NYT Mini Crossword Answers May 21, 2025

Across
1 Either role played by Michael B. Jordan in 2025’s “Sinners” (Answer: TWIN)
🧬 4 letters, starts with T, ends with N
👯 One of a pair
👶 Born on the same day
📺 Identical or fraternal
👦👦 Shared birthday
🧒 Double trouble
🧠 Can be telepathically linked (in fiction)
🛏️ Shared womb
🎭 Dual role in a film
🪞 Often used for mirror metaphors
🎥 Played by the same actor, sometimes

5 “Wow, wow, wow!” (Answer: OHMY)
😲 4 letters, starts with O, ends with Y
😮 Expression of surprise
😱 Reaction to shock
🥹 Could follow “gosh”
💬 Often heard in gossip
😂 Used humorously or dramatically
🗯️ Followed by “God” or “word”
📣 Expresses strong reaction
📱 Popular in texts
💥 Can indicate awe or panic

6 “Gr-” word that follows “green” (Answer: GRAPE)
🍇 5 letters, starts with G, ends with E
🥂 Can be fermented
🧃 Juice source
🌿 Often eaten in bunches
🧺 Picnic fruit
🎨 Also a color name
🍷 Turns into wine
📦 Found in produce aisles
👶 Sometimes choked on
🫙 Made into jelly

7 Bit of land in the ocean (Answer: ISLE)
🌴 4 letters, starts with I, ends with E
🏝️ Small island
🌊 Surrounded by water
📖 Found in fairy tales
🇬🇧 British ___
🧭 Place to get stranded
🏖️ Often tropical
⛴️ Requires a ferry
🗺️ On many pirate maps
🪨 Can be volcanic

8 Père ___, name for Santa Claus in France (Answer: NOEL)
🎅 4 letters, starts with N, ends with L
🇫🇷 French for Christmas
🎄 Père ___ is Santa in France
🧑‍🎄 Holiday figure
📆 Celebrated in December
🎁 Brings gifts
🧣 Wears red
🦌 Associated with reindeer
🕯️ Linked with joy and light

Down
1 Trunk of the body (Answer: TORSO)
🧍 5 letters, starts with T, ends with O
🫀 Chest and belly
💪 Core muscles live here
🦴 Rib cage protector
👕 Shirt covers it
🩻 Seen in anatomy diagrams
📸 Modeled in art
🧘 Used in yoga strength
🏋️ Where abs are
⚖️ Balances limbs

2 “Wh-” word that follows “white” (Answer: WHALE)
🐋 5 letters, starts with W, ends with E
📘 Hunted in Moby Dick
🌊 Ocean giant
🐳 Marine mammal
🧭 Symbol of obsession
💨 Breathes through blowhole
🛳️ Subject of whaling
📖 Classic novel target
🎯 “The great ___”
💡 Metaphor for elusive goal

3 Urge forward (Answer: IMPEL)
⚙️ 5 letters, starts with I, ends with L
💨 Push or drive
🚶 Force into motion
🗣️ Strong motivation
🔥 Inner drive
🧠 Compelled mentally
📈 Propelled by ambition
🎯 Motivation synonym
🔁 Often internal force

4 Bill ___ the Science Guy (Answer: NYE)
🔬 3 letters, starts with N, ends with E
📺 Science educator
👨‍🔬 Rhyme with “tie”
🧪 Famous TV figure
🧠 STEM promoter
🎓 Popular with kids
📚 Makes science fun
🛰️ Advocates for space
🎤 Gives lectures

6 Alcohol paired with tonic (Answer: GIN)
🍸 3 letters, starts with G, ends with N
🌿 Juniper-flavored
🍋 Often with lime
🧊 Poured over ice
🍹 In a G&T
🥂 English origins
🍃 Herbal notes
🫗 Clear liquor
🎩 Classic in cocktails
🥒 Often garnished with cucumber