Mini #21 — the answers

The Mini crossword from September 22, 2026: a 5×5 grid, 5 across and 5 down, filled in the order the crossings give it away.

The clues

Across

1. 1. Massage — RUB
2. 4. Pursue — CHASE
3. 6. Safe place — HAVEN
4. 7. Wide awake — ALERT
5. 8. 2,000 pounds — TON

Down

1. 1. Poe bird — RAVEN
2. 2. Computer operator — USER
3. 3. Crooked — BENT
4. 4. Casual talk — CHAT
5. 5. Angel’s ring — HALO

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, “Massage” — nothing given yet: RUB.
2. 1-Down, “Poe bird” — R···· from the crossings: RAVEN.
3. 4-Across, “Pursue” — ··A·· from the crossings: CHASE.
4. 2-Down, “Computer operator” — US·· from the crossings: USER.
5. 6-Across, “Safe place” — ··VE· from the crossings: HAVEN.
6. 3-Down, “Crooked” — BEN· from the crossings: BENT.
7. 7-Across, “Wide awake” — ··ERT from the crossings: ALERT.
8. 4-Down, “Casual talk” — CHA· from the crossings: CHAT.
9. 5-Down, “Angel’s ring” — HAL· from the crossings: HALO.
10. 8-Across, “2,000 pounds” — already spelled out by its crossings: TON.

The answer

Previous: Mini #20 (Mon, Sep 21)

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.