Mini #25 — the answers

The Mini crossword from September 26, 2026: a 5×5 grid, 5 across and 5 down, filled in the order the crossings give it away.

The clues

Across

1. 1. Purring pet — CAT
2. 4. Entire — WHOLE
3. 6. Delivery driver’s plan — ROUTE
4. 7. Chef’s garment — APRON
5. 8. Goldfish or hamster — PET

Down

1. 1. Where a judge presides — COURT
2. 2. Voice below soprano — ALTO
3. 3. Person aged 13 to 19 — TEEN
4. 4. Tortilla-based lunch — WRAP
5. 5. Optimistic feeling — HOPE

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, “Purring pet” — nothing given yet: CAT.
2. 1-Down, “Where a judge presides” — C···· from the crossings: COURT.
3. 4-Across, “Entire” — ··O·· from the crossings: WHOLE.
4. 2-Down, “Voice below soprano” — AL·· from the crossings: ALTO.
5. 6-Across, “Delivery driver’s plan” — ··UT· from the crossings: ROUTE.
6. 3-Down, “Person aged 13 to 19” — TEE· from the crossings: TEEN.
7. 7-Across, “Chef’s garment” — ··RON from the crossings: APRON.
8. 4-Down, “Tortilla-based lunch” — WRA· from the crossings: WRAP.
9. 5-Down, “Optimistic feeling” — HOP· from the crossings: HOPE.
10. 8-Across, “Goldfish or hamster” — already spelled out by its crossings: PET.

The answer

Previous: Mini #24 (Fri, Sep 25)

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.