NYT Crossword Answers — September 4, 2026
The NYT-style Mini for September 4, 2026 packs a full puzzle into a tiny grid, and today's solution set spans everyday vocabulary from MAN, LOOSE, INTHE, ATTED. The theme is the 'Man in the Moon', with 1A, 6A, and 8A spelling 'MAN IN THE MOON'. Other answers are straightforward. 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, MAN, is the kind of gimme that gives you crossing letters for the trickier fill, while the longest entry, LOOSE, 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
The theme is the 'Man in the Moon', with 1A, 6A, and 8A spelling 'MAN IN THE MOON'. Other answers are straightforward.
Across
| Clue | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. With 6- and 8-Across, face seen in outer space | MAN | MAN is part of the phrase 'Man in the Moon', a face seen in outer space. |
| 4. Opposite of tight | LOOSE | LOOSE is the direct antonym of tight. |
| 6. See 1-Across | INTHE | IN THE is part of 'Man in the Moon', completing the phrase with 1A and 8A. |
| 7. Directly called out in a post, using an "@" | ATTED | ATTED means to have mentioned someone with an @ symbol on social media. |
| 8. See 1-Across | MOON | MOON completes 'Man in the Moon', the celestial body with a perceived face. |
Down
| Clue | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. "Eureka" for California, or "Excelsior" for New York | MOTTO | MOTTO is a phrase like 'Eureka' or 'Excelsior' that represents a state or group. |
| 2. Pale with fright | ASHEN | ASHEN means pale, as from fright or shock. |
| 3. Have to have | NEED | NEED means to require or have to have something. |
| 4. Actor Neeson of "Taken" | LIAM | LIAM Neeson is the actor known for the movie 'Taken'. |
| 5. "Hold ___ your hat!" | ONTO | ONTO fits the phrase 'Hold onto your hat!' |
Every answer explained
MAN
Clue: With 6- and 8-Across, face seen in outer space
MAN is part of the phrase 'Man in the Moon', a face seen in outer space. As a 3-letter word with 1 vowel, MAN interlocks easily with crossing entries — one reason it turns up in grids so often.
LOOSE
Clue: Opposite of tight
LOOSE is the direct antonym of tight. LOOSE is a tidy 5-letter fill (3 vowels); constructors like it because it plays well in both directions.
INTHE
Clue: See 1-Across
IN THE is part of 'Man in the Moon', completing the phrase with 1A and 8A. As a 5-letter word with 2 vowels, INTHE interlocks easily with crossing entries — one reason it turns up in grids so often.
ATTED
Clue: Directly called out in a post, using an "@"
ATTED means to have mentioned someone with an @ symbol on social media. With 2 vowels across 5 letters, ATTED is exactly the kind of crossword-friendly answer worth recognizing on sight.
MOON
Clue: See 1-Across
MOON completes 'Man in the Moon', the celestial body with a perceived face. With 2 vowels across 4 letters, MOON is exactly the kind of crossword-friendly answer worth recognizing on sight.
MOTTO
Clue: "Eureka" for California, or "Excelsior" for New York
MOTTO is a phrase like 'Eureka' or 'Excelsior' that represents a state or group. With 2 vowels across 5 letters, MOTTO is exactly the kind of crossword-friendly answer worth recognizing on sight.
ASHEN
Clue: Pale with fright
ASHEN means pale, as from fright or shock. With 2 vowels across 5 letters, ASHEN is exactly the kind of crossword-friendly answer worth recognizing on sight.
NEED
Clue: Have to have
NEED means to require or have to have something. As a 4-letter word with 2 vowels, NEED interlocks easily with crossing entries — one reason it turns up in grids so often.
LIAM
Clue: Actor Neeson of "Taken"
LIAM Neeson is the actor known for the movie 'Taken'. As a 4-letter word with 2 vowels, LIAM interlocks easily with crossing entries — one reason it turns up in grids so often.
ONTO
Clue: "Hold ___ your hat!"
ONTO fits the phrase 'Hold onto your hat!' With 2 vowels across 4 letters, ONTO 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.