Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today's Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

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Happy New Year! Need some help with today's Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you're looking for today's Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET's NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let's get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

The completed NYT Mini Crossword puzzle for Jan. 1, 2026.

NYT/Screenshot by CNET

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Word on either side of "___-eat-___"
Answer: DOG

4A clue: Word on either side of "___, all ___!"
Answer: MINE

5A clue: Word on either side of "___ say ___"
Answer: NEVER

6A clue: First-string squad
Answer: ATEAM

7A clue: Causes injury to
Answer: HARMS

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Someone who might be swimming with the fishes**
Answer: DIVER**

2D clue: An hour past midnight**
Answer: ONEAM**

3D clue: Hand sanitizer targets**
Answer: GERMS**

4D clue: Like a crossword clue about crossword clues**
Answer: META**

5D clue: "I'll pass, thanks"**
Answer: NAH**

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