Our NYT Crossword Hints for January 4, 2026 puzzle will help you move through the grid if you’ve found yourself stuck on a clue. The NYT Crossword is a daily crossword that tests solvers’ knowledge and vocabulary. It’s one of the most popular crosswords in the world, known for its challenging clues and clever wordplay. The puzzle is published in the print edition of the paper and is also available online.
NYT Crossword Hints, January 4, 2026
You’ll find hints for all of the crossword clues for the NYT Crossword on 1/4/26. The clues are listed below, and you can click/tap on a clue to go to its page for more detail, including definitions, but if you don’t want to be immediately spoiled, you can reveal letter by letter to still offer yourself more of a challenge before revealing the full solution.
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1A. It protects the heart
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8A. Egyptian god of the underworld
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14A. Dr.’s order?
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17A. Substances found in cured meats and explosives
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18A. Theme park with attractions like The Count's Splash Castle and Oscar's Rusty Rotten Rockets
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21A. High marks
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22A. "That's enough bickering!"
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24A. Valletta's land
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25A. Sci-fi protagonist who says "I don't like the idea that I'm not in control of my life"
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27A. Max's opposite
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28A. Morpheus, to 25-Across
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29A. Good ol' boy
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31A. Actor Thomas ___ Church
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34A. Stares stupidly
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35A. General who crossed the Rubicon
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37A. Snubs
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39A. Ultimate end, to Aristotle
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40A. TV E.T.
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41A. Secondary list of options
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43A. ___ Veronese, "The Wedding at Cana" painter
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45A. Queen ___ Land (region of Antarctica claimed by Norway)
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47A. Classification that anyone can donate to
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48A. Got off
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49A. With warts and all
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53A. Pesto ingredients
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55A. Made less angry now
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58A. Ozone no-no, for short
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59A. The dash in many an emoticon
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60A. It's a "tyrannical discipline," said Sylvia Plath
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61A. Titular role in a 2024 Disney prequel
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63A. Derived from gold
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66A. Steals, informally
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67A. Something a bug produces
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68A. Certain Army noncom
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70A. Points to a church?
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71A. What the 7 may mean in 7/11
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73A. Brewed beverage
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74A. Perseveres
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76A. Certain drink + what that drink has a lot of = women's lifestyle website
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80A. "Horsefeathers!"
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82A. Fiddlesticks!
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83A. Combine using heat without melting, as particles
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85A. Make a lot, say?
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86A. Famed firefighter Red
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88A. "All right, but that's not my opinion"
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90A. L.A.P.D. unit?
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91A. The Lamb
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93A. Devoted effort to looking attractive
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96A. Leaning
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98A. Bandage brand
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99A. Possessed, biblically
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100A. Word before winner or after Wonder
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101A. Brick homes
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103A. Buffalo’s home: Abbr.
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104A. 'Sprechen __ Deutsch?'
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106A. Eponym of element 96
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109A. They'll get there eventually
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113A. Like the cultivation of land
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115A. Country whose border shape is the world's roundest
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116A. Zero
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117A. Co.'s $$$ head
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118A. Steal for ransom
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119A. Whence the phrase "wear one's heart on one's sleeve"
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1D. Kelly of morning TV
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2D. "Come on and let loose for a while!"
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3D. Name of Ohio State's buckeye mascot
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4D. Wrinkly fruits
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5D. Parts of many online handles
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6D. Davis of Thelma & Louise
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7D. ___ quam videri (North Carolina’s motto)
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8D. 1940s spy grp.
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9D. Ready … or a word after ready
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10D. Chemist's variant
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11D. Violent seizure, as of property
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12D. Sign me up!
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13D. He scattered his brother's remains across the land and usurped his throne
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14D. Soothing goo
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15D. Hawaiian for "long mountain"
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16D. Intermission follower on Broadway
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17D. War zone for Rambo, informally
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19D. Poe's "The Narrative of Arthur Gordon ___"
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20D. Wicket and Teebo of Endor, e.g.
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23D. Hosp. areas
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26D. "I'm flattered!"
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30D. Believing his friend and ally had too much power, he led a party of conspirators to put an end to him
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32D. State capital that's closest to the U.S. Capitol
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33D. Like five Across answers by five Down answers in this puzzle, literally and figuratively
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35D. Kid's summer getaway
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36D. Kyrgyzstani mountain range
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37D. Urchins
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38D. Fans out
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39D. Where idols go head-to-head?
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42D. Small part in a gig
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44D. British isle
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46D. It's in your jeans
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48D. Plot divisions
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50D. Traumatize
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51D. Assuming that's true …
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52D. He led his brother to his demise by endangering his nephew
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54D. "Not gonna lie ..."
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56D. First enactors of democracy
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57D. Fencing contests
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60D. Chemistry lab dropper
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62D. Prepare quickly, as eggs for breakfast
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63D. 'Chop chop!'
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64D. Wrinkly fruit
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65D. GPS lines (Abbr.)
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66D. Programming language that's also a musical key
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69D. He sold out his master in exchange for silver
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71D. Baby in a pouch
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72D. Pandemonium
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75D. Title for a guru
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76D. Survivor's affliction, for short
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77D. Elf portrayed by Cate Blanchett in "The Fellowship of the Ring"
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78D. Big name in makeup
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79D. Music score squiggle
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81D. Disagrees (with)
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84D. Ixnays from Irkutsk
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87D. Obnoxious fratty sort, colloquially
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89D. Possible scenario, to a coder
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91D. 2011 Lady Gaga hit
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92D. Steamy
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94D. Paired chips with dips?
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95D. Touch lightly, as a gas pedal
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97D. Floral victory symbol
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98D. Lead-in to tech
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100D. Spawned
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102D. Camera inits.
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103D. ___ me tangere (Latin warning)
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105D. Jafar's parrot in "Aladdin"
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107D. Driven by envy toward his comrades, he fabricated events that led to their downfall
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108D. Official lang. of Liberia
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110D. Acorn, in the future
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111D. Messenger ___
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112D. Birth month of most Virgos: Abbr.
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114D. "Ruh-___!" (cry from Astro on "The Jetsons")
We also recommend trying your hand at the NYT Mini Crossword, which is definitely easier (on all days!) as it is a 5×5, compared to the full-sized crossword (which is 15×15, and the Sunday edition is 21×21!). New crosswords are released at 10PM ET on weekdays and 6PM ET on weekends.
The New York Times crossword was first published in The New York Times in 1942 and has been a daily feature ever since. It is known for its high level of difficulty and for its clever, often playful, clues and themes. The puzzles range in size from 15x15 grids on weekdays to larger 21x21 grids on Sundays, with varying levels of difficulty.
The New York Times crossword is created by a team of skilled puzzle constructors and editors, who work to ensure that each puzzle is both entertaining and challenging for solvers. The puzzles are often themed, with clues and answers related to a particular subject or concept, and they frequently feature wordplay and puns.
Solving the New York Times crossword has become a beloved pastime for many, and there are even competitions and clubs devoted to crossword puzzle solving. The New York Times crossword is available in print in the newspaper and online, and it has a dedicated following of loyal solvers who eagerly await each day's puzzle.
If you’re still struggling to solve your NYT crosswords, consider practicing with the Eugene Sheffer and Thomas Joseph dailies first. If you’re looking for similarly challenging crosswords, we recommend the WSJ Crossword and LA Times Crossword.
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