Daily 5x5 Mini Cryptic Crossword
10 clues, fully checked intersections, and zero filler. Perfect for your morning coffee or quick mental workout.
Cryptic Mini #2: The Gaze
Tip: Press Space or click cell to toggle Across / Down.
Across
Down
Editorial Wordplay Breakdown (Cryptic Mini #2: The Gaze)
Understand the exact mechanics and setter wit behind all 10 clues in today's mini grid.
Across Clues (5)
"Crying" is an anagram indicator signaling that TEARS unscrambles to STARE, meaning a fixed look.
A TAMER is someone who handles wild animals, and to be more subdued is to be TAMER.
Removing the leading letter ("curtailed at the start") from SAMPLE leaves AMPLE ("generous/plentiful").
"Discovered in" reveals the letters R-E-L-I-C embedded inside "puRE LIQuor", signifying a sacred relic.
To ERECT is to build or put up, and standing upright is ERECT.
Down Clues (5)
A sailor is a TAR. Placed inside SE (compass direction Southeast) gives STARE ("fixed gaze").
"Agitated" rearranges the letters in MATER into TAMER ("animal handler").
Letters A-M-P-L-E are hidden across the words "dreAM PLease", defining "spacious".
Concealed in "puRE LICense" is RELIC ("holy survivor/artifact").
To build is to ERECT, and standing vertical is ERECT.
Explore 5x5 Mini Archive
Catch up on previous daily minis or practice wordplay intersections.
Mastering the 5x5 Mini Cryptic
Why mini crosswords offer the highest satisfaction-per-minute in word puzzling.
Fully Intersecting Letters
In standard crosswords, up to half the letters in a word are "unchecked" (belong to only one clue). In our 5x5 mini word square, every single letter is checked by both an Across and a Down clue!
Cross-Checking Strategy
Stuck on a tricky Across anagram? Check the Down clues! Solving a simple 3-letter Down clue gives you free anchor letters that narrow down candidate anagram fodder immediately.
Fluid Dual-Direction Navigation
On desktop, tap Spacebar to toggle between Across and Down without losing your place. On mobile, tap the DIR ⤹ key!
Frequently Asked Questions About 5x5 Minis
Q1.What is a 5x5 Mini Cryptic Crossword?▼
A 5x5 mini cryptic crossword is an interlocking word square grid containing 10 clues: 5 Across and 5 Down. Unlike traditional 15x15 newspaper grids where many letters are "unchecked", every single letter in a 5x5 mini belongs to both an Across word and a Down word.
Q2.How does 100% letter checking help with difficult cryptic clues?▼
Because every letter intersects, solving just two or three easy clues immediately fills in critical anchor letters across the entire grid. If you are stuck on an Across anagram, solving the intersecting Down clues gives you the first and last letters of the anagram solution!
Q3.How fast can a 5x5 mini crossword be solved?▼
Experienced cryptic solvers often complete our daily mini in 1 to 3 minutes. Beginners typically take 4 to 8 minutes. You can use our built-in timer to benchmark your mental agility and speed.
Q4.What time does the daily 5x5 mini refresh?▼
A new 5x5 mini puzzle unlocks every morning at local midnight according to your device timezone. You can also play any past mini from our archive at any time.
Sharpen Your Solving Skills
Stuck on difficult mini wordplay? Master all 12 cryptic mechanisms in our free Academy, or solve today's featured daily cryptic clues.