “Tennis do-over” — already spelled out by its crossings: LET.

The answer

Previous: Mini #11 (Sat, Sep 12) · Next: Mini #13 (Mon, Sep 14)

About Mini

Mini is Noggin’s five-by-five crossword, on the second shelf: one grid a day against the clock, outside the daily line-up. How to play Mini, or play today’s.