NYT Mini Crossword Answers January 4, 2026: Solve the Sunday crossword puzzle with these clues

The New York Times' daily crossword has become an integral part of the daily life of the majority of word-game fans. The Mini Crossword still draws the majority of its audience of faithful followers, even though it shares ranks with popular games like Wordle, Connections, and Strands because of its small grid and time-easy nature. The puzzle that was served to the players looking for NYT Mini Crossword Answers on the day of Sunday, January 4, 2026, mingled together the references to modern-day and famous vocabulary of the crossword.

Compared to the flagship NYT Crossword that is only offered to subscribers and comes in a bigger grid, The Mini is totally free to play and was conceived to be done in just a matter of a few minutes. The game, which refreshes every day at 10 pm, is one of the first NYT puzzles to get reset for the new day.

What is the NYT Mini Crossword?

The Mini Crossword is a reduced version of the standard crossword puzzle, usually with a 5x5 grid. Though it is small in size, the puzzle frequently incorporates amusing wordplay, references to culture and everyday knowledge that are not easy to guess and that challenge both casual solvers and veteran crossword enthusiasts.


Its shortness puts it on the list of the most desired puzzles for the players who prefer to have a quick mental exercise instead of a full-length crossword, which takes time.

NYT Mini Crossword Hints for January 4, 2026

Players attempting to avoid spoilers may find it useful to review hints before checking the complete solutions. Below are clue-based hints for both the Across and Down entries in Sunday’s Mini Crossword.

NYT Mini Across Hints

• 1 Across: Ron Swanson’s “number one favourite food” from Parks and Recreation
  Hint: Ends with “N”
  
  
  
• 6 Across: It comes in black or green varieties, depending on ripeness
  Hint: Starts with “O”
  
  
  
• 7 Across: Paramour
  Hint: Ends with “R”
  
  
  
• 8 Across: In bronze medal position
  Hint: Starts with “T”
  
  
  
• 9 Across: Feeling resentful, in slang
  Hint: Ends with “Y”
  
  
  

NYT Mini Down Hints

• 1 Down: Streaks of lightning
  Hint: Starts with “B”
  
  
  
• 2 Down: Hawaiian greeting
  Hint: Ends with “A”
  
  
  
• 3 Down: The “C” of A.C.L.U.
  Hint: Starts with “C”
  
  
  
• 4 Down: In the open
  Hint: Ends with “T”
  
  
  
• 5 Down: Knowledgeable, and proud of it
  Hint: Ends with “Y”
  

NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Sunday, January 4, 2026

Spoiler alert: The full list of NYT Mini Crossword Answers is provided below, as per a report by Parade magazine.

Across Answers

• 1 Across: BACON
  
  
  
• 6 Across: OLIVE
  
  
  
• 7 Across: LOVER
  
  
  
• 8 Across: THIRD
  
  
  
• 9 Across: SALTY
  
  

Down Answers

• 1 Down: BOLTS
  
  
  
• 2 Down: ALOHA
  
  
  
• 3 Down: CIVIL
  
  
  
• 4 Down: OVERT
  
  
  
• 5 Down: NERDY
  
  

The puzzle blends entertainment references, such as Ron Swanson’s famously carnivorous tastes, with straightforward dictionary clues, making it accessible while still engaging.

FAQs

What are the NYT Mini Crossword Answers for January 4, 2026?

The answers include Bacon, Olive, Lover, Third, Salty, Bolts, Aloha, Civil, Overt and Nerdy.

What time does the NYT Mini Crossword reset?

The Mini Crossword resets daily at 10 pm.