Mini #13 — the answers

The Mini crossword from September 14, 2026: a 5×5 grid, 5 across and 5 down, filled in the order the crossings give it away.

The clues

Across

1. 1. Spinning toy — TOP
2. 4. Rummage (through) — RIFLE
3. 6. Gone, as cake — EATEN
4. 7. Fill with fear — DREAD
5. 8. Ampersand meaning — AND

Down

1. 1. Pageant winner’s topper — TIARA
2. 2. Many a time — OFTEN
3. 3. Enter, as guilty or not guilty — PLEAD
4. 4. In the ___ (losing money) — RED
5. 5. Dead ___ — END

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, “Spinning toy” — nothing given yet: TOP.
2. 1-Down, “Pageant winner’s topper” — T···· from the crossings: TIARA.
3. 4-Across, “Rummage (through)” — ·I··· from the crossings: RIFLE.
4. 2-Down, “Many a time” — OF··· from the crossings: OFTEN.
5. 6-Across, “Gone, as cake” — ·AT·· from the crossings: EATEN.
6. 3-Down, “Enter, as guilty or not guilty” — PLE·· from the crossings: PLEAD.
7. 7-Across, “Fill with fear” — ·REA· from the crossings: DREAD.
8. 8-Across, “Ampersand meaning” — already spelled out by its crossings: AND.
9. 4-Down, “In the ___ (losing money)” — already spelled out by its crossings: RED.
10. 5-Down, “Dead ___” — already spelled out by its crossings: END.

The answer

Previous: Mini #12 (Sun, Sep 13) · Next: Mini #14 (Tue, Sep 15)

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.