- - NYT Mini Crossword Answers, Hints for Friday, January 16, 2026

Choya JohnsonJanuary 16, 2026 at 4:25 AM

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The New York Times

If you're anything like me, the day is not complete until I finish all of the free word games from the New York Times. Working on the daily Connections, Connections Sports Edition, Wordle, and Strands is a whole ritual for many of us. And we can't forget about the NYT's The Mini Crossword, too!

Although the NYT is known for "The Crossword," a larger puzzle for paid subscribers, The Mini has quite the fan following as well. This particular game resets at 10 p.m., unlike some of the others that start over at midnight.

So, if you're working on today's Mini on Friday, January 16, 2026, and need some help (I've been there), get ready to read the clues and solutions for each line. We have them separated into hints first for both "Across" and "Down" words, followed by "Across Answers" and "Down Answers," so be careful if you want to avoid spoilers as you scroll!

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Hints for NYT's The Mini Crossword on Friday, January 16, 2026

Here are additional clues for each of the words in today's Mini Crossword.

NYT Mini Across Hints

1 Across: ___ Max — HINT: Ends with the letter "O"

4 Across: Where Marco Polo is played — HINT: Starts with the letter "P"5 Across: Overwhelming amount, metaphorically — HINT: Ends with the letter "D"6 Across: Reason for success in games like Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders —HINT: Ends with the letter "K"7 Across: "That's just the worst" — HINT: Starts with the letter "U"

Related: 16 Games Like Wordle To Give You Your Word Game Fix More Than Once Every 24 Hours

NYT Mini Down Hints

1 Down: Liquor, informally — HINT: Ends with the letter "H"

2 Down: Winner of a Booker prize, fittingly — HINT: Starts with the letter "B"

3 Down: Antiquated — HINT: Ends with the letter "D"

4 Down:Give a short promotion for — HINT: Starts with the letter "P"

5 Down: Winter malady — HINT: Starts with the letter "F"

Answers to NYT's The Mini Crossword for Friday, January 16, 2026

Don't go any further unless you want to know exactly what the correct words are in today's Mini Crossword.

NYT Mini Across Answers

1 Across: ___ Max — HBO

4 Across: Where Marco Polo is played — POOL5 Across: Overwhelming amount, metaphorically — FLOOD6 Across: Reason for success in games like Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders — LUCK7 Across: "That's just the worst" — UGH

NYT Mini Down Answers

1 Down: Liquor, informally — HOOCH

2 Down: Winner of a Booker prize, fittingly — BOOK

3 Down: Antiquated — OLD

4 Down: Give a short promotion for — PLUG

5 Down: Winter malady — FLU

Related: NYT Mini Crossword Answers, Hints for Thursday, January 15, 2026

This story was originally published by Parade on Jan 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the Life section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”