Make dirty

Editorially verified for the Oct 14, 2026

5 Down

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A dark mud stain marking white fabric

Clue explained

To sully something is to make it dirty or stained. The verb also works figuratively: a scandal can sully someone’s reputation, as if leaving a mark on it.

Clue type:
Definition

NYT Mini Crossword

This clue's Wednesday, October 14, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Common parts of kids' bedtime routines
  2. 6French farewell
  3. 7Prestigious prize
  4. 8Tiny creature that feeds the world's largest creature
  5. 9Word on a Staples button

Down

  1. 1Chase or Wells Fargo
  2. 2Love, love, love
  3. 3Bone below the femur
  4. 4Difficult shoes to run in
  5. 5Make dirty

The answer to “Make dirty” in the New York Times Mini crossword is SULLY — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Mini crossword on October 14, 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.

“Make dirty” answer

SULLY (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 SULLY.

What does SULLY mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of SULLY is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(verb)

  • damage the purity or integrity of

When else has “Make dirty” 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 14, 2026 (most recent) → SULLY. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Make dirty”?

The answer is SULLY, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Mini crossword on October 14, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Make dirty”?

5 letters: SULLY.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times Mini crossword on October 14, 2026, at 5-Down.

Can “Make dirty” 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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