- - NYT Mini Crossword Answers, Hints for Saturday, January 3, 2026

Kenn C. BivinsJanuary 3, 2026 at 4:20 AM

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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 Saturday, January 3, 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 Saturday, January 3, 2026

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

NYT Mini Across Hints

1 Across: Tapioca pearls — HINT: Starts with the letter "B"

5 Across: Disappear into thin air — HINT: Ends with the letter "H"7 Across: "C'mon, we expect more from you" — HINT: Starts with the letter "D"9 Across: Dangerous, as a winter sidewalk — HINT: Ends with the letter "Y"10 Across: Social media ___ (what we're in now) — HINT: Ends with the letter "E"11 Across: Feeling down — HINT: Starts with the letter "S"12 Across: Director Howard — HINT: Ends with the letter "N"13 Across: Nightlife for which Miami is famous — HINT: Starts with the letter "C"16 Across: Cause of early aging — HINT: Ends with the letter "S"17 Across: The sun in "sunnyside up" — HINT: Starts with the letter "Y"

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NYT Mini Down Hints

1 Down: New parents' reason for cancelling plans — HINT: Ends with the letter "Y"

2 Down: 4/4 — HINT: Ends with the letter "E"

3 Down: Fraction of a byte — HINT: Starts with the letter "B"

4 Down: Symbol next to a tainted record — HINT: Ends with the letter "K"

5 Down: Singer's contribution to a song — HINT: Starts with the letter "V"6 Down: Long-necked birds — HINT: Ends with the letter "N"7 Down: ____ golf — HINT: Starts with the letter "D"8 Down: Sounded, as a doorbell — HINT: Ends with the letter "G"14 Down: "Dude!" — HINT: Ends with the letter "O"15 Down: ____ Air (neighborhood in L.A.) — HINT: Starts with the letter "B"

Answers to NYT's The Mini Crossword for Saturday, January 3, 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: Tapioca pearls — BOBA

5 Across: Disappear into thin air — VANISH7 Across: "C'mon, we expect more from you" — DOBETTER9 Across: Dangerous, as a winter sidewalk — ICY10 Across: Social media ___ (what we're in now) — ERA11 Across: Feeling down — SAD12 Across: Director Howard — RON13 Across: Nightlife for which Miami is famous — CLUBBING16 Across: Cause of early aging — STRESS17 Across: The sun in "sunnyside up" — YOLK

NYT Mini Down Answers

1 Down: New parents' reason for cancelling plans — BABYDUTY

2 Down: 4/4 — ONE

3 Down: Fraction of a byte — BIT

4 Down: Symbol next to a tainted record — ASTERISK

5 Down: Singer's contribution to a song — VOCALS6 Down: Long-necked birds — HERONS7 Down: ____ golf — DISC8 Down: Sounded, as a doorbell — RANG14 Down: "Dude!" — BRO15 Down: ____ Air (neighborhood in L.A.) — BEL

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This story was originally published by Parade on Jan 3, 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”