Friday, January 16, 2026 · Your daily stash of puzzle hints. Answers stay hidden until you ask for them.

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NYT Mini Crossword · Answers

NYT Mini Crossword answers for Friday, January 16, 2026

5x5 grid · Show any single answer, or the full grid at the bottom

A Friday 5x5 by Joel Fagliano: HBO opens the Across clues and HOOCH runs down the first column. Tap a clue to show just that answer.

Across

1. ___ Max
HBO
4. Where Marco Polo is played
POOL
5. Overwhelming amount, metaphorically
FLOOD
6. Reason for success in games like Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders
LUCK
7. "That's just the worst"
UGH

Down

1. Liquor, informally
HOOCH
2. Winner of a Booker prize, fittingly
BOOK
3. Antiquated
OLD
4. Give a short promotion for
PLUG
5. Winter malady
FLU

Full grid

Every answer, in grid order.

Across: HBO · POOL · FLOOD · LUCK · UGH
Down: HOOCH · BOOK · OLD · PLUG · FLU

Next on the board

Spelling Bee →

Center letter C, one pangram, 45 words to find.