Friday, January 23, 2026
By Joyce Keller
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NYT Crossword Clues
Across
- 1Barely enough
- 6What some may be dyeing to conceal?
- 10Environmental concern
- 14"Don't be absurd!"
- 16___ Mountain (ski area in Killington, Vt.)
- 17She's out there!
- 18Many a choirgirl
- 19"Black-ish" patriarch
- 20Dulcet
- 21Fiddle with feathers, say
- 22Backstreet ___
- 23Like kyawthuite, among gems
- 25Designer Geoffrey
- 27A-list
- 28Like quartzite vis-à-vis quartz
- 29They really click as a pair
- 32Masters of manipulation
- 33Commercial preceder of Geo
- 34Capital near the Red Sea
- 35Micromobility option
- 37On the level
- 38Mouth organ
- 39Internal turmoil
- 40Say "I do," say
- 41One may be carried in a concert hall
- 42Recent recruit
- 43First name on the Supreme Court
- 45Zilch
- 48Cushy
- 49It is "making the complicated simple, awesomely simple," per Charles Mingus
- 51Out of joint?
- 52Text insert for a flash-forward film scene
- 53Ink
- 54Apt rhyme for "pads"
- 55Guck
Down
- 1Completely convinced
- 2French letter opener
- 3Niche for a shrine
- 4Essence of the matter
- 5"I'll take the blame"
- 6Some body builders?
- 7Broccoli ___
- 8How to look at your hot fudge sundae
- 9A little possessive, perhaps?
- 10Pocket money
- 11Momentous moments
- 12Bits in a byte, e.g.
- 13"I'm listening"
- 15One who's on the defense, perhaps
- 21Digital applications?
- 22Longing look
- 24Rigi of Switzerland, e.g.
- 25One setting on speakers
- 26Classic toy for budding engineers
- 27Long look
- 28Peach or plum
- 30Interest of Marco Polo, with "the"
- 31Settled on the bottom?
- 33Gelded
- 36___ Fridays
- 37Hangouts
- 40Grammy-winning R&B; singer named for a Revlon fragrance
- 41They make streaks on cheeks
- 42Mass
- 44Tip
- 45Trattoria tubes
- 46Couple
- 47Funeral ___
- 49Texter's "ciao"
- 50Late actor Kilmer
Crossword clues, hints, and answers
Across
- 1. Barely enough — Answer: SCANT
- 6. What some may be dyeing to conceal? — Answer: GRAY
- 10. Environmental concern — Answer: SMOG
- 14. "Don't be absurd!" — Answer: OHPUHLEASE
- 16. ___ Mountain (ski area in Killington, Vt.) — Answer: PICO
- 17. She's out there! — Answer: LESBIANBAR
- 18. Many a choirgirl — Answer: ALTO
- 19. "Black-ish" patriarch — Answer: DRE
- 20. Dulcet — Answer: SWEET
- 21. Fiddle with feathers, say — Answer: PREEN
- 22. Backstreet ___ — Answer: BOYS
- 23. Like kyawthuite, among gems — Answer: RAREST
- 25. Designer Geoffrey — Answer: BEENE
- 27. A-list — Answer: SELECT
- 28. Like quartzite vis-à-vis quartz — Answer: HARDER
- 29. They really click as a pair — Answer: TAPSHOES
- 32. Masters of manipulation — Answer: USERS
- 33. Commercial preceder of Geo — Answer: NAT
- 34. Capital near the Red Sea — Answer: SANAA
- 35. Micromobility option — Answer: ESCOOTER
- 37. On the level — Answer: HONEST
- 38. Mouth organ — Answer: TONGUE
- 39. Internal turmoil — Answer: ANGST
- 40. Say "I do," say — Answer: COMMIT
- 41. One may be carried in a concert hall — Answer: TUNE
- 42. Recent recruit — Answer: HIREE
- 43. First name on the Supreme Court — Answer: ELENA
- 45. Zilch — Answer: ZIP
- 48. Cushy — Answer: EASY
- 49. It is "making the complicated simple, awesomely simple," per Charles Mingus — Answer: CREATIVITY
- 51. Out of joint? — Answer: FREE
- 52. Text insert for a flash-forward film scene — Answer: YEARSLATER
- 53. Ink — Answer: TATS
- 54. Apt rhyme for "pads" — Answer: ADDS
- 55. Guck — Answer: SLIME
Down
- 1. Completely convinced — Answer: SOLD
- 2. French letter opener — Answer: CHER
- 3. Niche for a shrine — Answer: APSE
- 4. Essence of the matter — Answer: NUB
- 5. "I'll take the blame" — Answer: THISONESONME
- 6. Some body builders? — Answer: GENES
- 7. Broccoli ___ — Answer: RABE
- 8. How to look at your hot fudge sundae — Answer: ASATREAT
- 9. A little possessive, perhaps? — Answer: YER
- 10. Pocket money — Answer: SPARECHANGE
- 11. Momentous moments — Answer: MILESTONES
- 12. Bits in a byte, e.g. — Answer: OCTET
- 13. "I'm listening" — Answer: GOON
- 15. One who's on the defense, perhaps — Answer: LAWYER
- 21. Digital applications? — Answer: PRESSONNAILS
- 22. Longing look — Answer: BEDROOMEYES
- 24. Rigi of Switzerland, e.g. — Answer: ALP
- 25. One setting on speakers — Answer: BASS
- 26. Classic toy for budding engineers — Answer: ERECTORSET
- 27. Long look — Answer: STARE
- 28. Peach or plum — Answer: HUE
- 30. Interest of Marco Polo, with "the" — Answer: EAST
- 31. Settled on the bottom? — Answer: SAT
- 33. Gelded — Answer: NEUTERED
- 36. ___ Fridays — Answer: TGI
- 37. Hangouts — Answer: HAUNTS
- 40. Grammy-winning R&B; singer named for a Revlon fragrance — Answer: CIARA
- 41. They make streaks on cheeks — Answer: TEARS
- 42. Mass — Answer: HEFT
- 44. Tip — Answer: LEAD
- 45. Trattoria tubes — Answer: ZITI
- 46. Couple — Answer: ITEM
- 47. Funeral ___ — Answer: PYRE
- 49. Texter's "ciao" — Answer: CYA
- 50. Late actor Kilmer — Answer: VAL
Here are the NYT Crossword answers for Friday, January 23, 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 23?” 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 23, 2026
The full solution for the January 23 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 Friday, January 23.
Hints for the January 23 puzzle
Not ready for the full answer? Here are lighter, spoiler-free nudges for that day's grid, above the solutions. The January 23 puzzle fell on a Friday, 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 Friday 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.
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Frequently asked questions
What were the NYT Crossword answers on January 23, 2026?
Every answer for the Friday, January 23, 2026 NYT Crossword is listed at the top of this page — the confirmed grid as published that day.
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