Mini #38 — the answers

The Mini crossword from October 9, 2026: a 5×5 grid, 5 across and 5 down, filled in the order the crossings give it away.

The clues

Across

1. 1. Pair — TWO
2. 4. Noggin — HEAD
3. 6. School composition — ESSAY
4. 8. Car part — TIRE
5. 9. Use a needle — SEW

Down

1. 1. Most common English word — THE
2. 2. Sunset direction — WEST
3. 3. Desert watering hole — OASIS
4. 5. Truth alternative — DARE
5. 7. Bow wood — YEW

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, “Pair” — nothing given yet: TWO.
2. 1-Down, “Most common English word” — T·· from the crossings: THE.
3. 4-Across, “Noggin” — H··· from the crossings: HEAD.
4. 2-Down, “Sunset direction” — WE·· from the crossings: WEST.
5. 6-Across, “School composition” — ES··· from the crossings: ESSAY.
6. 3-Down, “Desert watering hole” — OAS·· from the crossings: OASIS.
7. 8-Across, “Car part” — TI·· from the crossings: TIRE.
8. 5-Down, “Truth alternative” — DAR· from the crossings: DARE.
9. 9-Across, “Use a needle” — SE· from the crossings: SEW.
10. 7-Down, “Bow wood” — already spelled out by its crossings: YEW.

The answer

Previous: Mini #37 (Thu, Oct 8) · Next: Mini #39 (Sat, Oct 10)

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.