Mini #18 — the answers

The Mini crossword from September 19, 2026: a 5×5 grid, 5 across and 5 down, filled in the order the crossings give it away.

The clues

Across

1. 1. Illuminated — LIT
2. 4. Manner — MODE
3. 5. Hot chocolate — COCOA
4. 6. Spoken — ORAL
5. 7. Hair product — GEL

Down

1. 1. Neighborhood — LOCAL
2. 2. Pop star — IDOL
3. 3. Afternoon brew — TEA
4. 4. Additional — MORE
5. 5. Gear tooth — COG

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, “Illuminated” — nothing given yet: LIT.
2. 1-Down, “Neighborhood” — L···· from the crossings: LOCAL.
3. 4-Across, “Manner” — ·O·· from the crossings: MODE.
4. 2-Down, “Pop star” — ID·· from the crossings: IDOL.
5. 5-Across, “Hot chocolate” — ··CO· from the crossings: COCOA.
6. 3-Down, “Afternoon brew” — already spelled out by its crossings: TEA.
7. 6-Across, “Spoken” — ··AL from the crossings: ORAL.
8. 4-Down, “Additional” — MOR· from the crossings: MORE.
9. 7-Across, “Hair product” — ·EL from the crossings: GEL.
10. 5-Down, “Gear tooth” — already spelled out by its crossings: COG.

The answer

Previous: Mini #17 (Fri, Sep 18) · Next: Mini #19 (Sun, Sep 20)

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.