NYT Crossword Answers - Jan 21

By Ginny Too and Avery Gee Katz

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Across

  1. 1Practiced pitchesSPIELS
  2. 7What arms might do on a final gym repTREMBLE
  3. 14Lee has a hot bowl of ___ to start off his dayCONGEE
  4. 15Lee has a hot bowl of ___ to start off his dayOATMEAL
  5. 16Enemy of the AvengersULTRON
  6. 17Ones with the munchies, maybePOTHEADS
  7. 18In need of a massage, saySORE
  8. 19Like those local to Universal Studios JapanOSAKAN
  9. 21Hide one's roots, perhapsDYE
  10. 22Like the study of the kabbalahESOTERIC
  11. 24Drill insertBIT
  12. 26Polarizing punctuation choiceSERIALCOMMA
  13. 31Bracket-busting wins in March MadnessUPSETS
  14. 35Friend or ___FOE
  15. 36Complete disrepairRUIN
  16. 37Says ___ to his neighbor, then heads on his wayNIHAO
  17. 38Recycling containerBIN
  18. 39Says ___ to his neighbor, then heads on his wayHELLO
  19. 40They might be foiledPLOTS
  20. 41Treatment for a sprained ankleICE
  21. 42Like the villain at the end of a "Scooby-Doo" episodeOUTED
  22. 43All ___EARS
  23. 44SlimeGOO
  24. 45Jay-Z's and Alicia Keys's "___ State of Mind"EMPIRE
  25. 46Classic P.O.W. movie starring Steve McQueen, with "The"GREATESCAPE
  26. 49Heavy weightTON
  27. 50Transaction on an online marketplaceEBAYSALE
  28. 55Govt. org. in "Alias"CIA
  29. 58Entertainer who says "If you can't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?"RUPAUL
  30. 60Inflation measures, for shortPSIS
  31. 61Opportunity to dress upOCCASION
  32. 63Eagles' nestsAERIES
  33. 65With gossip and beer over Friday's ___ gameMAHJONG
  34. 66With gossip and beer over Friday's ___ gameBRIDGE
  35. 67SatisfiesPLEASES
  36. 68Luxurious cotton fabricSATEEN

Down

  1. 1Italian apologySCUSE
  2. 2Some pullover shirtsPOLOS
  3. 3Any course whose name ends in "101"INTRO
  4. 4Bird with a plume that, ounce for ounce, was once worth more than goldEGRET
  5. 5Constellation near the Big DipperLEO
  6. 6Gentlemen, in GranadaSENORES
  7. 7CapturedTOOK
  8. 8Like government bonds and Uber driversRATABLE
  9. 9___ minorityETHNIC
  10. 10Mrs., en françaisMME
  11. 11Bit of sweatBEAD
  12. 12British titleLADY
  13. 13Ultimatum enderELSE
  14. 17Life across the ___ is much the samePACIFICOCEAN
  15. 20British titleSIR
  16. 23These: Sp.ESTOS
  17. 25Shredded, as a contractTOREUP
  18. 27Top-of-the-lineAONE
  19. 28Prefix with vitamin or toolMULTI
  20. 29Athlete aiming for a four-minute finish, perhapsMILER
  21. 30One end of an electrolytic cellANODE
  22. 31Let float, as a currencyUNPEG
  23. 32Pertaining to hairPILAR
  24. 33Welcome sight for a sailorSHORE
  25. 34Patronizes, as a restaurantEATSAT
  26. 38Life storiesBIOS
  27. 39Warm and cozyHOMEY
  28. 44Bona fideGENUINE
  29. 45Govt. sites for testing pollutantsEPALABS
  30. 47Ones with chiseled abs?TORSOS
  31. 48___ DhabiABU
  32. 51Spar on a sailing boatSPRIT
  33. 52Comment that breaks the fourth wallASIDE
  34. 53Feudal lordLIEGE
  35. 54German steel cityESSEN
  36. 55Provide for free, as a drinkCOMP
  37. 56Suffix with method or metaphorICAL
  38. 57PineACHE
  39. 59Collectible caps in the '90sPOGS
  40. 62Steely Dan album whose name is pronounced "Asia"AJA
  41. 64The Three Kingdoms in Chinese history, e.g.ERA

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Practiced pitches — Answer: SPIELS
  2. 7. What arms might do on a final gym rep — Answer: TREMBLE
  3. 14. Lee has a hot bowl of ___ to start off his day — Answer: CONGEE
  4. 15. Lee has a hot bowl of ___ to start off his day — Answer: OATMEAL
  5. 16. Enemy of the Avengers — Answer: ULTRON
  6. 17. Ones with the munchies, maybe — Answer: POTHEADS
  7. 18. In need of a massage, say — Answer: SORE
  8. 19. Like those local to Universal Studios Japan — Answer: OSAKAN
  9. 21. Hide one's roots, perhaps — Answer: DYE
  10. 22. Like the study of the kabbalah — Answer: ESOTERIC
  11. 24. Drill insert — Answer: BIT
  12. 26. Polarizing punctuation choice — Answer: SERIALCOMMA
  13. 31. Bracket-busting wins in March Madness — Answer: UPSETS
  14. 35. Friend or ___ — Answer: FOE
  15. 36. Complete disrepair — Answer: RUIN
  16. 37. Says ___ to his neighbor, then heads on his way — Answer: NIHAO
  17. 38. Recycling container — Answer: BIN. Hint: Look for the small container where recyclables get sorted. ♻️
  18. 39. Says ___ to his neighbor, then heads on his way — Answer: HELLO
  19. 40. They might be foiled — Answer: PLOTS
  20. 41. Treatment for a sprained ankle — Answer: ICE
  21. 42. Like the villain at the end of a "Scooby-Doo" episode — Answer: OUTED
  22. 43. All ___ — Answer: EARS
  23. 44. Slime — Answer: GOO
  24. 45. Jay-Z's and Alicia Keys's "___ State of Mind" — Answer: EMPIRE
  25. 46. Classic P.O.W. movie starring Steve McQueen, with "The" — Answer: GREATESCAPE
  26. 49. Heavy weight — Answer: TON
  27. 50. Transaction on an online marketplace — Answer: EBAYSALE
  28. 55. Govt. org. in "Alias" — Answer: CIA
  29. 58. Entertainer who says "If you can't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?" — Answer: RUPAUL
  30. 60. Inflation measures, for short — Answer: PSIS
  31. 61. Opportunity to dress up — Answer: OCCASION
  32. 63. Eagles' nests — Answer: AERIES
  33. 65. With gossip and beer over Friday's ___ game — Answer: MAHJONG
  34. 66. With gossip and beer over Friday's ___ game — Answer: BRIDGE
  35. 67. Satisfies — Answer: PLEASES
  36. 68. Luxurious cotton fabric — Answer: SATEEN

Down

  1. 1. Italian apology — Answer: SCUSE
  2. 2. Some pullover shirts — Answer: POLOS
  3. 3. Any course whose name ends in "101" — Answer: INTRO
  4. 4. Bird with a plume that, ounce for ounce, was once worth more than gold — Answer: EGRET
  5. 5. Constellation near the Big Dipper — Answer: LEO
  6. 6. Gentlemen, in Granada — Answer: SENORES
  7. 7. Captured — Answer: TOOK
  8. 8. Like government bonds and Uber drivers — Answer: RATABLE
  9. 9. ___ minority — Answer: ETHNIC
  10. 10. Mrs., en français — Answer: MME
  11. 11. Bit of sweat — Answer: BEAD
  12. 12. British title — Answer: LADY
  13. 13. Ultimatum ender — Answer: ELSE
  14. 17. Life across the ___ is much the same — Answer: PACIFICOCEAN
  15. 20. British title — Answer: SIR
  16. 23. These: Sp. — Answer: ESTOS
  17. 25. Shredded, as a contract — Answer: TOREUP
  18. 27. Top-of-the-line — Answer: AONE
  19. 28. Prefix with vitamin or tool — Answer: MULTI
  20. 29. Athlete aiming for a four-minute finish, perhaps — Answer: MILER
  21. 30. One end of an electrolytic cell — Answer: ANODE
  22. 31. Let float, as a currency — Answer: UNPEG
  23. 32. Pertaining to hair — Answer: PILAR
  24. 33. Welcome sight for a sailor — Answer: SHORE
  25. 34. Patronizes, as a restaurant — Answer: EATSAT
  26. 38. Life stories — Answer: BIOS
  27. 39. Warm and cozy — Answer: HOMEY
  28. 44. Bona fide — Answer: GENUINE
  29. 45. Govt. sites for testing pollutants — Answer: EPALABS
  30. 47. Ones with chiseled abs? — Answer: TORSOS
  31. 48. ___ Dhabi — Answer: ABU. Hint: This is a common prefix for names of several Middle Eastern cities! 🕌
  32. 51. Spar on a sailing boat — Answer: SPRIT
  33. 52. Comment that breaks the fourth wall — Answer: ASIDE
  34. 53. Feudal lord — Answer: LIEGE
  35. 54. German steel city — Answer: ESSEN
  36. 55. Provide for free, as a drink — Answer: COMP
  37. 56. Suffix with method or metaphor — Answer: ICAL
  38. 57. Pine — Answer: ACHE
  39. 59. Collectible caps in the '90s — Answer: POGS
  40. 62. Steely Dan album whose name is pronounced "Asia" — Answer: AJA
  41. 64. The Three Kingdoms in Chinese history, e.g. — Answer: ERA

Recent NYT Crossword Answers

The last 7 days of solutions

NYT Crossword 20 January 2026NYT Crossword 19 January 2026NYT Crossword 18 January 2026NYT Crossword 17 January 2026NYT Crossword 16 January 2026NYT Crossword 15 January 2026NYT Crossword 14 January 2026

Here are the NYT Crossword answers for Wednesday, January 21, 2026 — every solution for that day's 15×15 (21×21 on Sunday) puzzle, listed at the top of this page. Whether you're catching up on a puzzle you missed, settling a “what was the answer on January 21?” question, or checking a grid you finished that day, the complete clue-by-clue solution is right here. Looking for today's puzzle instead? Head to our live NYT Crossword answers page.

NYT Crossword answers for January 21, 2026

The full solution for the January 21 NYT Crossword is shown above, laid out clue by clue — every Across answer followed by every Down answer, exactly as that day's grid read. Each answer is listed separately, so you can check just the clue you were stuck on and leave the rest. This is the confirmed grid as published on Wednesday, January 21.

Full NYT Crossword answer list for January 21, 2026

Every clue from the January 21 grid next to its solution — the same answers as the board above, in one plain list you can scan without tapping.

Across

#ClueAnswer
1Practiced pitchesSPIELS
7What arms might do on a final gym repTREMBLE
14Lee has a hot bowl of ___ to start off his dayCONGEE
15Lee has a hot bowl of ___ to start off his dayOATMEAL
16Enemy of the AvengersULTRON
17Ones with the munchies, maybePOTHEADS
18In need of a massage, saySORE
19Like those local to Universal Studios JapanOSAKAN
21Hide one's roots, perhapsDYE
22Like the study of the kabbalahESOTERIC
24Drill insertBIT
26Polarizing punctuation choiceSERIALCOMMA
31Bracket-busting wins in March MadnessUPSETS
35Friend or ___FOE
36Complete disrepairRUIN
37Says ___ to his neighbor, then heads on his wayNIHAO
38Recycling containerBIN
39Says ___ to his neighbor, then heads on his wayHELLO
40They might be foiledPLOTS
41Treatment for a sprained ankleICE
42Like the villain at the end of a "Scooby-Doo" episodeOUTED
43All ___EARS
44SlimeGOO
45Jay-Z's and Alicia Keys's "___ State of Mind"EMPIRE
46Classic P.O.W. movie starring Steve McQueen, with "The"GREATESCAPE
49Heavy weightTON
50Transaction on an online marketplaceEBAYSALE
55Govt. org. in "Alias"CIA
58Entertainer who says "If you can't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?"RUPAUL
60Inflation measures, for shortPSIS
61Opportunity to dress upOCCASION
63Eagles' nestsAERIES
65With gossip and beer over Friday's ___ gameMAHJONG
66With gossip and beer over Friday's ___ gameBRIDGE
67SatisfiesPLEASES
68Luxurious cotton fabricSATEEN

Down

#ClueAnswer
1Italian apologySCUSE
2Some pullover shirtsPOLOS
3Any course whose name ends in "101"INTRO
4Bird with a plume that, ounce for ounce, was once worth more than goldEGRET
5Constellation near the Big DipperLEO
6Gentlemen, in GranadaSENORES
7CapturedTOOK
8Like government bonds and Uber driversRATABLE
9___ minorityETHNIC
10Mrs., en françaisMME
11Bit of sweatBEAD
12British titleLADY
13Ultimatum enderELSE
17Life across the ___ is much the samePACIFICOCEAN
20British titleSIR
23These: Sp.ESTOS
25Shredded, as a contractTOREUP
27Top-of-the-lineAONE
28Prefix with vitamin or toolMULTI
29Athlete aiming for a four-minute finish, perhapsMILER
30One end of an electrolytic cellANODE
31Let float, as a currencyUNPEG
32Pertaining to hairPILAR
33Welcome sight for a sailorSHORE
34Patronizes, as a restaurantEATSAT
38Life storiesBIOS
39Warm and cozyHOMEY
44Bona fideGENUINE
45Govt. sites for testing pollutantsEPALABS
47Ones with chiseled abs?TORSOS
48___ DhabiABU
51Spar on a sailing boatSPRIT
52Comment that breaks the fourth wallASIDE
53Feudal lordLIEGE
54German steel cityESSEN
55Provide for free, as a drinkCOMP
56Suffix with method or metaphorICAL
57PineACHE
59Collectible caps in the '90sPOGS
62Steely Dan album whose name is pronounced "Asia"AJA
64The Three Kingdoms in Chinese history, e.g.ERA

Hints for the January 21 puzzle

Not ready for the full answer? Here are lighter, spoiler-free nudges for that day's grid, above the solutions. The January 21 puzzle fell on a Wednesday, and with the New York Times crossword that matters: the grid gets harder as the week goes on, from an easy Monday to a fiendish Saturday, with a large themed puzzle on Sunday. So a Wednesday grid tells you how much misdirection to expect — and if a clue that day seemed to make no sense, the weekday is usually the reason. Use the hints for the trickiest clues, then reveal the answers above only if you need them.

Looking for a different day?

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Frequently asked questions

What were the NYT Crossword answers on January 21, 2026?

Every answer for the Wednesday, January 21, 2026 NYT Crossword is listed at the top of this page — the confirmed grid as published that day.

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Today's live puzzle is on our NYT Crossword answers today page, updated the moment each new grid goes live.

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