Today's NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Wednesday, March 18
Gael Cooper·2026-03-18·via CNET
Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for March 18.
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.
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Let's get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.
The completed NYT Mini Crossword puzzle for March 18, 2026.
NYT/Screenshot by CNET
Mini across clues and answers
1A clue: Word before "card," flood" or "photography" Answer: FLASH
6A clue: Joust weapon Answer: LANCE
7A clue: Brain, heart or lungs Answer: ORGAN
8A clue: "Frozen" reindeer Answer: SVEN
9A clue: What can be found on frozen roads or frozen margaritas Answer: SALT
Mini down clues and answers
1D clue: Follow a dentist's recommendation Answer: FLOSS
2D clue: Baby bug Answer: LARVA
3D clue: Shape made in the snow Answer: ANGEL
4D clue: Very little Answer: SCANT
5D clue: Egg layer Answer: HEN
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