Messenger ___

Crossword Answer — January 04, 2026

Answer

This genetic courier carries DNA’s instructions to the cell’s protein-making machinery 🧬

NYT Crossword Answers

NYT Crossword

Sunday, January 04, 2026

By Gene Louise De Vera

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Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

NYT Crossword Clues

Across

  1. 1It protects the heart
  2. 8Egyptian god of the underworld
  3. 14Dr.'s order?
  4. 17Substances found in cured meats and explosives
  5. 18Theme park with attractions like The Count's Splash Castle and Oscar's Rusty Rotten Rockets
  6. 21High marks
  7. 22"That's enough bickering!"
  8. 24Valletta's land
  9. 25Sci-fi protagonist who says "I don't like the idea that I'm not in control of my life"
  10. 27Max's opposite
  11. 28Morpheus, to 25-Across
  12. 29Good ol' boy
  13. 31Actor Thomas ___ Church
  14. 34Stares stupidly
  15. 35General who crossed the Rubicon
  16. 37Snubs
  17. 39Ultimate end, to Aristotle
  18. 40TV E.T.
  19. 41Secondary list of options
  20. 43___ Veronese, "The Wedding at Cana" painter
  21. 45Queen ___ Land (region of Antarctica claimed by Norway)
  22. 47Classification that anyone can donate to
  23. 48Got off
  24. 49With warts and all
  25. 53Pesto ingredients
  26. 55Made less angry now
  27. 58Ozone no-no, for short
  28. 59The dash in many an emoticon
  29. 60It's a "tyrannical discipline," said Sylvia Plath
  30. 61Titular role in a 2024 Disney prequel
  31. 63Derived from gold
  32. 66Steals, informally
  33. 67Something a bug produces
  34. 68Certain Army noncom
  35. 70Points to a church?
  36. 71What the 7 may mean in 7/11
  37. 73Brewed beverage
  38. 74Perseveres
  39. 76Certain drink + what that drink has a lot of = women's lifestyle website
  40. 80"Horsefeathers!"
  41. 82"Fiddlesticks!"
  42. 83Combine using heat without melting, as particles
  43. 85Make a lot, say?
  44. 86Famed firefighter Red
  45. 88"All right, but that's not my opinion"
  46. 90L.A.P.D. unit?
  47. 91The Lamb
  48. 93Devoted effort to looking attractive
  49. 96Leaning
  50. 98Bandage brand
  51. 99Possessed, biblically
  52. 100Word before winner or after Wonder
  53. 101Brick homes
  54. 103Buffalo's home: Abbr.
  55. 104"Sprechen ___ Deutsch?"
  56. 106Eponym of element 96
  57. 109They'll get there eventually
  58. 113Like the cultivation of land
  59. 115Country whose border shape is the world's roundest
  60. 116Zero
  61. 117Co.'s $$$ head
  62. 118Steal for ransom
  63. 119Whence the phrase "wear one's heart on one's sleeve"

Down

  1. 1Kelly of morning TV
  2. 2"Come on and let loose for a while!"
  3. 3Name of Ohio State's buckeye mascot
  4. 4Wrinkly fruits
  5. 5Parts of many online handles
  6. 6Davis of "Thelma & Louise"
  7. 7"___ quam videri" (North Carolina's motto)
  8. 81940s spy grp.
  9. 9Ready ... or a word after ready
  10. 10Chemist's variant
  11. 11Violent seizure, as of property
  12. 12"Sign me up"
  13. 13He scattered his brother's remains across the land and usurped his throne
  14. 14Soothing goo
  15. 15Hawaiian for "long mountain"
  16. 16Intermission follower on Broadway
  17. 17War zone for Rambo, informally
  18. 19Poe's "The Narrative of Arthur Gordon ___"
  19. 20Wicket and Teebo of Endor, e.g.
  20. 23Hosp. areas
  21. 26"I'm flattered!"
  22. 30Believing his friend and ally had too much power, he led a party of conspirators to put an end to him
  23. 32State capital that's closest to the U.S. Capitol
  24. 33Like five Across answers by five Down answers in this puzzle, literally and figuratively
  25. 35Kids' summer getaway
  26. 36Kyrgyzstani mountain range
  27. 37Urchins
  28. 38Fans out
  29. 39Where idols go head-to-head?
  30. 42Small part in a gig
  31. 44British isle
  32. 46It's in your jeans
  33. 48Plot divisions
  34. 50Traumatize
  35. 51"Assuming that's true ..."
  36. 52He led his brother to his demise by endangering his nephew
  37. 54"Not gonna lie ..."
  38. 56First enactors of democracy
  39. 57Fencing contests
  40. 60Chemistry lab dropper
  41. 62Prepare quickly, as eggs for breakfast
  42. 63Chop-chop
  43. 64Wrinkly fruit
  44. 65GPS lines: Abbr.
  45. 66Programming language that's also a musical key
  46. 69He sold out his master in exchange for silver
  47. 71Baby in a pouch
  48. 72Pandemonium
  49. 75Title for a guru
  50. 76Survivor's affliction, for short
  51. 77Elf portrayed by Cate Blanchett in "The Fellowship of the Ring"
  52. 78Big name in makeup
  53. 79Music score squiggle
  54. 81Disagrees (with)
  55. 84Ixnays from Irkutsk
  56. 87Obnoxious fratty sort, colloquially
  57. 89Possible scenario, to a coder
  58. 912011 Lady Gaga hit
  59. 92Steamy
  60. 94Paired chips with dips?
  61. 95Touch lightly, as a gas pedal
  62. 97Floral victory symbol
  63. 98Lead-in to Tech
  64. 100Spawned
  65. 102Camera inits.
  66. 103___ me tangere (Latin warning)
  67. 105Jafar's parrot in "Aladdin"
  68. 107Driven by envy toward his comrades, he fabricated events that led to their downfall
  69. 108Official lang. of Liberia
  70. 110Acorn, in the future
  71. 111Messenger ___
  72. 112Birth month of most Virgos: Abbr.
  73. 114"Ruh-___!" (cry from Astro on "The Jetsons")

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. It protects the heart — Answer: RIBCAGE
  2. 8. Egyptian god of the underworld — Answer: OSIRIS
  3. 14. Dr.'s order? — Answer: AMA
  4. 17. Substances found in cured meats and explosives — Answer: NITRATES
  5. 18. Theme park with attractions like The Count's Splash Castle and Oscar's Rusty Rotten Rockets — Answer: SESAMEPLACE
  6. 21. High marks — Answer: APLUSSES
  7. 22. "That's enough bickering!" — Answer: STOPITYOUTWO
  8. 24. Valletta's land — Answer: MALTA
  9. 25. Sci-fi protagonist who says "I don't like the idea that I'm not in control of my life" — Answer: NEO
  10. 27. Max's opposite — Answer: MIN
  11. 28. Morpheus, to 25-Across — Answer: MENTOR
  12. 29. Good ol' boy — Answer: BUBBA
  13. 31. Actor Thomas ___ Church — Answer: HADEN
  14. 34. Stares stupidly — Answer: GAWKS
  15. 35. General who crossed the Rubicon — Answer: CAESAR
  16. 37. Snubs — Answer: IGNORES
  17. 39. Ultimate end, to Aristotle — Answer: TELOS
  18. 40. TV E.T. — Answer: ALF
  19. 41. Secondary list of options — Answer: SUBMENU
  20. 43. ___ Veronese, "The Wedding at Cana" painter — Answer: PAOLO
  21. 45. Queen ___ Land (region of Antarctica claimed by Norway) — Answer: MAUD
  22. 47. Classification that anyone can donate to — Answer: TYPEAB
  23. 48. Got off — Answer: ALIT
  24. 49. With warts and all — Answer: ASIS
  25. 53. Pesto ingredients — Answer: PINENUTS
  26. 55. Made less angry now — Answer: PLACATED
  27. 58. Ozone no-no, for short — Answer: CFC
  28. 59. The dash in many an emoticon — Answer: NOSE
  29. 60. It's a "tyrannical discipline," said Sylvia Plath — Answer: POETRY
  30. 61. Titular role in a 2024 Disney prequel — Answer: MUFASA
  31. 63. Derived from gold — Answer: AURIC
  32. 66. Steals, informally — Answer: FILCHES
  33. 67. Something a bug produces — Answer: ERROR
  34. 68. Certain Army noncom — Answer: SGTMAJ
  35. 70. Points to a church? — Answer: SPIRES
  36. 71. What the 7 may mean in 7/11 — Answer: JULY
  37. 73. Brewed beverage — Answer: ALE
  38. 74. Perseveres — Answer: PUSHESON
  39. 76. Certain drink + what that drink has a lot of = women's lifestyle website — Answer: POPSUGAR
  40. 80. "Horsefeathers!" — Answer: PISH
  41. 82. "Fiddlesticks!" — Answer: DRAT
  42. 83. Combine using heat without melting, as particles — Answer: SINTER
  43. 85. Make a lot, say? — Answer: PAVE
  44. 86. Famed firefighter Red — Answer: ADAIR
  45. 88. "All right, but that's not my opinion" — Answer: SAYSYOU
  46. 90. L.A.P.D. unit? — Answer: LOS
  47. 91. The Lamb — Answer: JESUS
  48. 93. Devoted effort to looking attractive — Answer: PREENED
  49. 96. Leaning — Answer: ASLANT
  50. 98. Bandage brand — Answer: CURAD
  51. 99. Possessed, biblically — Answer: HADST
  52. 100. Word before winner or after Wonder — Answer: BREAD
  53. 101. Brick homes — Answer: ADOBES
  54. 103. Buffalo's home: Abbr. — Answer: NYS
  55. 104. "Sprechen ___ Deutsch?" — Answer: SIE
  56. 106. Eponym of element 96 — Answer: CURIE
  57. 109. They'll get there eventually — Answer: LATEBLOOMERS
  58. 113. Like the cultivation of land — Answer: AGRARIAN
  59. 115. Country whose border shape is the world's roundest — Answer: SIERRALEONE
  60. 116. Zero — Answer: GOOSEEGG
  61. 117. Co.'s $$$ head — Answer: CFO
  62. 118. Steal for ransom — Answer: KIDNAP
  63. 119. Whence the phrase "wear one's heart on one's sleeve" — Answer: OTHELLO

Down

  1. 1. Kelly of morning TV — Answer: RIPA
  2. 2. "Come on and let loose for a while!" — Answer: ITLLBEFUN
  3. 3. Name of Ohio State's buckeye mascot — Answer: BRUTUS
  4. 4. Wrinkly fruits — Answer: CASABAS
  5. 5. Parts of many online handles — Answer: ATS
  6. 6. Davis of "Thelma & Louise" — Answer: GEENA
  7. 7. "___ quam videri" (North Carolina's motto) — Answer: ESSE
  8. 8. 1940s spy grp. — Answer: OSS
  9. 9. Ready ... or a word after ready — Answer: SET
  10. 10. Chemist's variant — Answer: ISOMER
  11. 11. Violent seizure, as of property — Answer: RAPINE
  12. 12. "Sign me up" — Answer: IMIN
  13. 13. He scattered his brother's remains across the land and usurped his throne — Answer: SET
  14. 14. Soothing goo — Answer: ALOEGEL
  15. 15. Hawaiian for "long mountain" — Answer: MAUNALOA
  16. 16. Intermission follower on Broadway — Answer: ACTTWO
  17. 17. War zone for Rambo, informally — Answer: NAM
  18. 19. Poe's "The Narrative of Arthur Gordon ___" — Answer: PYM
  19. 20. Wicket and Teebo of Endor, e.g. — Answer: EWOKS
  20. 23. Hosp. areas — Answer: ORS. Hint: These hospital spaces are set aside for surgery 🏥
  21. 26. "I'm flattered!" — Answer: OHGEE
  22. 30. Believing his friend and ally had too much power, he led a party of conspirators to put an end to him — Answer: BRUTUS
  23. 32. State capital that's closest to the U.S. Capitol — Answer: ANNAPOLIS
  24. 33. Like five Across answers by five Down answers in this puzzle, literally and figuratively — Answer: DOUBLECROSSED
  25. 35. Kids' summer getaway — Answer: CAMP
  26. 36. Kyrgyzstani mountain range — Answer: ALAI
  27. 37. Urchins — Answer: IMPS
  28. 38. Fans out — Answer: SPLAYS
  29. 39. Where idols go head-to-head? — Answer: TOTEM
  30. 42. Small part in a gig — Answer: BYTE
  31. 44. British isle — Answer: AIT
  32. 46. It's in your jeans — Answer: DENIM
  33. 48. Plot divisions — Answer: ACRES
  34. 50. Traumatize — Answer: SCAR
  35. 51. "Assuming that's true ..." — Answer: IFSO
  36. 52. He led his brother to his demise by endangering his nephew — Answer: SCAR
  37. 54. "Not gonna lie ..." — Answer: NOCAP
  38. 56. First enactors of democracy — Answer: ATHENIANS
  39. 57. Fencing contests — Answer: DUELS
  40. 60. Chemistry lab dropper — Answer: PIPET
  41. 62. Prepare quickly, as eggs for breakfast — Answer: FRYUP
  42. 63. Chop-chop — Answer: ASAP
  43. 64. Wrinkly fruit — Answer: UGLI. Hint: This unusual citrus may look rough and wrinkled, but it’s sweet inside. 🍊
  44. 65. GPS lines: Abbr. — Answer: RTES
  45. 66. Programming language that's also a musical key — Answer: FSHARP
  46. 69. He sold out his master in exchange for silver — Answer: JUDAS
  47. 71. Baby in a pouch — Answer: JOEY
  48. 72. Pandemonium — Answer: UPROAR
  49. 75. Title for a guru — Answer: SRI
  50. 76. Survivor's affliction, for short — Answer: PTSD
  51. 77. Elf portrayed by Cate Blanchett in "The Fellowship of the Ring" — Answer: GALADRIEL
  52. 78. Big name in makeup — Answer: AVON
  53. 79. Music score squiggle — Answer: REST
  54. 81. Disagrees (with) — Answer: HASABEEF
  55. 84. Ixnays from Irkutsk — Answer: NYETS
  56. 87. Obnoxious fratty sort, colloquially — Answer: DUDEBRO
  57. 89. Possible scenario, to a coder — Answer: USECASE
  58. 91. 2011 Lady Gaga hit — Answer: JUDAS
  59. 92. Steamy — Answer: EROTIC
  60. 94. Paired chips with dips? — Answer: RHYMED
  61. 95. Touch lightly, as a gas pedal — Answer: EASEON
  62. 97. Floral victory symbol — Answer: LAUREL
  63. 98. Lead-in to Tech — Answer: CAL
  64. 100. Spawned — Answer: BEGOT
  65. 102. Camera inits. — Answer: SLR
  66. 103. ___ me tangere (Latin warning) — Answer: NOLI
  67. 105. Jafar's parrot in "Aladdin" — Answer: IAGO
  68. 107. Driven by envy toward his comrades, he fabricated events that led to their downfall — Answer: IAGO
  69. 108. Official lang. of Liberia — Answer: ENG
  70. 110. Acorn, in the future — Answer: OAK
  71. 111. Messenger ___ — Answer: RNA. Hint: This genetic courier carries DNA’s instructions to the cell’s protein-making machinery 🧬
  72. 112. Birth month of most Virgos: Abbr. — Answer: SEP
  73. 114. "Ruh-___!" (cry from Astro on "The Jetsons") — Answer: ROH

The answer to “Messenger ___” in the New York Times crossword is RNA — a 3-letter word. This clue ran in the New York Times crossword on January 4, 2026, a Sunday puzzle, at 111-Down. If it's the entry standing between you and a clean grid, that's the word you need — and below you'll find why it fits, plus links to the day's other clues if more than one square is giving you trouble.

“Messenger ___” answer

RNA (3 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is RNA.

Why the answer is RNA

This genetic courier carries DNA’s instructions to the cell’s protein-making machinery 🧬

When else has “Messenger ___” appeared?

New York Times reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up before, and what the answer was each time — handy if you landed here from a puzzle on another date.

January 4, 2026 (this puzzle) → RNA. We haven't indexed an earlier appearance of this exact clue yet.

More clues from the NYT Crossword on January 4, 2026

Stuck elsewhere in the grid? Here are some of the crossing and nearby clues from the same puzzle — tap any for its answer and explanation.

Want every clue in one place? The full New York Times answer list for January 4, 2026 is on that day's grid page, and today's live NYT Crossword answers are always one tap from the today page.

About the NYT Crossword

The New York Times crossword, edited by Will Shortz, is the most famous daily puzzle in the United States. It runs a 15×15 grid Monday through Saturday and a larger 21×21 grid on Sunday, and its difficulty deliberately ramps through the week: Monday is the most approachable, Saturday the toughest, with Thursday often reserved for a trick or twist like rebus squares. This page covers a Sunday puzzle. A straight-definition entry is the kind of solid mid-grid answer that anchors the trickier crossings around it. Because the NYT reuses short, crossing-friendly words regularly, seeing them once makes them easier to spot next time.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Messenger ___”?

The answer is RNA, a 3-letter word. It appeared in the New York Times crossword on January 4, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Messenger ___”?

3 letters: RNA.

Where did this clue appear?

In the New York Times crossword on January 4, 2026 (a Sunday puzzle), at 111-Down.

Can “Messenger ___” have a different answer?

Yes — New York Times sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's NYT Crossword answers?

The full grid for January 4, 2026 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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