Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for March 23

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hintsas well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

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Even after I solved today’s Now Mini CrosswordI sat there and stared at 4-Down. It took me a while to figure out that the answer was actually two words — well, one letter and then one word. Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times’ games collection. If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Women’s World Cup team that had a rivalry with the U.S. during the 2010s
Answer: JAPAN

6A clue: Napoleon’s punishment during the 1810s (twice!)
Answer: EXILE

7A clue: Component of muscle tissue
Answer: SINEW

8A clue: Wreck beyond repair
Answer: TOTAL

9A clue: Like the air at a hookah lounge
Answer: SMOKY

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Joking remarks
Answer: JESTS

2D clue: Statement of truth
Answer: AXIOM

3D clue: Kind of bean used in refried beans
Answer: PINTO

4D clue: Spring ___ (start dripping)
Answer: Issues

5D clue: Afresh
Answer: NEWLY

How to play more Mini Crosswords

The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day’s Mini Crossword for free, but you’ll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.