NYT Mini Crossword Answers, Hints for Monday, January 5, 2026

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 Monday, January 5, 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 Monday, January 5, 2026

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

NYT Mini Across Hints

1 Across: “Now I get it!” — HINT: Ends with the letter “A”

4 Across: Benoit ___, detective in the “Knives Out” films — HINT: Starts with the letter “B”

6 Across: Give one’s two cents — HINT: Ends with the letter “E”

7 Across: Time difference between the East and West Coast, in hours — HINT: Starts with the letter “T”

8 Across: Pirate’s assent — HINT: Ends with the letter “E”

Related: 16 Games Like Wordle To Give You Your Word Game Fix More Than Once Every 24 Hours

NYT Mini Down Hints

1 Down: Generation after Gen Z — HINT: Starts with the letter “A”

2 Down: In need of a shave — HINT: Ends with the letter “Y”

3 Down: “Bonne ___!” (“Happy New Year!,” in French) — HINT: Starts with the letter “A”

4 Down: Many a social media antagonist, sadly — HINT: Ends with the letter “T”

5 Down: First in “class”? — HINT: Ends with the letter “E”

Answers to NYT’s The Mini Crossword for Monday, January 5, 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: “Now I get it!” — AHA

4 Across: Benoit ___, detective in the “Knives Out” films — BLANC

6 Across: Give one’s two cents — OPINE

7 Across: Time difference between the East and West Coast, in hours — THREE

8 Across: Pirate’s assent — AYE

NYT Mini Down Answers

1 Down: Generation after Gen Z — ALPHA

2 Down: In need of a shave — HAIRY

3 Down: “Bonne ___!” (“Happy New Year!,” in French) — ANNE

4 Down: Many a social media antagonist, sadly — BOT

5 Down: First in “class”? — CEE

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