The NYT Mini Crossword for July 13, 2026, brings a fun twist: a missing-letter trick hidden in the starred across clues. This short daily puzzle challenges players to spot the omission before every answer falls neatly into place.
Today’s Puzzle Theme
Each starred across clue is missing one letter at the end of its final word. Adding that missing letter transforms the clue into its correct form, making the answer much easier to find. The clue at 7 Across reveals the trick by giving the answer ONE, which connects all the starred clues.
Hints for Today’s NYT Mini Crossword
- The starred Across clues are missing one letter from the last word.
- One Across clue points to a place where boats stop.
- Another Across clue asks about the home state of the Dallas Cowboys.
- One clue is about making a warm piece of clothing with yarn.
- Among the Down clues, one answer is a playful fairy from folklore, while another is an Ivy League university in Philadelphia.
Complete Answers for July 13, 2026
Across
1 Across: ‘Impressive academic degree’ — PHD
Explanation: A Ph.D. is one of the highest university degrees earned after advanced study.
4 Across: ‘Place to find a doc[k]’ — PIER
Explanation: The missing K completes the word “dock,” and boats stop at a pier.
5 Across: ‘Dallas Cowboys stat[e]’ — TEXAS
Explanation: Adding the missing E forms “state,” and the Dallas Cowboys play in Texas.
6 Across: ‘Make a scar[f]’ — KNIT
Explanation: The missing F changes “scar” into “scarf,” which people knit with yarn.
7 Across: ‘Number of letters missing from the ends of each starred Across clue in this puzzle’ — ONE
Explanation: Every starred clue is missing exactly one letter.
Down
1 Down: ‘Mischievous fairy’ — PIXIE
Explanation: A pixie is a small magical creature found in many folk stories.
2 Down: ‘What radiators and microwaves generate’ — HEAT
Explanation: Both radiators and microwaves produce heat.
3 Down: ‘Nurses’ co-workers: Abbr.’ — DRS
Explanation: ‘Drs.’ is the short form of doctors.
4 Down: ‘Ivy League school in Philly’ — PENN
Explanation: Penn is the common name for the University of Pennsylvania.
5 Down: ‘Boxing ref’s decision’ — TKO
Explanation: TKO means technical knockout in boxing.
Why This Puzzle Stands Out
Today’s Mini Crossword keeps the format simple but adds an engaging missing-letter gimmick. Instead of using difficult words, the puzzle rewards careful reading and attention to detail. Once the missing letter becomes clear, the answers fall into place naturally. This clever design keeps the puzzle fun for both new and regular players, turning a quick five-minute game into an entertaining brain challenge.
What’s Next from NYT Games
A brand-new Mini Crossword will arrive tomorrow with another fresh set of clues, hints, and answers. Along with the Mini, NYT Games continues to offer popular daily challenges like Wordle, Connections, Strands, Spelling Bee, and the full Crossword, giving puzzle fans something new to enjoy every day. Keep checking back for tomorrow’s complete NYT Mini Crossword answers and solutions.
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