Mini #54 — the answers

The Mini crossword from October 25, 2026: a 5×5 grid, 5 across and 5 down, filled in the order the crossings give it away.

The clues

Across

1. 1. Forbid — BAN
2. 4. Sample version — DEMO
3. 5. Stiff — RIGID
4. 6. Battery fluid — ACID
5. 7. Pig enclosure — PEN

Down

1. 1. Start — BEGIN
2. 2. Surrounded by — AMID
3. 3. Silent yes — NOD
4. 4. Casino cubes — DICE
5. 5. Hip-hop genre — RAP

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, “Forbid” — nothing given yet: BAN.
2. 1-Down, “Start” — B···· from the crossings: BEGIN.
3. 4-Across, “Sample version” — ·E·· from the crossings: DEMO.
4. 2-Down, “Surrounded by” — AM·· from the crossings: AMID.
5. 5-Across, “Stiff” — ··GI· from the crossings: RIGID.
6. 3-Down, “Silent yes” — already spelled out by its crossings: NOD.
7. 6-Across, “Battery fluid” — ··ID from the crossings: ACID.
8. 4-Down, “Casino cubes” — DIC· from the crossings: DICE.
9. 7-Across, “Pig enclosure” — ·EN from the crossings: PEN.
10. 5-Down, “Hip-hop genre” — already spelled out by its crossings: RAP.

The answer

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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.