Saturday, January 31, 2026
By Nick Maritz
Tap a square to reveal a letter.
Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.
NYT Crossword Clues
Across
- 1Grappling is used in this
- 12Ones who handle minor health problems?
- 14Dessert introduced to the U.S. in the 1780s, after Thomas Jefferson discovered it in France
- 16Like someone in pointe shoes, maybe
- 17___-di-dah
- 18Say "hey," slangily
- 19They're at the tops of some ladders, informally
- 20Offering that's fresh off the press?
- 22Pyroclastic material
- 23Sheet music abbr.
- 24Deliberate
- 26Sex Pistols song disparaging the band's former label
- 27Foundation of music?
- 29Fun activity for a summer day
- 31Dice rolls from Jail to Free Parking, in Monopoly
- 32Serving of meat loaf, maybe
- 33Evil spirits
- 36Accumulates
- 40"Silly me!"
- 41Barely gets (by)
- 43Org. associated with the Wanamaker Trophy
- 44Menu bar option
- 46Tennis legend who won the French Open when she was just 16
- 47Season
- 48Protection, as from an organization
- 50Jaguar, e.g.
- 51To whom you might say "I wish ..."
- 52Southern California site whose 1909 opening was accompanied by a visit from the U.S.S. Albany
- 55Attraction at the 52-Across
- 56Old man?
Down
- 1Guides
- 2"Peace out!"
- 3Perturb
- 4Chess legend Mikhail ___
- 5Bolognese, Parmesan, etc.
- 6Daughter of King Minos, in myth
- 7Tree growth indicative of good air quality
- 8Part of a great deal?
- 9Opulent
- 10Tubers from which a gluten-free type of flour is derived
- 11Herman ___, Dutch ophthalmologist known for his visual acuity testing
- 12Cafe chain
- 13Major product of Milan
- 14English lesson subject, for short
- 15"Science is ___ that works": Kurt Vonnegut
- 20Training courses
- 21Yes and no, say
- 24Common folk
- 25Rings
- 28Apt name for a chef
- 30Compound in some sleep aids, familiarly
- 32Largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area
- 33What do you have in mind?
- 34"Sorry, honey"
- 35French bun
- 36Parity
- 37Variety of dog associated with King Charles
- 38More unpleasant
- 39___ Noster (the Lord's Prayer)
- 42Capture, in a way
- 45Mr. or Mrs.
- 47Bodily partitions
- 49Room in an adobe
- 51Long cut
- 53Chaps
- 54One of three in the Horatio Henry Couldery painting "Curiosity"
Crossword clues, hints, and answers
Across
- 1. Grappling is used in this — Answer: MARTIALARTS
- 12. Ones who handle minor health problems? — Answer: PEDIATRICIANS
- 14. Dessert introduced to the U.S. in the 1780s, after Thomas Jefferson discovered it in France — Answer: VANILLAICECREAM
- 16. Like someone in pointe shoes, maybe — Answer: ONTOE
- 17. ___-di-dah — Answer: LAH
- 18. Say "hey," slangily — Answer: HOLLA
- 19. They're at the tops of some ladders, informally — Answer: CEOS
- 20. Offering that's fresh off the press? — Answer: CIDER
- 22. Pyroclastic material — Answer: SLAG
- 23. Sheet music abbr. — Answer: ARR
- 24. Deliberate — Answer: PLANNED
- 26. Sex Pistols song disparaging the band's former label — Answer: EMI
- 27. Foundation of music? — Answer: BASSLINE
- 29. Fun activity for a summer day — Answer: PICNIC
- 31. Dice rolls from Jail to Free Parking, in Monopoly — Answer: TENS
- 32. Serving of meat loaf, maybe — Answer: SLAB
- 33. Evil spirits — Answer: INCUBI
- 36. Accumulates — Answer: BUILDSUP
- 40. "Silly me!" — Answer: DOH
- 41. Barely gets (by) — Answer: SCRAPES
- 43. Org. associated with the Wanamaker Trophy — Answer: PGA
- 44. Menu bar option — Answer: EDIT
- 46. Tennis legend who won the French Open when she was just 16 — Answer: SELES
- 47. Season — Answer: SALT
- 48. Protection, as from an organization — Answer: AEGIS
- 50. Jaguar, e.g. — Answer: CAR
- 51. To whom you might say "I wish ..." — Answer: GENIE
- 52. Southern California site whose 1909 opening was accompanied by a visit from the U.S.S. Albany — Answer: SANTAMONICAPIER
- 55. Attraction at the 52-Across — Answer: ROLLERCOASTER
- 56. Old man? — Answer: NEANDERTHAL
Down
- 1. Guides — Answer: MENTORS
- 2. "Peace out!" — Answer: ADIOS
- 3. Perturb — Answer: RILE
- 4. Chess legend Mikhail ___ — Answer: TAL
- 5. Bolognese, Parmesan, etc. — Answer: ITALIANS
- 6. Daughter of King Minos, in myth — Answer: ARIADNE
- 7. Tree growth indicative of good air quality — Answer: LICHEN
- 8. Part of a great deal? — Answer: ACE
- 9. Opulent — Answer: RICH
- 10. Tubers from which a gluten-free type of flour is derived — Answer: TAROS
- 11. Herman ___, Dutch ophthalmologist known for his visual acuity testing — Answer: SNELLEN
- 12. Cafe chain — Answer: PANERA
- 13. Major product of Milan — Answer: SALAMI
- 14. English lesson subject, for short — Answer: VOCAB
- 15. "Science is ___ that works": Kurt Vonnegut — Answer: MAGIC
- 20. Training courses — Answer: CLINICS
- 21. Yes and no, say — Answer: REPLIES
- 24. Common folk — Answer: PLEBS
- 25. Rings — Answer: DIALS
- 28. Apt name for a chef — Answer: STU
- 30. Compound in some sleep aids, familiarly — Answer: CBD
- 32. Largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area — Answer: SUPERIOR
- 33. What do you have in mind? — Answer: IDEAS
- 34. "Sorry, honey" — Answer: NODEAR
- 35. French bun — Answer: CHIGNON
- 36. Parity — Answer: BALANCE
- 37. Variety of dog associated with King Charles — Answer: SPANIEL
- 38. More unpleasant — Answer: UGLIER
- 39. ___ Noster (the Lord's Prayer) — Answer: PATER
- 42. Capture, in a way — Answer: RECORD
- 45. Mr. or Mrs. — Answer: TITLE
- 47. Bodily partitions — Answer: SEPTA
- 49. Room in an adobe — Answer: SALA
- 51. Long cut — Answer: GASH
- 53. Chaps — Answer: MEN
- 54. One of three in the Horatio Henry Couldery painting "Curiosity" — Answer: CAT
Here are the NYT Crossword answers for Saturday, January 31, 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 31?” 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 31, 2026
The full solution for the January 31 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 Saturday, January 31.
Hints for the January 31 puzzle
Not ready for the full answer? Here are lighter, spoiler-free nudges for that day's grid, above the solutions. The January 31 puzzle fell on a Saturday, 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 Saturday 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?
- ← NYT Crossword answers for January 30
- → NYT Crossword answers for February 1
- Today's NYT Crossword answers — the live puzzle
- Browse the full archive of past NYT Crossword answers from the today page, or step through the dates above.
Prefer to solve rather than peek? The play button opens the puzzle so you can try that day's grid yourself, then come back to check your answers. Stuck on a single clue from any puzzle, our crossword solver reveals just that answer from your known letters.
Frequently asked questions
What were the NYT Crossword answers on January 31, 2026?
Every answer for the Saturday, January 31, 2026 NYT Crossword is listed at the top of this page — the confirmed grid as published that day.
Where can I find today's NYT Crossword answers?
Today's live puzzle is on our NYT Crossword answers today page, updated the moment each new grid goes live.
How do I look up a different date?
Use the previous/next links above to step day by day, or open the today page to browse the full dated archive.