NYT Mini October 11, 2025: 2D - Zodiac arachnid

Answer: SCORPIO

7 letters

Clue Breakdown

Scorpio is the eighth sign of the zodiac, represented by the scorpion—a classic arachnid. The clue fuses astrology and biology, reminding solvers that constellation symbols often stem from animals, mythological beings, or objects. Recognizing these symbolic pairings is invaluable in crossword solving.

Minis frequently draw from zodiac imagery because the signs are widely familiar and supply useful letter patterns. The seven-letter slot eliminates shorter options like ARIES or LEO and focuses directly on SCORPIO, whose letters intersect cleanly with theme entries.

Why SCORPIO Works

Seven letters fill the entry exactly.
The scorpion is one of the few zodiac animals classified as an arachnid.
Crossing letters from SILENCE, RONALDO, LAX, and ODOR reinforce the answer.

Astronomy & Mythology Notes

Scorpio spans late October to late November in the tropical zodiac. In myth, the scorpion was sent by Gaia to sting Orion, which is why the constellations Scorpius and Orion appear on opposite sides of the night sky. These stories frequently inspire crossword clues and can provide additional memory anchors.

Solving Tips

Memorize the twelve zodiac signs and their symbols—they recur in Minis and full-size crosswords.
Use the clue's descriptive hint (arachnid) to rule out mammalian or avian zodiac entries.
Write down initial letters (S, C, O) in the grid to double-check crosses while you fill neighboring entries.

← Back to October 11, 2025 Puzzle

NYT Mini October 11, 2025: 2D - Zodiac arachnid

Answer: SCORPIO

Clue Breakdown

Why SCORPIO Works

Astronomy & Mythology Notes

Solving Tips

NYT Mini Puzzle Crossword

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