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The NYT Mini Crossword for January 23, 2026 offers a quick, simple, and fun puzzle with clear clues and familiar answers.
Today’s grid blends pop culture, daily words, and classic crossword terms for a smooth solving experience.
As part of NYT Games, the Mini Crossword remains a daily habit, with a new challenge waiting tomorrow.
The NYT Mini Crossword welcomes puzzle lovers once again with a fresh and clever challenge today. Every day, this small crossword brings a new mix of words, ideas, and smart clues. The grid stays small, but the fun feels big. January 23, 2026, adds another enjoyable set of clues that test quick thinking and basic knowledge.
The Mini Crossword works well because it feels simple and fast. Short words. Clear clues. No long waiting time. Many solvers finish it in a few minutes, yet the puzzle still feels rewarding. Today’s crossword mixes daily life, pop culture, and common words in a smooth way.
This puzzle also fits perfectly into the wider NYT Games family. Along with Wordle, Connections, and other games, the Mini Crossword has become a daily habit for many readers. Each morning feels incomplete without opening the grid and filling those tiny squares.
Below is today’s full list of clues and answers, explained in a clear and simple way. Each clue appears first, followed by the answer and a short explanation.
1A Clue: Attach, as one plant to another
Answer: GRAFT
Explanation: Grafting means joining one plant part to another so both grow together.
6A Clue: Email button with a backward-facing arrow
Answer: REPLY
Explanation: Reply sends a message back to the original email sender.
7A Clue: Make very excited
Answer: AMPUP
Explanation: Amp up means to increase excitement or energy.
8A Clue: Two-time Best Actor nominee Nick
Answer: NOLTE
Explanation: Nick Nolte earned two Oscar nominations for Best Actor.
9A Clue: Total dork
Answer: DWEEB
Explanation: Dweeb describes someone seen as awkward or nerdy.
1D Clue: Word that can precede piano, total, or staircase
Answer: GRAND
Explanation: Grand works naturally with piano, total, and staircase.
2D Clue: Cut again, as a lawn
Answer: REMOW
Explanation: Remow means mowing a lawn one more time.
3D Clue: Company whose logo has a bite taken out of it
Answer: APPLE
Explanation: Apple uses a bitten apple as its famous logo.
4D Clue: Champagne glass
Answer: FLUTE
Explanation: A flute glass holds champagne and keeps the bubbles longer.
5D Clue: Laid-back kind of personality
Answer: TYPEB
Explanation: Type B people stay calm and relaxed by nature.
Also Read: Today’s NYT Strands Hints and Answers for January 22, 2026
Today’s NYT Mini Crossword feels smooth from start to finish. The clues stay clear and fair. The answers feel familiar. Pop culture blends well with daily words. Each correct answer helps unlock the next one.
The clue about Nick Nolte adds a fun movie touch. Words like GRAFT and GRAND bring classic crossword flavor. Modern terms like REPLY and APPLE keep the puzzle current. This balance makes the Mini Crossword easy to enjoy for both new and regular solvers.
The puzzle also shows why short games matter. Even a quick crossword can refresh the mind. It helps with focus. It sharpens thinking. It also brings a small sense of achievement before the day fully begins.
The NYT Mini Crossword for January 23, 2026, delivers another smart and friendly challenge. Simple clues. Clean answers. A fast and fun solving experience. This daily puzzle continues to hold a special place inside NYT Games, alongside other popular word challenges.
Tomorrow awaits with a brand-new grid, fresh clues, and new answers ready to test quick thinking once again. The Mini Crossword never rests, and the next challenge always stands just a day away.
Also Read: Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for January 22, 2026
