NYT Crossword hints and answer for January 4, 2026
Hints that get gradually more specific, then the answer if you need it. Nothing is revealed until you tap.
Clues136
Across63
Down73
TitleBase Pairs
Today’s NYT Crossword clues, hints & answers
Every clue from this puzzle with a hint and the answer behind separate buttons, so you only see what you need. Click a clue for its own page.
Across
1A
It protects the heart (7)
Starts with R, ends with ERIBCAGE→
8A
Egyptian god of the underworld (6)
Starts with O, ends with SOSIRIS→
14A
Dr.'s order? (3)
Starts with A, ends with AAMA→
17A
Substances found in cured meats and explosives (8)
Starts with N, ends with SNITRATES→
18A
21A
High marks (8)
Starts with A, ends with SAPLUSSES→
22A
"That's enough bickering!" (12)
Starts with S, ends with OSTOPITYOUTWO→
24A
Valletta's land (5)
Starts with M, ends with AMALTA→
25A
Sci-fi protagonist who says "I don't like the idea that I'm not in control of my life" (3)
Starts with N, ends with ONEO→
27A
Max's opposite (3)
Starts with M, ends with NMIN→
28A
Morpheus, to 25-Across (6)
Starts with M, ends with RMENTOR→
29A
Good ol' boy (5)
Starts with B, ends with ABUBBA→
31A
Actor Thomas ___ Church (5)
Starts with H, ends with NHADEN→
34A
Stares stupidly (5)
Starts with G, ends with SGAWKS→
35A
General who crossed the Rubicon (6)
Starts with C, ends with RCAESAR→
39A
Ultimate end, to Aristotle (5)
Starts with T, ends with STELOS→
40A
TV E.T. (3)
Starts with A, ends with FALF→
41A
Secondary list of options (7)
Starts with S, ends with USUBMENU→
43A
___ Veronese, "The Wedding at Cana" painter (5)
Starts with P, ends with OPAOLO→
45A
Queen ___ Land (region of Antarctica claimed by Norway) (4)
Starts with M, ends with DMAUD→
47A
Classification that anyone can donate to (6)
Starts with T, ends with BTYPEAB→
48A
Got off (4)
Starts with A, ends with TALIT→
49A
With warts and all (4)
Starts with A, ends with SASIS→
53A
Pesto ingredients (8)
Starts with P, ends with SPINENUTS→
55A
Made less angry now (8)
Starts with P, ends with DPLACATED→
58A
Ozone no-no, for short (3)
Starts with C, ends with CCFC→
59A
The dash in many an emoticon (4)
Starts with N, ends with ENOSE→
60A
It's a "tyrannical discipline," said Sylvia Plath (6)
Starts with P, ends with YPOETRY→
61A
Titular role in a 2024 Disney prequel (6)
Starts with M, ends with AMUFASA→
63A
Derived from gold (5)
Starts with A, ends with CAURIC→
66A
Steals, informally (7)
Starts with F, ends with SFILCHES→
67A
Something a bug produces (5)
Starts with E, ends with RERROR→
68A
Certain Army noncom (6)
Starts with S, ends with JSGTMAJ→
70A
Points to a church? (6)
Starts with S, ends with SSPIRES→
71A
What the 7 may mean in 7/11 (4)
Starts with J, ends with YJULY→
73A
Brewed beverage (3)
Starts with A, ends with EALE→
74A
Perseveres (8)
Starts with P, ends with NPUSHESON→
76A
Certain drink + what that drink has a lot of = women's lifestyle website (8)
Starts with P, ends with RPOPSUGAR→
80A
"Horsefeathers!" (4)
Starts with P, ends with HPISH→
82A
"Fiddlesticks!" (4)
Starts with D, ends with TDRAT→
83A
Combine using heat without melting, as particles (6)
Starts with S, ends with RSINTER→
85A
Make a lot, say? (4)
Starts with P, ends with EPAVE→
86A
Famed firefighter Red (5)
Starts with A, ends with RADAIR→
88A
"All right, but that's not my opinion" (7)
Starts with S, ends with USAYSYOU→
90A
L.A.P.D. unit? (3)
Starts with L, ends with SLOS→
91A
The Lamb (5)
Starts with J, ends with SJESUS→
93A
Devoted effort to looking attractive (7)
Starts with P, ends with DPREENED→
96A
Leaning (6)
Starts with A, ends with TASLANT→
98A
Bandage brand (5)
Starts with C, ends with DCURAD→
99A
Possessed, biblically (5)
Starts with H, ends with THADST→
100A
Word before winner or after Wonder (5)
Starts with B, ends with DBREAD→
101A
Brick homes (6)
Starts with A, ends with SADOBES→
103A
Buffalo's home: Abbr. (3)
Starts with N, ends with SNYS→
104A
"Sprechen ___ Deutsch?" (3)
Starts with S, ends with ESIE→
106A
Eponym of element 96 (5)
Starts with C, ends with ECURIE→
109A
They'll get there eventually (12)
Starts with L, ends with SLATEBLOOMERS→
113A
Like the cultivation of land (8)
Starts with A, ends with NAGRARIAN→
115A
Country whose border shape is the world's roundest (11)
Starts with S, ends with ESIERRALEONE→
117A
Co.'s $$$ head (3)
Starts with C, ends with OCFO→
118A
Steal for ransom (6)
Starts with K, ends with PKIDNAP→
119A
Whence the phrase "wear one's heart on one's sleeve" (7)
Starts with O, ends with OOTHELLO→
Down
1D
Kelly of morning TV (4)
Starts with R, ends with ARIPA→
2D
"Come on and let loose for a while!" (9)
Starts with I, ends with NITLLBEFUN→
3D
Name of Ohio State's buckeye mascot (6)
Starts with B, ends with SBRUTUS→
4D
Wrinkly fruits (7)
Starts with C, ends with SCASABAS→
5D
Parts of many online handles (3)
Starts with A, ends with SATS→
6D
Davis of "Thelma & Louise" (5)
Starts with G, ends with AGEENA→
7D
"___ quam videri" (North Carolina's motto) (4)
Starts with E, ends with EESSE→
8D
1940s spy grp. (3)
Starts with O, ends with SOSS→
9D
Ready … or a word after ready (3)
Starts with S, ends with TSET→
10D
Chemist's variant (6)
Starts with I, ends with RISOMER→
11D
Violent seizure, as of property (6)
Starts with R, ends with ERAPINE→
12D
"Sign me up" (4)
Starts with I, ends with NIMIN→
13D
He scattered his brother's remains across the land and usurped his throne (3)
Starts with S, ends with TSET→
14D
Soothing goo (7)
Starts with A, ends with LALOEGEL→
15D
Hawaiian for "long mountain" (8)
Starts with M, ends with AMAUNALOA→
16D
Intermission follower on Broadway (6)
Starts with A, ends with OACTTWO→
17D
War zone for Rambo, informally (3)
Starts with N, ends with MNAM→
19D
Poe's "The Narrative of Arthur Gordon ___" (3)
Starts with P, ends with MPYM→
20D
Wicket and Teebo of Endor, e.g. (5)
Starts with E, ends with SEWOKS→
23D
Hosp. areas (3)
Starts with O, ends with SORS→
26D
"I'm flattered!" (5)
Starts with O, ends with EOHGEE→
30D
32D
State capital that's closest to the U.S. Capitol (9)
Starts with A, ends with SANNAPOLIS→
33D
35D
Kids' summer getaway (4)
Starts with C, ends with PCAMP→
36D
Kyrgyzstani mountain range (4)
Starts with A, ends with IALAI→
37D
Urchins (4)
Starts with I, ends with SIMPS→
38D
Fans out (6)
Starts with S, ends with SSPLAYS→
39D
Where idols go head-to-head? (5)
Starts with T, ends with MTOTEM→
42D
Small part in a gig (4)
Starts with B, ends with EBYTE→
44D
British isle (3)
Starts with A, ends with TAIT→
46D
It's in your jeans (5)
Starts with D, ends with MDENIM→
48D
Plot divisions (5)
Starts with A, ends with SACRES→
50D
Traumatize (4)
Starts with S, ends with RSCAR→
51D
"Assuming that's true …" (4)
Starts with I, ends with OIFSO→
52D
He led his brother to his demise by endangering his nephew (4)
Starts with S, ends with RSCAR→
54D
"Not gonna lie …" (5)
Starts with N, ends with PNOCAP→
56D
First enactors of democracy (9)
Starts with A, ends with SATHENIANS→
57D
Fencing contests (5)
Starts with D, ends with SDUELS→
60D
Chemistry lab dropper (5)
Starts with P, ends with TPIPET→
62D
Prepare quickly, as eggs for breakfast (5)
Starts with F, ends with PFRYUP→
63D
Chop-chop (4)
Starts with A, ends with PASAP→
64D
Wrinkly fruit (4)
Starts with U, ends with IUGLI→
65D
GPS lines: Abbr. (4)
Starts with R, ends with SRTES→
66D
Programming language that's also a musical key (6)
Starts with F, ends with PFSHARP→
69D
He sold out his master in exchange for silver (5)
Starts with J, ends with SJUDAS→
71D
Baby in a pouch (4)
Starts with J, ends with YJOEY→
72D
Pandemonium (6)
Starts with U, ends with RUPROAR→
75D
Title for a guru (3)
Starts with S, ends with ISRI→
76D
Survivor's affliction, for short (4)
Starts with P, ends with DPTSD→
77D
Elf portrayed by Cate Blanchett in "The Fellowship of the Ring" (9)
Starts with G, ends with LGALADRIEL→
78D
Big name in makeup (4)
Starts with A, ends with NAVON→
79D
Music score squiggle (4)
Starts with R, ends with TREST→
81D
Disagrees (with) (8)
Starts with H, ends with FHASABEEF→
84D
Ixnays from Irkutsk (5)
Starts with N, ends with SNYETS→
87D
Obnoxious fratty sort, colloquially (7)
Starts with D, ends with ODUDEBRO→
89D
Possible scenario, to a coder (7)
Starts with U, ends with EUSECASE→
91D
2011 Lady Gaga hit (5)
Starts with J, ends with SJUDAS→
92D
Steamy (6)
Starts with E, ends with CEROTIC→
94D
Paired chips with dips? (6)
Starts with R, ends with DRHYMED→
95D
Touch lightly, as a gas pedal (6)
Starts with E, ends with NEASEON→
97D
Floral victory symbol (6)
Starts with L, ends with LLAUREL→
98D
Lead-in to Tech (3)
Starts with C, ends with LCAL→
100D
Spawned (5)
Starts with B, ends with TBEGOT→
102D
Camera inits. (3)
Starts with S, ends with RSLR→
103D
___ me tangere (Latin warning) (4)
Starts with N, ends with INOLI→
105D
Jafar's parrot in "Aladdin" (4)
Starts with I, ends with OIAGO→
107D
Driven by envy toward his comrades, he fabricated events that led to their downfall (4)
Starts with I, ends with OIAGO→
108D
Official lang. of Liberia (3)
Starts with E, ends with GENG→
110D
Acorn, in the future (3)
Starts with O, ends with KOAK→
111D
Messenger ___ (3)
Starts with R, ends with ARNA→
112D
Birth month of most Virgos: Abbr. (3)
Starts with S, ends with PSEP→
114D
"Ruh-___!" (cry from Astro on "The Jetsons") (3)
Starts with R, ends with HROH→
How to solve the NYT Crossword
Fill the grid so that every Across and Down answer matches its clue. Numbered squares mark where answers begin. Theme answers, usually the longest entries, share a twist that the puzzle's title or a revealer clue explains. Thursday puzzles are known for rebus squares and other tricks that bend the normal rules.
Want the full method? Read our NYT Crossword strategy and tips, or check how to play the NYT Crossword on the hub.
NYT Crossword tips for tomorrow
- Start with Monday-level clues. Even on a Saturday, a handful of clues are straightforward. Find them and build outward from the crossings.
- Hunt for the revealer. A clue that references other entries or ends in "?" often explains the theme. Solving it first unlocks the long answers.
- Respect the day of the week. Thursday means tricks like rebus squares; Friday and Saturday mean long, clever fill with misleading clues.
Done for today? Try The Mini, The Midi, LA Times Crossword, all with hints first and answers behind a reveal.
Previous NYT Crossword puzzles
NYT Crossword FAQ
How many clues are in the NYT Crossword for January 4, 2026?+
136 clues: 63 Across and 73 Down. The puzzle was constructed by Gene Louise De Vera and edited by Will Shortz.
What are some answers in today’s NYT Crossword?+
For example: It protects the heart (RIBCAGE); Egyptian god of the underworld (OSIRIS); Dr.'s order? (AMA).
What time does the NYT Crossword come out?+
The next day's puzzle is released at 10:00 pm Eastern Time Monday to Friday and at 6:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
Where can I find past NYT Crossword answers?+
Every puzzle in our archive has its own page with all Across and Down answers, plus a page for each clue. Click any date above.
