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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Need a nudge on the Sunday, January 4, 2026, NYT Mini? Start with the letter hints below; the complete five-Across, five-Down answer key is separated by a spoiler warning.
Hints for the January 4 Mini
These hints give one letter for each answer without revealing the full entry. Across and Down are listed in puzzle order.
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Across
- 1-Across ends in N.
- 2-Across begins with O.
- 3-Across ends in R.
- 4-Across begins with T.
- 5-Across ends in Y.
Down
- 1-Down begins with B.
- 2-Down ends in A.
- 3-Down begins with C.
- 4-Down ends in T.
- 5-Down ends in Y.
Spoiler warning: full answer key
The entries below are the answers reported by Parade’s dated guide. Parade and The Word Finder list the same clue set for January 4; the key has not been independently confirmed against an official archived NYT grid.
Across
- 1-Across: BACON — Ron Swanson’s “number one favorite food,” on Parks and Recreation.
- 2-Across: OLIVE — It comes in black and green varieties, depending on ripeness.
- 3-Across: LOVER — Paramour.
- 4-Across: THIRD — In bronze medal position.
- 5-Across: SALTY — Feeling resentful, in slang.
Down
- 1-Down: BOLTS — Streaks of lightning.
- 2-Down: ALOHA — Hawaiian greeting.
- 3-Down: CIVIL — The “C” of A.C.L.U.
- 4-Down: OVERT — In the open.
- 5-Down: NERDY — Knowledgeable, and proud of it.
About this date’s puzzle
This is the NYT Mini, not the full Sunday crossword. The Word Finder describes the Mini as a bite-size NYT Games puzzle, with a 5×5 grid Sunday through Friday and a 7×7 grid on Saturdays; January 4, 2026, falls on a Sunday. That format description comes from the archive publisher.
Quick Recap
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Sources
- Parade’s January 4, 2026 answer guide, published January 3, 2026, provides the clue-by-clue letter hints and full answer mapping.
- The Word Finder’s January 4, 2026 archive page displays the dated clue set and letter patterns.
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