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 and Connections puzzles.
The Mini Crossword is always longer on Saturdays — 16 clues and answers as opposed to 10. I didn’t find today’s too tough, except that as a child of the 1980s, when I see “SMOOTH OPERATOR” in a clue, the only answer I come up with is Sade. Hint: It’s not that. But if you’re stuck on that or any other Mini Crossword clue, we’ve got the answers. 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 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.
The completed NYT Mini Crossword puzzle for Dec. 14, 2024.
NYT/Screenshot by CNETMini across clues and answers
1A clue: Live ___” (longtime Taco Bell slogan)
Answer: MAS
4A clue: Jockey’s garb
Answer: SILKS
6A clue: “Abso-freakin’-lutely!”
Answer: HELLYES
8A clue: Antlered animal at Yellowstone National Park
Answer: ELK
9A clue: Twenty-sided item for tabletop games
Answer: DIE
10A clue: Bordeaux or Burgundy
Answer: REDWINE
12A clue: Like a smooth operator
Answer: SUAVE
13A clue: Green additive to the Chicago River on St. Patrick’s Day
Answer: DYE
Mini down clues and answers
1D clue: Chewy chocolate bite in a yellow box
Answer: MILKDUD
2D clue: 100%
Answer: ALL
3D clue: Take a great leap of faith, say
Answer: SKYDIVE
4D clue: Tennis great Monica with a palindromic surname
Answer: SELES
5D clue: River that meanders through Paris
Answer: SEINE
6D clue: “___ Majesty,” hidden track on the Beatles’ “Abbey Road”
Answer: HER
7D clue: “You understand?”
Answer: SEE
11D clue: Path
Answer: WAY
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.
