Daily Mini — Thursday, January 1, 2026

Mini crossword from Thursday, January 1, 2026 — a compact 5x5 grid with 10 clues (5 across, 5 down). Designed to be solved in minutes, these puzzles are perfect for a quick mental workout during a coffee break or commute.

Mini crosswords use tight, clever cluing to pack a satisfying challenge into a small grid. Every letter counts - a single wrong answer affects multiple words.

Mini crosswords reward a slightly different approach than full-size grids. Here's how to solve them efficiently:

• • Start with short answers - 3-letter words often have fewer possibilities
• • Use crossings early - in a 5x5 every answer intersects multiple others
• • Think concisely - mini clues often use compact phrasing and abbreviations
• • Aim for speed - these puzzles are designed to be completed in 1-3 minutes