Wednesday is always that weird "hump" day for the New York Times Mini Crossword. Usually, the start of the week is a total breeze, and by the time we hit Friday, Joel Fagliano—the mastermind behind these little grids—is throwing curveballs that make you want to throw your phone. But today? Today’s grid is a bit of a mixed bag. It’s got that classic mix of 2026-era pop culture and those annoying "Wait, I know this!" trivia bits that sit right on the tip of your tongue until you finally give in and look it up.
You’re probably here because one specific clue is ruining your streak. Honestly, it happens to the best of us. Maybe it’s the weirdly specific history fact or a bit of slang that makes you feel a thousand years old. Whatever the case, let's just get into the NYT mini today answer so you can get on with your morning coffee.
Quick Hints for Wednesday, January 14
Sometimes you don’t want the whole answer. You just want a little nudge. If you’re trying to keep the "aha!" moment alive, here are some vibes for the trickiest spots in today’s puzzle:
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- 1-Across: Think about that person who just stopped replying to your texts for no reason. It’s rude, it’s modern, and it’s the answer.
- 7-Across: This one is for the cinema nerds. It’s a specific role from a 2024 film that got a lot of awards buzz (shoutout to Mikey Madison).
- 8-Across: Forget coins or paper. Think about what people in ancient China actually carried around if they wanted to buy something with tea.
- 2-Down: Geography 101. If you’re in Vietnam, this is the city you’re likely starting your tour in.
- 3-Down: It’s the thing in the sky we’re trying to protect. Not the clouds, but the layer.
NYT Mini Today Answer: The Full Reveal
If you’re over the hints and just want to fill the boxes, here is the complete solution for the January 14, 2026, Mini Crossword.
Across Solved
- 1A: Abruptly stop texting — GHOST
- 6A: Shaving kit item — RAZOR
- 7A: 2024 film role for which Mikey Madison won Best Actress — ANORA
- 8A: The ancient Chinese used compressed blocks of tea leaves as this — MONEY
- 9A: Shape of a round chart — PIE
Down Solved
- 1D: Dad's dad, informally — GRAMP
- 2D: Capital of Vietnam — HANOI
- 3D: ___ layer, part of Earth's atmosphere — OZONE
- 4D: How you might wake up after sleeping funny — SORE
- 5D: Cafeteria food carrier — TRAY
Breaking Down the Grid
Let’s talk about 8-Across for a second. MONEY.
It’s one of those clues that feels like a trick. You start thinking about "bricks" or "leaves" or "bales," but Fagliano loves to go for the functional definition. In ancient China, specifically in regions like Yunnan, tea was so valuable and so easy to transport in compressed forms that it literally became a currency. It wasn't just like money; it was money.
Then you’ve got ANORA at 7-Across. If you didn’t follow the 2024/2025 awards season, this probably felt like a wall. Sean Baker's Anora was a huge deal, and Mikey Madison’s performance was basically the talk of every film festival. It’s a great example of how the Mini stays current. If you’re still thinking about movies from ten years ago, the Mini will definitely humble you.
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And GHOST? Well, that’s just a reminder that the NYT is very aware of our collective dating trauma.
How to Get Faster at the Mini
Look, 30 seconds is the gold standard. If you’re hovering around the two-minute mark, you’re doing fine, but there are ways to shave off that time.
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- Skip the hard ones immediately. Don't stare at 7-Across for ten seconds. If you don't know the movie, move to the Downs. The Downs are almost always easier on Wednesdays.
- Learn "Crosswordese." There are certain words that show up constantly because they have a lot of vowels. Words like OZONE, AREA, and OREO are the building blocks of these grids. Once you spot the pattern, you’ll fill them in without even reading the full clue.
- The "S" Trap. If a clue is plural, the last box is almost certainly an S. Fill it in early to give yourself a hint for the crossing word.
The Mini is a sprint, not a marathon. It’s designed to be finished in the time it takes for your toast to pop.
If you struggled with today's NYT mini today answer, don't sweat it. Tomorrow’s grid is a fresh start. Usually, Thursday puzzles lean a bit more into wordplay or puns, so get ready to think outside the box.
To keep your momentum going, try to solve the Downs first tomorrow morning. It changes how your brain processes the intersections and often leads to a faster overall time. If you’re still stuck on other NYT games, today’s Connections has a particularly mean category involving "Silent" types that might trip you up next.