Today's NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Tuesday, March 31
Gael Cooper·2026-03-31·via CNET
Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for March 31.
CNET editor Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, a journalist and pop-culture junkie, is co-author of "Whatever Happened to Pudding Pops? The Lost Toys, Tastes and Trends of the '70s and '80s," as well as "The Totally Sweet '90s." She's been a journalist since 1989, working at Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, Twin Cities Sidewalk, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and NBC News Digital. She's Gen X in birthdate, word and deed. If Marathon candy bars ever come back, she'll be first in line.
ExpertiseBreaking news, entertainment, lifestyle, travel, food, shopping and deals, product reviews, money and finance, video games, pets, history, books, technology history, and generational studiesCredentials
Co-author of two Gen X pop-culture encyclopedia for Penguin Books. Won "Headline Writer of the Year" award for 2017, 2014 and 2013 from the American Copy Editors Society. Won first place in headline writing from the 2013 Society for Features Journalism.
Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today's Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.
I was so stumped by one clue in today's Mini Crossword that I wondered if the vaunted New York Times had made a typo. (Spoiler: They did not, and I eventually figured out 2-Down.) Read on for all the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.
If you're looking for today's Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET's NYT puzzle hints page.
Let's get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.
The completed NYT Mini Crossword for March 31, 2026.
NYT/Screenshot by CNET
Mini across clues and answers
1A clue: "Paradise" or "Lost" Answer: SHOW
5A clue: Hawaiian island with the famous Road to Hana Answer: MAUI
6A clue: ___Zeneca (pharma company) Answer: ASTRA
8A clue: "Stainless" metal Answer: STEEL
9A clue: One half of a centaur Answer: HORSE
Mini down clues and answers
1D clue: Massive success Answer: SMASH
2D clue: Must Answer: HASTO
3D clue: ___ boroughs (term for the non-Manhattan parts of New York City) Answer: OUTER
4D clue: Electrician's specialty Answer: WIRES
7D clue: Bar beverage Answer: ALE
CNET editor Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, a journalist and pop-culture junkie, is co-author of "Whatever Happened to Pudding Pops? The Lost Toys, Tastes and Trends of the '70s and '80s," as well as "The Totally Sweet '90s." She's been a journalist since 1989, working at Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, Twin Cities Sidewalk, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and NBC News Digital. She's Gen X in birthdate, word and deed. If Marathon candy bars ever come back, she'll be first in line.See full bio
