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NYT Crossword — January 31, 2026

Saturday’s 15 × 15 puzzle, 66 clues. The full solution is below — answers stay masked until you reveal them, one clue or all at once.

0 of 66 revealed

1M

2A

3R

4T

5I

6A

7L

8A

9R

10T

11S

12P

E

D

I

A

T

R

I

C

I

A

N

13S

14V

A

N

I

L

L

A

I

C

E

C

R

E

A

15M

16O

N

T

O

E

17L

A

H

18H

O

L

L

A

19C

E

O

S

20C

I

D

E

21R

22S

L

A

G

23A

R

R

24P

L

A

N

N

E

25D

26E

M

I

27B

A

S

28S

L

I

N

E

29P

I

30C

N

I

C

31T

E

N

S

32S

L

A

B

33I

34N

35C

U

B

I

36B

U

I

L

D

37S

38U

39P

40D

O

H

41S

C

42R

A

P

E

S

43P

G

A

44E

D

I

45T

46S

E

L

E

S

47S

A

L

T

48A

E

G

I

49S

50C

A

R

51G

E

N

I

E

52S

A

N

T

A

53M

O

N

I

54C

A

P

I

E

R

55R

O

L

L

E

R

C

O

A

S

T

E

R

56N

E

A

N

D

E

R

T

H

A

L

Across

30 clues

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

18Say "hey," slangily

19They're at the tops of some ladders, informally

20Offering that's fresh off the press?

22Pyroclastic material

23Sheet music abbr.

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

41Barely gets (by)

43Org. associated with the Wanamaker Trophy

44Menu bar option

46Tennis legend who won the French Open when she was just 16

48Protection, as from an organization

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

Down

36 clues

4Chess legend Mikhail ___

5Bolognese, Parmesan, etc.

6Daughter of King Minos, in myth

7Tree growth indicative of good air quality

8Part of a great deal?

10Tubers from which a gluten-free type of flour is derived

11Herman ___, Dutch ophthalmologist known for his visual acuity testing

13Major product of Milan

14English lesson subject, for short

15"Science is ___ that works": Kurt Vonnegut

20Training courses

21Yes and no, say

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"

37Variety of dog associated with King Charles

38More unpleasant

39___ Noster (the Lord's Prayer)

42Capture, in a way

47Bodily partitions

49Room in an adobe

54One of three in the Horatio Henry Couldery painting "Curiosity"

Click a clue for its own page with the answer and a short explanation.

Stats & info

Saturday, Jan 31, 2026

15×15

Grid size

66

Total entries

33/192

Black / letter cells

5.8

Avg entry length

15 ltrs

Longest entry

Hardest

Saturday difficulty

PuzzleThe Crossword

PublishedJan 31, 2026

DaySaturday

ThemeThemeless

ConstructorNick Maritz

EditorWill Shortz

Clue split30 across · 36 down

Longest entries

14ADessert introduced to the U.S. in the 1780s, after Thomas Jefferson discovered it in France15 ltrs 52ASouthern California site whose 1909 opening was accompanied by a visit from the U.S.S. Albany15 ltrs 12AOnes who handle minor health problems?13 ltrs 55AAttraction at the 52-Across13 ltrs 1AGrappling is used in this11 ltrs

Saturday is the hardest grid of the week, themeless and clued as obliquely as the editor allows. This grid has 33 black squares and averages 5.8 letters per entry.