.png){kind=logo}
Sometimes, the New York Times Mini Crossword is like trying to untangle a riddle. The compact 5x5 grid and clever clues balance simplicity with challenge. Occasionally, a lack of spaces for multi-word answers can make some clues difficult, such as today's 4-Down. The solution "EASY A" required a mental pause, as the grid didn't clearly separate the words.
On Thursday, January 16, 2025, clues and answers provide an exciting combination of wordplay and trivia. This bite-sized puzzle is just what the mind needs to keep sharp without too much time used. Let's take a dive into today's clues and solutions.
1A: Square on a wall calendar, or a fun thing you might put on the calendar
Answer: DATE
This clue refers to a day of the month, which is commonly represented on a wall calendar. A "date" could also refer to a fun event someone might schedule on their calendar.
5A: Social ___
Answer: MEDIA
This one is a simple, modern term. The phrase "social media" is used to describe platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter where people interact online.
6A: Tiny things studied by chemists
Answer: ATOMS
Chemistry focuses on atoms: These are particles which make everything. They're pretty small though and make everything.
7A: Only one of the Seven Dwarfs without a beard
Answer: DOPEY
To get this, use the well known movie "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." That movie has that particular dwarf whose beards they never grew: the one whose name is Dopey.
8A: Over the top, in slang
Answer: EXTRA
The term "extra" describes something that's exaggerated or just over the top. It may describe someone's behavior or an excessively excessive action.
1D: Period of abstaining from unhealthy substances
Answer: DETOX
A detox is the time that one abstains from substance usage, for example alcohol, sugar, or processed foods. This is the time that makes the body detoxify. The word is generally associated with health and wellness trends.
2D: Take in as one's own
Answer: ADOPT
To "adopt" something means to take it in as your own. This can mean adopting a pet or even adopting a new idea or attitude.
3D: Function in a Clock app
Answer: TIMER
A timer is one of the common features of clock apps. It counts down a set time, and people can use it to cook or keep track of how long an event takes.
4D: Class you might take to boost your G.P.A.
Answer: EASY A
An "Easy A" is the class that sounds easy enough that you can earn an A. Students often refer to it as a humorous term to boost one's GPA without much effort.
5D: Like a bed with the covers tucked in tidily
Answer: MADE
A bed is "made" when it's made up nicely with the covers smooth and tight and the pillows straightened out. The term is so often used that it has entered the popular imagination as referring to making a bed in the morning.
The NYT Mini Crossword is a condensed version of the classic crossword puzzle. It was introduced in 2014 and soon became popular with those looking for a quick intellectual challenge. Fewer clues and a smaller grid make it a puzzle that can be completed in just a few minutes.
While the full-sized NYT crossword spreads out over a wider grid, the Mini concentrates on offering short, yet just as satisfying, puzzles. Players test their speed and knowledge as they try to beat the previous day's time by solving it. However, even regular solvers may get stuck on some days when it requires lateral thinking or a particular cultural reference.
Today's Mini is a great example of how clever wordplay can make a short puzzle pack a punch. Clues like 7-Across, referencing Dopey as the lone beardless Dwarf, or the casual slang in 8-Across with "EXTRA," show the crossword's fun, modern vibe.
The NYT Mini is free for everyone to use every day via the New York Times website or the NYT Games app. No subscription is necessary to access it, so anyone will be able to get a puzzle fix in mere minutes. For enthusiasts who want lots of puzzles to solve, paying for a subscription unlocks the many archives and several other fun games, such as Wordle and Connections.
Playing the Mini is easy. Read the clues, type your answers, and watch the grid fill. The challenge comes in deciphering double meanings, cultural hints, and wordplay.
For puzzle enthusiasts, the Mini serves as a daily mental boost. It is perfect for busy schedules due to its small size and fewer clues. What's more, the variety of topics keeps things fresh. Today's clues touched on everything from chemistry (ATOMS) to fairytale trivia (DOPEY), ensuring there's always something new to learn.
The Mini also has humorous turns. Answer words such as "EASY A" will not always immediately be known to you, giving it a deeper level of challenge. Likewise, slang-based clues, such as "EXTRA," mirror today's slang language.
Work from easiest clues first, which gets your momentum going. Familiarization of letter patterns and other crossword answer phrases helps. Examples include short answers like "DATE" which come up often.
Hints or looking up comparable crosswords will refine one's skills to solve a crossword.
Numerous sites and, indeed the NYT Games website also contain instructions to comprehend word play and help crack hard grids.
The NYT Mini Crossword provides more than a quick puzzle: it is an entertaining mix of fun, trivia, and mental exercise to help start or end the day. Whether solving individually or competing with friends, the Mini promises to be entertaining while providing the chance to learn something new.
