If you’re anything like me, the day is not complete until I complete all of the free word games from the New York Times. Working on the daily Connections, Wordle and Strands is a whole ritual for many of us. And we can’t forget about the NYT’s The Mini Crossword, too!Although the NYT is known for “The Crossword,” a larger puzzle for paid subscribers, The Mini has quite the fan-following as well.

If you’re working on today’s Mini on Thursday, January 30, 2025, and need some help (I’ve been there), get ready to read the clues and solutions for each line. We have them separated into hints first for both “Across” and “Down” words, followed by “Across Answers” and “Down Answers,” so be careful if you want to avoid spoilers as you scroll!

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Hints for NYT’s The Mini Crossword on Thursday, January 30, 2025

Here are additional clues for each of the words in today’s Mini Crossword.

NYT Mini Across Hints

1 Across: Soft rock — HINT: It starts with the letter “T”

5 Across: First-string squad — HINT: It ends with the letter “M”

7 Across: Soft rock? — HINT: It starts with the letter “M”

8 Across: Tissue layers, e.g. — HINT: It ends with the letter “S”

9 Across: Fiona Apple and Tracy Chapman, vocally — HINT: It starts with the letter “A”

NYT Mini Down Hints

1 Down: Florida’s so-called “Cigar City” — HINT: It ends with the letter “A”

2 Down: To any degree — HINT: It starts with the letter “A”

3 Down: Not sketchy, colloquially — HINT: It ends with the letter “T”

4 Down: Brief role in a movie — HINT: It starts with the letter “C”

6 Down: Midnight ____ (Christmas service) — HINT: It ends with the letter “S”

Answers to NYT’s The Mini Crossword for Thursday, January 30, 2025

Don’t go any further unless you want to know exactly what the correct words are in today’s Mini Crossword.

NYT Mini Across Answers

1 Across: Soft rock — TALC

5 Across: First-string squad — ATEAM

7 Across: Soft rock? — MAGMA

8 Across: Tissue layers, e.g. — PLIES

9 Across: Fiona Apple and Tracy Chapman, vocally — ALTOSNYT Mini Down Answers

1 Down: Florida’s so-called “Cigar City” — TAMPA

2 Down: To any degree — AT ALL

3 Down: Not sketchy, colloquially — LEGIT

4 Down: Brief role in a movie — CAMEO

6 Down: Midnight ____ (Christmas service) — MASS

That’s it! How quickly were you able to complete today’s Mini?!

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