Engage in a playful back-and-forth
Editorially verified for the Oct 16, 2026
5 Down
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Clue explained
To spar is to trade light, controlled blows, as boxers do in practice. The word also works for a playful verbal back-and-forth, such as friends teasing or debating each other.
- Clue type:
- Definition
NYT Mini Crossword
This clue's Friday, October 16, 2026 appearance
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The answer to “Engage in a playful back-and-forth” in the New York Times Mini crossword is SPAR — a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Mini crossword on October 16, 2026 at 5-Down. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.
“Engage in a playful back-and-forth” answer
SPAR (4 letters)
Use the reveal tiles above to uncover the solution one letter at a time if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Prefer the full answer straight away? It's SPAR.
What does SPAR mean?
Reading the plain dictionary sense of SPAR is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.
(noun)
- a thick, strong pole such as is used for a mast or yard on a ship
When else has “Engage in a playful back-and-forth” appeared?
New York Times Mini reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.
October 16, 2026 (most recent) → SPAR. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the answer to “Engage in a playful back-and-forth”?
The answer is SPAR, a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Mini crossword on October 16, 2026.
How many letters is the answer to “Engage in a playful back-and-forth”?
4 letters: SPAR.
When did this clue appear?
Most recently in the New York Times Mini crossword on October 16, 2026, at 5-Down.
Can “Engage in a playful back-and-forth” have a different answer?
Yes — New York Times Mini sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.
Where can I find the rest of today's NYT Mini answers?
Every clue and answer from that day's puzzle is linked above, and the full grid is on the NYT Mini answers page.
New York Times Mini Crossword is published by The New York Times; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.
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