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Need help with the Sunday, February 8, 2026 NYT Mini Crossword? Start with the hints below and stop before the answer key if you want to avoid spoilers. Forbes and Parade published the same ten answers for this date; the former-inmate answer appears as EX-CON in one guide and EXCON in the other.
Hints for the February 8, 2026 Mini
Try these nudges before revealing the answers. They point toward each entry without giving the full key.
Across hints
- 1-Across: The Eagles’ distinctive N.F.L. logo orientation.
- 5-Across: A basic truth accepted without proof.
- 7-Across: Clean with energetic rubbing.
- 8-Across: Puccini opera whose title character is a singer in Rome.
- 9-Across: Complete the phrase “to the ___ degree.”
Down hints
- 1-Down: The position of a team that finishes fourth in its division.
- 2-Down: Informal term for someone who has served time.
- 3-Down: In football, a successful ten-yard gain earns a new one.
- 4-Down: A trip to the end zone can be a ___down.
- 6-Down: A common graduate degree among chief executives.
Answer key: spoilers below
Stop here if you only wanted hints. The answers below are reported by both Forbes and Parade.
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Across answers
- 1-Across: LEFT
- 5-Across: AXIOM
- 7-Across: SCRUB
- 8-Across: TOSCA
- 9-Across: NTH
Down answers
- 1-Down: LAST
- 2-Down: EX-CON (also styled EXCON)
- 3-Down: FIRST
- 4-Down: TOUCH
- 6-Down: MBA
Why FIRST and TOUCH fit the football clues
The third and fourth Down clues use football terms: a first down follows a successful gain of ten yards, while a touchdown is a trip into the end zone. The grid entries are the words FIRST and TOUCH, respectively.
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About the Mini and archived puzzles
Parade describes the Mini as usually having a five-by-five grid and three to five clues in each direction, and reports a 10 p.m. reset. Those are reported general context, not specifications independently confirmed here for every puzzle or location. Forbes says archived Mini puzzles require an NYT Games subscription; check the current NYT Games terms for access details.
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