Mini #41 — the answers

The Mini crossword from October 12, 2026: a 5×5 grid, 5 across and 5 down, filled in the order the crossings give it away.

The clues

Across

1. 1. Small amount — DAB
2. 4. Pacific or Atlantic — OCEAN
3. 7. Divide up — SHARE
4. 8. Creepy — EERIE
5. 9. Pop — DAD

Down

1. 1. Pill amount — DOSE
2. 2. Dull pain — ACHE
3. 3. Facial hair — BEARD
4. 5. Opera solo — ARIA
5. 6. Require — NEED

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, “Small amount” — nothing given yet: DAB.
2. 1-Down, “Pill amount” — D··· from the crossings: DOSE.
3. 4-Across, “Pacific or Atlantic” — O···· from the crossings: OCEAN.
4. 2-Down, “Dull pain” — AC·· from the crossings: ACHE.
5. 7-Across, “Divide up” — SH··· from the crossings: SHARE.
6. 3-Down, “Facial hair” — BEA·· from the crossings: BEARD.
7. 8-Across, “Creepy” — EER·· from the crossings: EERIE.
8. 5-Down, “Opera solo” — ARI· from the crossings: ARIA.
9. 6-Down, “Require” — NEE· from the crossings: NEED.
10. 9-Across, “Pop” — already spelled out by its crossings: DAD.

The answer

Previous: Mini #40 (Sun, Oct 11)

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.