The Mini is a smaller iteration of The New York Times‘ renowned daily crossword. In contrast to the more extensive crossword that requires both knowledge and endurance, The Mini provides an alternate experience.

With only a handful of clues to crack, this daily puzzle acts as a speed test for numerous players.

When a challenging clue disrupts a player’s flow, it can be quite exasperating! If you find yourself stuck on The Mini — much like Wordle and Connections — we have answers for you.

Here are the clues and solutions to NYT’s The Mini for Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026:

Across

Element of …

• The solution is Two.

… each clue

• The solution is Words.

Download on Kindle

• The solution is Ebook.

Try again

• The solution is Retry.

Looking duo?

• The solution is Eyes.

Down

Actor Maguire

• The solution is Tobey.

Noted (down)

• The solution is Wrote.

Offensive odors

• The solution is Odors.

Previously

• The solution is Were.

Position of the rainbow

• The solution is Sky.

If you seek more puzzles, Mashable has games available now! Explore our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and much more.

Are you also engaging in NYT Strands? Check hints and