Mini #46 — the answers

The Mini crossword from October 17, 2026: a 5×5 grid, 5 across and 5 down, filled in the order the crossings give it away.

The clues

Across

1. 1. Waiter’s reward — TIP
2. 4. Tear-jerking bulb — ONION
3. 7. Fixed look — STARE
4. 8. Submarine detector — SONAR
5. 9. Not new — OLD

Down

1. 1. Throw — TOSS
2. 2. Divided by, in math — INTO
3. 3. 88-key instrument — PIANO
4. 5. Dentist’s exam — ORAL
5. 6. Brainy type — NERD

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, “Waiter’s reward” — nothing given yet: TIP.
2. 1-Down, “Throw” — T··· from the crossings: TOSS.
3. 4-Across, “Tear-jerking bulb” — O···· from the crossings: ONION.
4. 2-Down, “Divided by, in math” — IN·· from the crossings: INTO.
5. 7-Across, “Fixed look” — ST··· from the crossings: STARE.
6. 3-Down, “88-key instrument” — PIA·· from the crossings: PIANO.
7. 8-Across, “Submarine detector” — SON·· from the crossings: SONAR.
8. 5-Down, “Dentist’s exam” — ORA· from the crossings: ORAL.
9. 6-Down, “Brainy type” — NER· from the crossings: NERD.
10. 9-Across, “Not new” — already spelled out by its crossings: OLD.

The answer

Previous: Mini #45 (Fri, Oct 16) · Next: Mini #47 (Sun, Oct 18) · 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.