The One Word in Today’s Mini Crossword That Tripped Everyone Up
So, if you’ve played The New York Times Mini Crossword today—Monday, July 28—you might’ve breezed through most of it, only to get snagged on a clue that seemed simple but left you second-guessing. That word? “Nuance.” Yep, 9-Across: Subtle distinction. It’s a totally legit clue, but it threw a few of us off, and here’s why.
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See, “nuance” isn’t exactly a word we toss around casually in everyday conversation. It’s one of those terms that feels more at home in a debate, a think piece, or maybe a review of a movie where the plot was “rich with emotional nuance.” You know what I mean. But when it pops up in a quick-fire puzzle like the Mini, especially with a straightforward clue like “subtle distinction,” you might hesitate. It’s accurate, sure—but subtle in itself. Some solvers probably paused, thinking, Is this too sophisticated a word for this spot?
The rest of the puzzle was a good mix of short and snappy. “DAS” for courtroom prosecutors. “OMITS” for fails to mention. And “TONG” for the tool you use to grab stuff off the grill, which felt seasonal and fun—especially if you’re someone who enjoys summer cookouts. That one, though, reportedly tripped up a few folks too, depending on what word they usually use. Some said “grabber” or just “tongs” with an ‘s,’ which led to a bit of backtracking.
But really, the star of today’s Mini was that one word— nuance . It's such a simple-looking word, yet it's carrying a lot of weight. It reminds us that language has layers, and even in a bite-sized puzzle like this, words can make us pause and think about their meaning, their usage, and why they feel just a little out of place—or perfectly placed, depending on how you look at it.
So, if today’s crossword gave you a brief “wait, really?” moment, you weren’t alone. Sometimes, it’s the smallest puzzles that sneak in the most unexpected curveballs. And that’s kind of the beauty of it. Even when the answers are only five letters long, there’s still room for complexity, reflection, and yes—nuance.
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