NYT Mini Crossword Jan 31: Hints and answers to crack down today’s puzzle

The New York Times Mini Crossword continues to captivate puzzle enthusiasts with its compact yet engaging format.

Designed as a quick and challenging alternative to the newspaper’s traditional crossword, the Mini offers a daily test of wit and vocabulary.

With a 5x5 grid, most puzzles contain three to five clues per direction, though Saturday editions sometimes feature a larger grid.


Unlike the full-sized crossword, the NYT Mini is free to play online or via the NYT Games app, though access to archived puzzles requires a subscription.

For solvers tackling Friday, January 31, 2025’s NYT Mini Crossword, here’s a breakdown of hints and answers to help you through.

Hints for NYT Mini Crossword (January 31, 2025)

Before revealing the full answers, here are some helpful hints for today’s puzzle, as mentioned in a report by Parade.

If you’re looking for a nudge in the right direction without completely spoiling the solution, read on.

Across Hints:

• 1 Across: Like a dry-cleaned shirt or fresh sheets – (Starts with "C")
• 6 Across: Weapon used on horseback – (Ends with "E")
• 7 Across: One of a potential 13 for Emilia Perez, as announced last week – (Starts with "O")
• 8 Across: Movie double's responsibility – (Ends with "T")
• 9 Across: The "blue marble" – (Starts with "E")

Down Hints:

• 1 Down: In the ballpark – (Ends with "E")
• 2 Down: Someone who might smoke ganja as a sacrament, informally – (Starts with "R")
• 3 Down: Run up, as debt – (Ends with "R")
• 4 Down: Meager – (Starts with "S")
• 5 Down: Capital of Western Australia – (Ends with "H")

NYT Mini Crossword Answers (January 31, 2025)

For those who want the solutions outright, here are today’s answers, according to the report by Parade Magazine.

Across Answers:

• 1 Across: CRISP
• 6 Across: LANCE
• 7 Across: OSCAR
• 8 Across: STUNT
• 9 Across: EARTH

Down Answers:

• 1 Down: CLOSE
• 2 Down: RASTA
• 3 Down: INCUR
• 4 Down: SCANT
• 5 Down: PERTH

FAQs

Is the NYT Mini no longer free?

In contrast to its larger counterpart, the NYT Mini crossword is available for free on the New York Times website or the NYT Games app.

How do I access the NYT Mini crossword today?

You can play the Mini at nytimes.com/games, in The New York Times Games app (available on iOS and Android), and in the Play tab of The New York Times News app.