- - NYT Mini Crossword Answers, Hints for Sunday, January 18, 2026

Kenn C. BivinsJanuary 17, 2026 at 7:00 PM

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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 Sunday, January 18, 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 Sunday, January 18, 2026

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

NYT Mini Across Hints

1 Across: "I said so, that's why!" — HINT: Ends with the letter "Z"

4 Across: Highway division — HINT: Starts with the letter "L"5 Across: Genre for Olivia Dean and Daniel Caesar — HINT: Starts with the letter "R"6 Across: French "to have" —HINT: Ends with the letter "R"7 Across: Animal that would blend in well with a crossword grid — HINT: Starts with the letter "A"

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NYT Mini Down Hints

1 Down: Officially accepted storylines — HINT: Ends with the letter "N"

2 Down: Reversed — HINT: Starts with the letter "U"

3 Down: Animal that would blend in well with a crossword grid — HINT: Ends with the letter "A"

4 Down: Molten flow — HINT: Starts with the letter "L"

5 Down: Flow over a beat — HINT: Ends with the letter "P"

Answers to NYT's The Mini Crossword for Sunday, January 18, 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: "I said so, that's why!" — CUZ

4 Across: Highway division — LANE5 Across: Genre for Olivia Dean and Daniel Caesar — RANDB6 Across: French "to have" — AVOIR7 Across: Animal that would blend in well with a crossword grid — PANDA

NYT Mini Down Answers

1 Down: Officially accepted storylines — CANON

2 Down: Reversed — UNDID

3 Down: Animal that would blend in well with a crossword grid — ZEBRA

4 Down: Molten flow — LAVA

5 Down: Flow over a beat — RAP

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This story was originally published by Parade on Jan 18, 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”