Stuck on the NYT Mini Crossword? Here are the January 15 Answers You Need

You’re staring at the grid. The timer is ticking up, not down, and that one pesky corner in the NYT Mini Crossword is making you feel like you've forgotten how to speak English. It happens to the best of us. Whether it’s a weirdly phrased clue about a common household object or a niche pop culture reference that hasn't crossed your mind since 2012, the Mini is designed to be a sprint that occasionally feels like a brick wall.

Today is Thursday, January 15, 2026. If you're here, you're likely looking for that one specific word to keep your streak alive. Honestly, some of today's clues are a bit "clunky," even by the New York Times' standards. But don't worry. We’ve got the full breakdown of the NYT Mini Crossword answers right here, along with some context on why these specific words were chosen and how to tackle these puzzles without losing your mind.

The Answers for Today's NYT Mini Crossword

Let's get straight to the point. You want the answers. I get it.

Across Clues

1. DASH — The clue was "Short race." Pretty straightforward, but sometimes the brain wants to go with "Sprints" or "Heat." DASH fits the four-letter requirement perfectly.
2. ALOHA — "Hawaii’s hello/goodbye." This is a crossword staple. If you see Hawaii, think ALOHA, OHANA, or LEI.
3. REBEL — "One who goes against the grain." This is a classic "Short" clue that can be tricky because "Maverick" or "Dissent" are too long.
4. KNELL — "Sound of a bell, especially for a death." A bit morbid for a morning puzzle, right? This one usually trips people up because it's not a word we use in daily conversation unless we're reading Hemingway or Poe.
5. SASS — "Backtalk." Short, punchy, and common in the Mini.

Down Clues

1. DARKS — "Load of laundry that isn't whites." A common household task that makes for a perfect five-letter filler.
2. ALENE — "Coeur d'___, Idaho." This is a geographic "gimme" if you know your Northwest geography, but a total nightmare if you don't.
3. SOBER — "Not intoxicated." Direct and simple.
4. HALLS — "Deck the ___." A holiday hangover clue, perhaps? Even in mid-January, the NYT likes to keep some seasonal flavor.
5. ARK — "Noah’s vessel." Three letters, starts with A. It’s almost always ARK in these puzzles.

Why Today’s Grid Was a Bit Tricky

Crossword construction is an art form, but sometimes the constraints of a 5x5 grid lead to what enthusiasts call "crosswordese." Take KNELL for example. It’s a word that exists almost exclusively in literature and crosswords these days. Joel Fagliano, the digital puzzles editor at the NYT, often mixes these high-brow terms with very modern slang or household items to keep solvers on their toes.

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The difficulty today really centered on that Idaho clue. ALENE is part of Coeur d'Alene, which is a beautiful resort city, but if you aren't from the U.S. or don't study maps for fun, that's a tough fill. This is where the "cross-check" method becomes your best friend. If you knew ALOHA and REBEL, the "L" and the "E" in the second column would have practically handed you ALENE on a silver platter.

Tips for Mastering the Mini Without Peeking

Look, there’s no shame in looking up an answer. Even the pros do it when they hit a wall. But if you want to get faster, you’ve got to start thinking like a constructor.

Most solvers start with the Across clues, but that’s actually a trap. I’ve found that scanning for the "Shorties"—the 3-letter words—is the most efficient way to build a skeleton. In today’s puzzle, ARK was the easiest entry point. Once you have that "K," the ending for DASH or KNELL starts to become obvious.

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Another thing? Pay attention to the day of the week. While the "big" crossword gets progressively harder from Monday to Saturday (with Sunday being a large, medium-difficulty slog), the Mini stays relatively consistent. However, Thursdays often have a slightly "punny" or "trickier" vibe compared to the straightforward Monday Mini. Today’s use of KNELL and ALENE definitely leans into that mid-week spike.

Improving Your Solve Time

If you’re obsessed with that little gold star and the "Personal Best" notification, stop typing out the whole word. On the NYT app, you can change your settings to "skip filled squares." It sounds small, but saving those milliseconds spent hitting the backspace or arrow keys can shave five to ten seconds off your final time.

Also, don't get hung up on one clue. If you can't get 1-Across in three seconds, move on. The "Downs" will give you the letters you need. It’s a psychological game. The moment you start overthinking "Short race" (is it a sprint? a lap? a heat?), you've already lost the sub-30-second window.

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Actionable Strategy for Tomorrow

To get better at the NYT Mini Crossword, you don't need to read the dictionary. Just do these three things:

• Learn the common geography: Cities like Coeur d'Alene, rivers like the Arno or Eure, and islands like Capri show up constantly.
• Watch for plurals: If a clue is plural ("Races"), the answer almost certainly ends in "S." Put the "S" in immediately to give yourself a hint for the intersecting word.
• Use the 'Check' feature sparingly: Use "Check Square" instead of "Check Puzzle." It confirms you're on the right track without spoiling the whole experience.

If you’re still struggling with today’s grid, take a second to look at the letters you did get right. Often, the mistake isn't that you don't know the word, but that you have a typo in an intersecting word. A single "O" where an "A" should be can ruin the whole experience. Clear the board, take a breath, and try the Downs first. You'll be surprised how much faster the second attempt goes.

Now that you've got the answers and the strategy, go back into the app and finish that grid. Your streak is waiting.