Minces words' Mincing words is a phrase used to describe someone who speaks in a very careful and precise manner, often using overly formal language. It can also be used to describe someone who speaks in a way that is difficult to understand. The crossword solution for the term 'minces words' is 'EDITS, ' which is an appropriate word to describe this type of speaking. Editing is the process of making changes to a text or document in order to improve it, and this is similar to how someone might carefully choose their words when speaking.