Petty ill will NYT Crossword clue hints and answers

There’s too much petty ill will in the world without the NYT Mini Crossword puzzle using it as a clue, but this is the case for the July 9 puzzle.

Regular participants in the daily NYT Mini Crossword know the ups and downs that come with some of the clues. “Petty ill will” may appear vague from the outset, but if you can channel your brainpower, you can come up with the answer sooner than you think.

Hints and answer to Petty ill will Crossword clue

• Hint 1: It sounds like a popular carbonated beverage.
• Hint 2: To do something regardless of someone’s wishes—possibly causing distress or annoyance.
• Hint 3: Produce saliva out of your mouth quickly and add an extra letter.
• Hint 4: It begins with an “S.”

I’ve given you all the clues I can—it’s time for the complete answer.

The word you are looking for is “SPITE.” The clue, “Petty ill will,” suggests the word is an action motivated by emotional desire—in this case, a negative one. It’s typical to do something out of spite, as in to hurt someone else because you’ve deliberately gone against their wishes, knowing it can cause physical or emotional pain.

Full answers for the July 9 NYT Mini Crossword

ACROSS

• 1A Substance used by violin players — ROSIN
• 6A One of the world’s largest land animals, familiarity — HIPPO
• 7A Trojan War epic — ILIAD
• 8A N.B.A. team that recently agreed to its first trade with the Knicks in over 40 years — NETS
• 9A Lyric poems — ODES

DOWN

• 1D One of the world’s largest land animals, familiarity — RHINO
• 2D Well-___ machine — OILED
• 3D Petty ill will — SPITE
• 4D “Skip me,” in a game — I PASS
• 5D Nonverbal agreement — NOD

Petty ill will crossword clue difficulty rating

I know many adjectives and phrases, so while I understand why readers could get lost here, this was a fairly simple clue. I’ll add the benefit of the doubt, though, and give a two out of five difficulty rating, although I could be mean and give it a one out of five to flex my ego and insult you—out of spite. But I won’t do that—it’s a fun clue and one of the reasons I keep coming back to the NYT Mini Crossword.

How to play more Crosswords after solving the NYT Mini Crossword

Keep your braincogs engaged with even more conundrums, brainteasers, and everything in between. To do this, head to the LA Times and Washington Post for a one-way trip to puzzle paradise. Also, check out Strands and Spelling Bee for extra ways to stimulate the senses.