Iron ___ (rust)

Latest answer — December 11, 2025

3 Down

NYT Mini Crossword

This clue's Thursday, December 11, 2025 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Painter's protective garment
  2. 6"Toy Story 5" studio
  3. 7Your answer to "Where were you at 9 p.m. last night?," perhaps
  4. 8Tennis star Rafael
  5. 9Solemn sound from a church bell

Down

  1. 1Defeat soundly, in slang
  2. 2Italian city with a fashion week
  3. 3Iron ___ (rust)
  4. 4Small group of conspirators
  5. 5Food for a baleen whale

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Painter's protective garment — Answer: SMOCK
  2. 6. "Toy Story 5" studio — Answer: PIXAR
  3. 7. Your answer to "Where were you at 9 p.m. last night?," perhaps — Answer: ALIBI
  4. 8. Tennis star Rafael — Answer: NADAL
  5. 9. Solemn sound from a church bell — Answer: KNELL

Down

  1. 1. Defeat soundly, in slang — Answer: SPANK
  2. 2. Italian city with a fashion week — Answer: MILAN
  3. 3. Iron ___ (rust) — Answer: OXIDE
  4. 4. Small group of conspirators — Answer: CABAL
  5. 5. Food for a baleen whale — Answer: KRILL

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The answer to “Iron ___ (rust)” in the New York Times Mini crossword is OXIDE — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Mini crossword on December 11, 2025 at 3-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.

“Iron ___ (rust)” answer

OXIDE (5 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 OXIDE.

Why the answer is OXIDE

OXIDE is the 5-letter solution that fits "Iron ___ (rust)" in the NYT Mini crossword on December 11, 2025 (3-Down). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

When else has “Iron ___ (rust)” 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.

December 11, 2025 (most recent) → OXIDE. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

More NYT Mini answers for December 11, 2025

Stuck on more than one square? Here's every other clue from the NYT Mini on December 11, 2025 — tap any clue for its answer and explanation.

Across

Down

Want the whole grid in one place? The full NYT Mini answer list for December 11, 2025 is on the puzzle's answers page, and today's live NYT Mini answers are always one click away from the today page.

About the NYT Mini Crossword

The New York Times Mini is a free, 5×5 (sometimes larger) bite-size version of the paper's famous crossword, edited by Joel Fagliano. It publishes a fresh grid every day and is built for a fast solve — most players finish in a minute or two — which is exactly why a single tricky clue stands out. Because the Mini leans on everyday, current references, the answers are usually common words once the wordplay clicks.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Iron ___ (rust)”?

The answer is OXIDE, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Mini crossword on December 11, 2025.

How many letters is the answer to “Iron ___ (rust)”?

5 letters: OXIDE.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times Mini crossword on December 11, 2025, at 3-Down.

Can “Iron ___ (rust)” 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.

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