There’s something about the daily routine of completing the free word games from the New York Times that just makes the day feel complete. Whether it’s cracking the codes in Connections, diving into the world of sports with Connections Sports Edition, decoding Wordle, or unraveling the web of words in Strands, it’s a ritual many of us can’t resist. And let’s not forget about The Mini Crossword, which has garnered quite the fan following as well.
While The New York Times is renowned for “The Crossword,” a larger puzzle for paid subscribers, The Mini Crossword also has its own dedicated audience. Unlike some games that reset at midnight, this particular one refreshes at 10 p.m.
So, if you find yourself tackling today’s Mini on a Thursday, January 8, 2026, and need a little assistance, fear not. Below are the clues and solutions for each line, separated into hints for both “Across” and “Down” words, ensuring you can avoid spoilers as you scroll through.
Hints for NYT’s The Mini Crossword on Thursday, January 8, 2026:
NYT Mini Across Hints:
– 1 Across: Donate (Hint: Starts with the letter “G”)
– 5 Across: Piece of equipment in curling or Quidditch (Hint: Ends with the letter “M”)
– 6 Across: Tidbit of information (Hint: Starts with the letter “D”)
– 7 Across: Prone to daydreaming (Hint: Ends with the letter “Y”)
– 8 Across: Athletic shorts fabric (Hint: Ends with the letter “H”)
NYT Mini Down Hints:
– 1 Down: Flavor of a purple lollipop (Hint: Ends with the letter “E”)
– 2 Down: Greek letter I’s (Hint: Starts with the letter “I”)
– 3 Down: Go to bat (for) (Hint: Ends with the letter “H”)
– 4 Down: Award with Daytime and Primetime categories (Hint: Ends with the letter “Y”)
– 5 Down: Erotic practice in “Fifty Shades of Grey,” for short (Hint: Starts with the letter “B”)
Answers to NYT’s The Mini Crossword for Thursday, January 8, 2026:
NYT Mini Across Answers:
– 1 Across: Donate — GIVE
– 5 Across: Piece of equipment in curling or Quidditch — BROOM
– 6 Across: Tidbit of information — DATUM
– 7 Across: Prone to daydreaming — SPACY
– 8 Across: Athletic shorts fabric — MESH
NYT Mini Down Answers:
– 1 Down: Flavor of a purple lollipop — GRAPE
– 2 Down: Greek letter I’s — IOTAS
– 3 Down: Go to bat (for) — VOUCH
– 4 Down: Award with Daytime and Primetime categories — EMMY
– 5 Down: Erotic practice in “Fifty Shades of Grey,” for short — BDSM
Whether you’re a seasoned word game enthusiast or just looking for a fun challenge, the NYT Mini Crossword offers a daily dose of brain-teasing entertainment. Enjoy the journey of unraveling these puzzles and uncovering the hidden words waiting to be revealed.
Peace Nero is a writer and blogger who loves to explore different topics of self-development. She shares her personal experiences in order to help people discover their true purpose in life.