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 Wednesday, January 7, 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!
Hints for NYT’s The Mini Crossword on Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Here are additional clues for each of the words in today’s Mini Crossword.
NYT Mini Across Hints
1 Across: Planning to, informally — HINT: Starts with the letter “G”
6 Across: ___ tolls (GPS setting) — HINT: Ends with the letter “D”
7 Across: Pulsed quickly, as the heart — HINT: Starts with the letter “R”
8 Across: Draw an outline of —HINT: Ends with the letter “E”
9 Across: Prefix with loop for theoretical high-speed transport — HINT: Ends with the letter “R”
Related: 16 Games Like Wordle To Give You Your Word Game Fix More Than Once Every 24 Hours
NYT Mini Down Hints
1 Down: Wayne’s sidekick in “Wayne’s World” — HINT: Ends with the letter “H”
2 Down: Egg-producing organ — HINT: Starts with the letter “O”
3 Down: “I’m serious!,” in slang — HINT: Ends with the letter “P”
4 Down: Sister’s daughter — HINT: Ends with the letter “E”
5 Down: Snake that sounds like it would be good at math? — HINT: Starts with the letter “A”
Answers to NYT’s The Mini Crossword for Wednesday, January 7, 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: Planning to, informally — GONNA
6 Across: ___ tolls (GPS setting) — AVOID
7 Across: Pulsed quickly, as the heart — RACED
8 Across: Draw an outline of — TRACE
9 Across: Prefix with loop for theoretical high-speed transport — HYPER
NYT Mini Down Answers
1 Down: Wayne’s sidekick in “Wayne’s World” — GARTH
2 Down: Egg-producing organ — OVARY
3 Down: “I’m serious!,” in slang — NOCAP
4 Down: Sister’s daughter — NIECE
5 Down: Snake that sounds like it would be good at math? — ADDER
Related: NYT Mini Crossword Answers, Hints for Tuesday, January 6, 2026
This story was originally published by Parade on Jan 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the Life section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
