minds crossword clue – All Crossword Answers
Welcome to Answercrossword.com, your ultimate resource for solving challenging crossword clues. Below, you'll find comprehensive solutions for the clue "minds crossword clue," broken down by letter count, along with detailed explanations to help you understand the context.
Solutions for "minds crossword clue" by Letter Count
4 Letters
WITS: Refers to mental sharpness and ingenuity, often used in the plural to denote intelligence or cleverness.
6 Letters
BRAINS: A common synonym for intellect or mental capacity, particularly when referring to a group or the collective intelligence.
GENIUS: Exceptional intellectual or creative power, or someone possessing it, often used to describe highly intelligent 'minds'.
10 Letters
INTELLECTS: A direct and often more formal synonym for 'minds', referring to the faculty of reasoning and understanding, or to intelligent persons.
More About "minds crossword clue"
The clue "minds" in a crossword puzzle can be surprisingly versatile, leading to several potential solutions depending on the puzzle's specific context and the length of the required answer. At its core, "minds" refers to the intellectual faculty of a person, or often, to intelligent individuals themselves. When encountering this clue, consider synonyms for intelligence, thought, intellect, and even collective groups of clever people.
For example, if the answer length is short, words like 'WITS' might fit, implying mental quickness. For longer answers, you might be looking at direct synonyms like 'INTELLECTS' or broader terms like 'BRAINS' which encapsulates general mental ability. Sometimes, the clue might subtly hint at a group of brilliant thinkers, making 'GENIUS' a fitting, albeit singular, answer that captures the essence of exceptional minds.
Understanding these nuances is key to cracking such clues. Always cross-reference with intersecting words and consider any qualifiers in the clue itself. The plural nature of 'minds' often points towards collective nouns or pluralized concepts of intellect.
Tips For Your Next Puzzle
- Analyze the Pluralization: Since "minds" is plural, most answers will also be plural (e.g., BRAINS, WITS, INTELLECTS). However, sometimes a singular noun that implies a collective or general concept (like GENIUS) can be the answer.
- Consider Nuances of Meaning: "Minds" can mean intellect, thought, or even people with high intellect. Think about which aspect the clue might be emphasizing. 'WITS' implies cleverness, 'BRAINS' general intelligence, 'INTELLECTS' the faculty itself or people possessing it.
- Check Letter Count First: Always use the number of letters as your primary filter. This dramatically narrows down the possibilities and helps you focus on relevant synonyms for that specific length.
- Look for Intersecting Letters: The letters from solved intersecting clues are your best friends. They can confirm or rule out potential answers very quickly, especially for a clue with multiple common solutions like "minds."
For more advice, visit our page on general crossword strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between "brains" and "minds" in crosswords?
In crosswords, "brains" is often used as a direct, slightly more informal synonym for "minds," especially when referring to intellect or intelligence. "Minds" can be broader, encompassing the seat of consciousness and thought, while "brains" often emphasizes the organ or the raw intellectual power.
Can "minds" refer to a single person's intellect?
While "minds" is plural, a clue like "Great minds think alike" uses it collectively. In crosswords, it often refers to the collective intellects of multiple people, but a singular answer implying high intelligence (like GENIUS) can sometimes fit if the puzzle context allows for a conceptual pluralization.
How do I know which "minds" synonym to choose?
The best way to determine the correct synonym is by using the letter count provided for the answer. Once you have a few options that fit the length, use intersecting letters from other solved clues to confirm the correct word. The specific context of the puzzle's theme or other clues can also provide hints.