Tiny creature that feeds the world's largest creature

Editorially verified for the Oct 14, 2026

8 Across

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A swarm of small, shrimp-like krill in ocean water.

Clue explained

Krill are tiny, shrimp-like marine crustaceans eaten in huge quantities by blue whales, the largest animals on Earth. A whale gulps in seawater and filters krill through baleen plates, which act like a comb to catch food while water drains away. Krill also feed on microscopic plankton and are a vital link in ocean food webs.

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 “Tiny creature that feeds the world's largest creature” in the New York Times Mini crossword is KRILL — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Mini crossword on October 14, 2026 at 8-Across. 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.

“Tiny creature that feeds the world's largest creature” answer

KRILL (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 KRILL.

What does KRILL mean?

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

(noun)

  • a small shrimplike planktonic crustacean of the open seas. It is eaten by a number of larger animals, notably the baleen whales

When else has “Tiny creature that feeds the world's largest creature” 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) → KRILL. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Tiny creature that feeds the world's largest creature”?

The answer is KRILL, 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 “Tiny creature that feeds the world's largest creature”?

5 letters: KRILL.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times Mini crossword on October 14, 2026, at 8-Across.

Can “Tiny creature that feeds the world's largest creature” 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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