Let’s be real. We’ve all been there. It’s early, the coffee hasn’t kicked in yet, and you’re staring at a 5x5 grid that feels like it’s mocking your intelligence. The NYT Mini Crossword is supposed to be the "easy" one, right? Usually. But today’s clues have a couple of those nasty little pivots that make you second-guess your first instincts.
If you’re stuck on a specific word or just want to see if your "vibes-based" guessing was actually correct, you’re in the right place. Solving the NYT Mini Crossword answers for January 15, 2026, requires a mix of pop culture knowledge and that specific brand of "wordplay" logic that the New York Times editors love so much.
Today’s grid is tight. The intersections are unforgiving. If you miss 1-Across, the whole vertical stack usually falls apart like a house of cards.
The Full Answer Key for January 15
Look, I won't make you hunt for it. If you just want the spoilers because you're one clue away from a gold star and your streak is on the line, here is what the finished board looks like.
Across Clues
1-Across: The first word is SCALP. The clue "Part of the head that might itch" is a bit of a literal one today, though sometimes they try to get fancy with hair-related puns.
6-Across: We have ALIBI. This is a classic crossword staple. If you see "Legal excuse" or "Defendant's story," your brain should immediately jump to this five-letter word.
7-Across: The answer is POLAR. "Kind of bear or opposite" plays on the dual meaning. It’s a solid filler word that helps bridge the middle of the grid.
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8-Across: ELATE. To "Fill with joy." It's one of those "crosswordese" words—verbs that end in 'E' and are heavy on vowels are a constructor’s best friend.
9-Across: This one is REDS. The clue "Cincinnati baseball team" is a straightforward sports trivia bit. No trickery here, just pure MLB knowledge.
Down Clues
1-Down: SAFER. "Less risky." When you have SCALP across the top, that 'S' gives you a head start on this vertical.
2-Down: COLO. This is an abbreviation for Colorado. The clue "State south of Wyo." is a common geographical shorthand used to save space in small grids.
3-Down: AIL. "To be unwell." A three-letter gift.
4-Down: LABEL. "Record ___ (Sony or Motown)." This is a great example of how the Mini uses everyday industry terms to fill out the corners.
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5-Down: PRIZE. "Cracker Jack surprise." Honestly, do people still eat Cracker Jacks for the prize? Probably not, but the nostalgia carries the clue.
Why Today’s Mini Was Actually Tricky
Sometimes the difficulty isn't in the words themselves, but in how they intersect. Take the POLAR and ALIBI crossover. If you weren't sure about the 'L' in ALIBI, you might have struggled with the middle of the grid.
A lot of solvers get tripped up on abbreviations like COLO. It feels like cheating, doesn't it? But in the world of crossword construction, the "Short for" or "Abbr." tag in a clue is your best friend. It narrows the field significantly. If you see a period at the end of a clue's directional hint (like Wyo.), the answer is almost certainly going to be an abbreviation too.
Then there's the REDS. Sports clues are the "love them or hate them" part of crosswords. If you don't follow the NL Central, you might have been trying to fit "Tigers" or "Cubs" or something else in there. But the 'R' from SAFER and the 'D' from... well, you get the point. The grid eventually gives it to you if you work the edges.
The Evolution of the Mini
The Mini started as a digital-only feature back in 2014, created by Joel Fagliano. It’s fascinating how it has become a cult phenomenon. People compete for seconds. Literally seconds. If you’re finishing in under 30 seconds, you’re essentially a professional. Most humans take about 1 to 2 minutes. If you’re over 5 minutes, you’re probably overthinking the puns.
The Mini has a "voice." It’s younger than the main crossword. You’ll see slang, TikTok references, and modern tech terms that wouldn’t have made it into the Sunday paper twenty years ago. Today’s puzzle felt a bit more "classic," leaning on legal terms and geography, which usually means the constructor is trying to balance out a more "online" puzzle from earlier in the week.
Tips for Crushing Tomorrow's Puzzle
If you struggled today, don't sweat it. Crosswords are a muscle. You have to train your brain to see the "NYT way" of thinking.
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- Look for Plurals First: If a clue is plural ("Cincinnati baseball teams" instead of "team"), the answer almost always ends in 'S'. Fill that 'S' in immediately. It gives you a free letter for the intersecting down clue.
- Trust the Vowels: In a 5x5 grid, 'E', 'A', and 'I' are everywhere. If you're stuck, try plugging in a common vowel. It often triggers a "lightbulb" moment for the surrounding words.
- The "Fill" Words: Learn the common three-letter words. Ail, Eke, Ore, Era, Tea. These are the glue that holds crosswords together. Once you know them, the harder long-form words become much easier to solve by deduction.
- Ignore the Clock (at first): The timer is stressful. If you're learning, ignore it. Accuracy builds speed naturally. Speed-running a puzzle you don't understand is just a recipe for a headache.
Common Misconceptions About Today's Grid
A lot of people thought 9-Across might be "Reds" as in the color, but the clue specifically pointed to Cincinnati. Context is king. Also, for SCALP, some people might have tried "Skull," but the "itch" part of the clue is the dead giveaway. Skulls don't itch; skin does. These tiny nuances are the difference between a 45-second solve and a DNF (Did Not Finish).
It's also worth noting that the Mini often repeats themes. If you see a bear clue today (POLAR), don't be surprised if you see another arctic-themed word later in the week. The editors like to have little internal conversations within the week's puzzles.
How to Step Up Your Game
Solving the Mini is the gateway drug to the "Big" puzzle. If you can handle the January 15 Mini without breaking a sweat, you’re ready for a Monday or Tuesday full-sized NYT Crossword. Those are the entry-level days. By the time you get to Saturday, the clues are basically riddles written by people who want you to suffer.
For now, celebrate the win. You got the answers. You kept the streak alive.
To improve your speed for the next one, try solving on a desktop keyboard if you usually use your thumb on a phone. The physical typing speed can shave 5-10 seconds off your time alone. Also, read the Down clues while you’re still typing the Across answers. It sounds like multitasking madness, but it’s how the top-tier solvers get those sub-15-second times.
Go back to the NYT Games app and double-check your entries against the list above. Ensure every letter is capitalized correctly—though the app usually handles that—and check for any "fat-finger" typos. Sometimes you have the right answer in your head but hit the 'K' instead of the 'L'. It happens to the best of us.
Once you've cleared the board, take a second to look at the patterns. Notice how PRIZE and POLAR share that 'P'. The 'P' is a relatively rare letter in these small grids compared to 'S' or 'T'. Whenever you see a "power letter" like P, X, Z, or J, use it as an anchor. Those letters have fewer possible neighbors, making the intersecting words much easier to guess.
Check your stats, share your time with that one friend who always beats you, and get ready for tomorrow's reset. The grid waits for no one.