NYT Crossword Answers — September 3, 2026
The NYT-style Mini for September 3, 2026 packs a full puzzle into a tiny grid, and today's solution set spans everyday vocabulary from LETBE, ABHOR, TORSO, KNEES. Today's mini crossword features a mix of common words and pop culture references, with a playful Greek god clue hinting at Eros. Because the Mini is so compact, every square does double duty — each letter belongs to both an across answer and a down answer — so a single confident entry can unlock the whole board. Today the shortest answer, EYE, is the kind of gimme that gives you crossing letters for the trickier fill, while the longest entry, LETBE, anchors the grid and often takes a crossing or two to confirm. If you're checking your work or you got stuck on one stubborn square, the complete answer key below lists every across and down clue with its solution and a short explanation. We publish these Mini answers every day, so bookmark the archive and come back whenever a clue has you second-guessing. And if reading the answers gives you the itch to solve one yourself, our free Mini Crossword plays the same way — no subscription and no account required.
NYT Mini Crossword Answers
Today's mini crossword features a mix of common words and pop culture references, with a playful Greek god clue hinting at Eros.
Across
| Clue | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Leave alone | LETBE | LETBE means to not disturb or interfere with someone or something. |
| 6. Vehemently dislike (5) | ABHOR | ABHOR means to hate intensely, which fits 'vehemently dislike'. |
| 7. Middle section of the body | TORSO | TORSO is the main part of the body between the neck and legs. |
| 8. "Hands on your ___! Hands on your ___!" (refrain in the "Cha-Cha Slide") | KNEES | KNEES are the body parts touched in the Cha-Cha Slide lyrics. |
| 9. Iris's place | EYE | EYE is the location of the iris, the colored part of the eye. |
Down
| Clue | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Crispy treat during Hanukkah | LATKE | LATKE is a potato pancake often eaten during Hanukkah. |
| 2. Expensive dark wood | EBONY | EBONY is a dense, dark wood known for being expensive. |
| 3. This clue's number | THREE | THREE is the number of this clue, as it is the third down clue. |
| 4. Big name in portable speakers | BOSE | BOSE is a well-known brand of portable speakers. |
| 5. Greek god who shoots (and sounds like!) arrows | EROS | EROS, the Greek god of love, shoots arrows; 'sounds like' suggests homophone. |
Every answer explained
LETBE
Clue: Leave alone
LETBE means to not disturb or interfere with someone or something. LETBE is a tidy 5-letter fill (2 vowels); constructors like it because it plays well in both directions.
ABHOR
Clue: Vehemently dislike (5)
ABHOR means to hate intensely, which fits 'vehemently dislike'. ABHOR is a tidy 5-letter fill (2 vowels); constructors like it because it plays well in both directions.
TORSO
Clue: Middle section of the body
TORSO is the main part of the body between the neck and legs. As a 5-letter word with 2 vowels, TORSO interlocks easily with crossing entries — one reason it turns up in grids so often.
KNEES
Clue: "Hands on your ___! Hands on your ___!" (refrain in the "Cha-Cha Slide")
KNEES are the body parts touched in the Cha-Cha Slide lyrics. With 2 vowels across 5 letters, KNEES is exactly the kind of crossword-friendly answer worth recognizing on sight.
EYE
Clue: Iris's place
EYE is the location of the iris, the colored part of the eye. With 2 vowels across 3 letters, EYE is exactly the kind of crossword-friendly answer worth recognizing on sight.
LATKE
Clue: Crispy treat during Hanukkah
LATKE is a potato pancake often eaten during Hanukkah. LATKE is a tidy 5-letter fill (2 vowels); constructors like it because it plays well in both directions.
EBONY
Clue: Expensive dark wood
EBONY is a dense, dark wood known for being expensive. EBONY is a tidy 5-letter fill (2 vowels); constructors like it because it plays well in both directions.
THREE
Clue: This clue's number
THREE is the number of this clue, as it is the third down clue. THREE is a tidy 5-letter fill (2 vowels); constructors like it because it plays well in both directions.
BOSE
Clue: Big name in portable speakers
BOSE is a well-known brand of portable speakers. BOSE is a tidy 4-letter fill (2 vowels); constructors like it because it plays well in both directions.
EROS
Clue: Greek god who shoots (and sounds like!) arrows
EROS, the Greek god of love, shoots arrows; 'sounds like' suggests homophone. With 2 vowels across 4 letters, EROS is exactly the kind of crossword-friendly answer worth recognizing on sight.
Tips for solving
- 1Start with the fill-in-the-blank and short (3-letter) clues — they're usually the fastest points and hand you crossing letters for everything else.
- 2Work outward from your most confident answer instead of top-to-bottom; in a Mini, one solid entry unlocks four or five neighbors.
- 3If a clue ends in a question mark, expect wordplay or a pun rather than a literal definition.
- 4Plural clues almost always mean the answer ends in S — pencil that last letter in early.
- 5When two answers seem possible, let the crossing clue break the tie rather than guessing.