June 6 Mini Crossword is finally here. You probably opened it before breakfast. Or maybe right after checking your emails. Either way, it is sitting there waiting to be solved.
Today’s grid feels easy peasy. That is exactly what the first clue hints at, honestly. No sweat involved. Just simple fill. But if you get stuck on ONTARIO or that specific spider-villain, here are the answers.
Why This June 6 Mini Crossword Is Surprisingly Simple
Some days the NYT throws hard clues at us. This is not one of them. The difficulty level stays low. Even the geography is straightforward. You likely knew the mountain range in Utah before you read it.
So why do we solve these daily? Habit. Dopamine. The small win.
Let’s look at the across clues first.
1A: “Easy peasy!”
Answer: NOSWEAT
It is what this puzzle feels like. Smooth sailing.
8A: Great Lake whose name comes from an Iroquoian word for “great lake”
Answer: ONTARIO
If you like lakes, you know this one. It sits between the US and Canada. The translation is right there in the history.
9A: Use a ruler
Answer: MEASURE
Basic math tool usage. Do it.
10A: Word after “brake,” “Brillo” or “bachelor”
Answer: PAD
A common ending for all three. A brake pad stops your car. A Brillo pad scrubs your pans. A bachelor pad is your place to crash.
11A: Having more sodium
Answer: SALTIER
Comparative adjective. Needs no extra explanation.
15A: Spider-Man foe electrocuted into villainy
Answer: ELECTRO
Max Dillon. Blue skin. Lightning powers. A classic MCU villain. You probably recognized this clue immediately.
16A: George Washington or George Patton
Answer: WARHERO
They share the name. They shared the military glory. It is a two-word answer but fits neatly here.
Quick Answers for Mini Down Clues
The down clues keep things moving. No gridlock.
1D: ___ de plume
Answer: NOM
False name. Pen name. Write fiction with a pseudonym if you want.
2D: First digit of pi after the 3.
Answer: ONE
Pi starts with 3.14… So the first digit is 1. Simple math trivia.
3D: Paper pusher?
Answer: STAPLER
A joke answer. You are pushing papers through a stapler. It fits the bill. Literally.
4D: Major Utah mountain range
Answer: WASATCH
Near Salt Lake City. They define the state’s landscape.
5D: Well-read
Answer: ERUDITE
A fancy word for smart. Use it in a crossword to look good.
6D: Mixture of nitrogen and oxygen we breathe
Answer: AIR
Take a breath. Yeah, that’s it.
7D: W
