- Quick Completion: Today’s grid features a unique overlap where 9-Across (APES) and 1-Down (OUIJA) share the pivotal “A” in the bottom-left corner.
- Key Tricky Clues: “UNHIP” and “JADED” dominate the middle horizontal rows, requiring a grasp of mid-20th-century slang and emotional states.
- Direct Solution: The 4-letter answer for “Remove from power” is OUST, not a 5-letter variant, ensuring the 1-Down vertical remains clean.
The middle of the week often brings the sharpest puzzles, and the NYT Mini Crossword Solutions for 28 January 2026 are no exception. Whether you are sipping your morning coffee or taking a quick break between meetings, today’s bite-sized challenge offers a satisfying mix of vocabulary and cultural trivia. If you’ve found yourself stumped by a specific intersection or are simply looking to verify your speed-run time, we have the full breakdown below.
Solving the Mini is a great way to keep your cognitive gears turning before diving into more complex tasks, much like checking the NYT Mini Crossword Answers for 12 May 2026 during the spring season. Today’s puzzle relies heavily on common prefixes and evocative adjectives that describe modern burnout.
January 28, 2026: Visual Grid Solution
For those who prefer a visual reference to ensure their letters are in the correct place, here is the completed 5×5 grid for today’s puzzle:
| O | U | S | T | |
| U | N | H | I | P |
| I | C | A | R | E |
| J | A | D | E | D |
| A | P | E | S |
NYT Mini Hints: Across
If you aren’t ready for the full reveal yet, these curated hints should nudge you toward the finish line:
- 1A: Remove from a position of power – A four-letter verb often seen in headlines about political upheaval.
- 5A: Not cool – This five-letter word describes something hopelessly out of style.
- 7A: “Fine, see if ___!” – A common retort in a two-word phrase (the answer is the second part).
- 8A: Kind of bored – A term for being world-weary or cynical, often after too much of a good thing.
- 9A: Primatologist’s subjects – The focus of Jane Goodall’s lifelong research.
Word of the Day: OUIJA (1D)
Derived from the French “Oui” and the German “Ja” (both meaning “yes”), this “talking board” has been a staple of spooky gatherings since the late 19th century. In today’s puzzle, it anchors the entire first column.
NYT Mini Hints: Down
- 1D: Kind of board – The mystical tool used for seances.
- 2D: Prepare to use, as a pen – The action of removing the top before writing.
- 3D: Desirable place to sit on a hot day – Somewhere out of the direct sun.
- 4D: Pair on a bicycle – These rubber components are essential for your morning commute.
- 6D: ___ Xing (street sign) – The abbreviated form of “Pedestrian.”
Official Solutions for 28 January 2026
Ready to check your work? Here are the definitive answers for today’s grid as found on the official NYT Games site:
Across Answers
- 1A: OUST
- 5A: UNHIP
- 7A: ICARE
- 8A: JADED
- 9A: APES
Down Answers
- 1D: OUIJA
- 2D: UNCAP
- 3D: SHADE
- 4D: TIRES
- 6D: PED
While today’s puzzle was relatively straightforward, the “JADED/OUIJA” intersection caught several solvers off guard. If you’re looking for more practice to keep your skills sharp, you can review our previous guides like the NYT Mini Crossword Answers for 19 May 2026. The beauty of the Mini is its consistency; keep playing daily, and you’ll soon find yourself spotting these common “crosswordese” words in seconds!
