There's too much petty, ill will in the world if the NYT Mini Crossword puzzle doesn't use it as a clue, but the July 9 puzzle does.
NYT Connections, Mini Crossword and Strands | Aug 8, 2024
Regular participants of the daily NYT Mini Crossword know the ups and downs that come with some of the clues. “Petty ill will” may seem vague at first, but if you can channel your brain power, you might arrive at the answer faster than you think.
I've given you all the clues possible. It's time for the full answer.
The word you are looking for is "SPITE". The clue, "Petty ill will", suggests that the word is an action motivated by emotional desire – in this case, a negative desire. It is typical to do something out of spite, such as hurting someone else because you deliberately went against their wishes, knowing that it may cause physical or emotional pain.
