Mini #42 — the answers

The Mini crossword from October 13, 2026: a 5×5 grid, 5 across and 5 down, filled in the order the crossings give it away.

The clues

Across

1. 1. Stir-fry pan — WOK
2. 4. Was in debt — OWED
3. 6. Arm joint — ELBOW
4. 8. Identical — SAME
5. 9. River bottom — BED

Down

1. 1. Misery — WOE
2. 2. Night hooters — OWLS
3. 3. Skewered meal — KEBAB
4. 5. Capitol topper — DOME
5. 7. Tie the knot — WED

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, “Stir-fry pan” — nothing given yet: WOK.
2. 1-Down, “Misery” — W·· from the crossings: WOE.
3. 4-Across, “Was in debt” — O··· from the crossings: OWED.
4. 2-Down, “Night hooters” — OW·· from the crossings: OWLS.
5. 6-Across, “Arm joint” — EL··· from the crossings: ELBOW.
6. 3-Down, “Skewered meal” — KEB·· from the crossings: KEBAB.
7. 8-Across, “Identical” — SA·· from the crossings: SAME.
8. 5-Down, “Capitol topper” — DOM· from the crossings: DOME.
9. 9-Across, “River bottom” — BE· from the crossings: BED.
10. 7-Down, “Tie the knot” — already spelled out by its crossings: WED.

The answer

Previous: Mini #41 (Mon, Oct 12) · Next: Mini #43 (Wed, Oct 14) · All Mini solutions

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.