Looking for a quick and fun way to boost your brainpower? The USA TODAY Easy Crossword is your perfect daily fit! This puzzle is designed to be accessible and solvable, offering straightforward clues and answers in a compact grid. Whether you’re a total beginner or just looking for a relaxing solve, we’re here to help you cross the finish line. Below are the clues and solutions for today’s USA TODAY Easy Crossword for January 7, 2026.
USA TODAY Easy Crossword Answers for January 7, 2026
Across Answers: ➡️
- 1 Across: Ages upon ages of time – EONS
- 5 Across: Food on a cob – CORN
- 9 Across: Pictorial diagram – CHART
- 14 Across: Unruly kid – BRAT
- 15 Across: Black-and-white cookie – OREO
- 16 Across: Unsociable person – LONER
- 17 Across: Air Force outpost – BASE
- 18 Across: Scottish girl – LASS
- 19 Across: Perform better than – OUTDO
- 20 Across: Mild punishments – SLAPSONTHEWRIST
- 23 Across: Association: Abbr. – ORG
- 24 Across: Shoo-__ (sure things) – INS
- 25 Across: Not as brightly hued – PALER
- 29 Across: Refines, as a manuscript – EDITS
- 32 Across: CPR expert: Abbr. – EMT
- 35 Across: Insurance brokers – AGENTS
- 37 Across: Fireplace residue – ASH
- 38 Across: Sound from a cow – MOO
- 39 Across: Acknowledges applause – WAVESTOTHECROWD
- 43 Across: Gorilla or chimp – APE
- 44 Across: “__ you kidding?” – ARE
- 45 Across: Like films unsuitable for kids – RRATED
- 46 Across: Golf peg – TEE
- 47 Across: Lock of hair – TRESS
- 49 Across: __ board (manicurist’s tool) – EMERY
- 50 Across: “Steady as __ goes” – SHE
- 51 Across: Mind-reading ability: Abbr. – ESP
- 53 Across: Seals an agreement, perhaps – SHAKESONTHEDEAL
- 62 Across: Big marching-band instruments – TUBAS
- 63 Across: Out of danger – SAFE
- 64 Across: Campus near Hollywood: Abbr. – UCLA
- 65 Across: Fill with joy – ELATE
- 66 Across: Was untruthful – LIED
- 67 Across: Demonstrate – SHOW
- 68 Across: Strolls through a stream – WADES
- 69 Across: Spanish cheers – OLES
- 70 Across: Two-year-olds – TOTS
Down Answers: ⬇️
- 1 Down: Recedes, as the tide – EBBS
- 2 Down: Word-of-mouth – ORAL
- 3 Down: Cape Canaveral agency – NASA
- 4 Down: Rung of a ladder – STEP
- 5 Down: Draw with crayons – COLOR
- 6 Down: Citrus fruit from Florida – ORANGE
- 7 Down: Take a break – REST
- 8 Down: Small snack – NOSH
- 9 Down: Circus comedians – CLOWNS
- 10 Down: Fractions of a day – HOURS
- 11 Down: Prefix meaning “against” – ANTI
- 12 Down: Scarlet and crimson – REDS
- 13 Down: Jogging pace – TROT
- 21 Down: Separates into stacks – SORTS
- 22 Down: Any one of the two – EITHER
- 25 Down: Play with, like a kitten – PAWAT
- 26 Down: With wide-open mouth – AGAPE
- 27 Down: River’s flood barrier – LEVEE
- 28 Down: U-turn from WSW – ENE
- 30 Down: Goes out with – DATES
- 31 Down: Suffix meaning “not exactly” – ISH
- 32 Down: Be overly dramatic – EMOTE
- 33 Down: Lawn-cutting machine – MOWER
- 34 Down: “Hot” alcoholic winter drink – TODDY
- 36 Down: Gawks (at) – STARES
- 40 Down: Metallic rock – ORE
- 41 Down: French-style pancake – CREPE
- 42 Down: Lamb’s dad – RAM
- 47 Down: Grad school writings – THESES
- 48 Down: Fixed cost – SETFEE
- 50 Down: Ice hockey shoe – SKATE
- 52 Down: Buildings for storing tools – SHEDS
- 53 Down: Meat-and-potatoes meal – STEW
- 54 Down: Luau dance – HULA
- 55 Down: Having __ hair day – ABAD
- 56 Down: Norway’s capital – OSLO
- 57 Down: Hammer target – NAIL
- 58 Down: Wipe clean, as furniture – DUST
- 59 Down: Bounce back, as a sound – ECHO
- 60 Down: Very much – ALOT
- 61 Down: Police enforce them – LAWS
Click here to reveal the solved crossword image
How did you fare with today’s USA TODAY Easy Crossword? Did you cruise to a speedy victory?
This crossword strikes a nice balance between clarity and mild cleverness, with many clues relying on familiar phrasing and everyday knowledge that keeps the solver moving steadily. Definitions rooted in common experiences—like food items, simple actions, and recognizable cultural references—help establish early traction, while the longer, phrase-based entries reward solvers who pay attention to wordplay and idiomatic hints. Several clues gently misdirect by sounding literal at first but resolving into conversational expressions once crossings appear, which adds interest without tipping into frustration. The grid supports this well, as the interlocking answers reinforce one another and reduce guesswork, making the overall solve feel fair, cohesive, and comfortably engaging rather than taxing. I would rate it 4 out of 5.
You can also check out today’s answers for other Crossword puzzles below:
- NYT Mini Crossword Hints and Answers
- Washington Post/LA Times Crossword Hints and Answers
- LA Times Mini Crossword Hints and Answers
- Washington Post Mini Meta Crossword
- Boston Globe Mini Crossword Hints and Answers
- USA Today Crossword Answers
How to Play the USA TODAY Easy Crossword
Playing the USA TODAY Easy Crossword is hassle-free and lightning-fast.
- The Goal: The object is to completely fill the grid with words that correctly answer the “Across” (horizontal) and “Down” (vertical) clues.
- The Clues: Use the list of clues provided for each direction.
- Word Length: The grid itself guides you on the length of the words. A correct letter in one direction will often give you a helpful starting letter for the intersecting word.
- Intersections: Look for those crossing points! Solving an easy “Across” clue can provide key letters that make a tougher “Down” clue suddenly click.
- Daily Refresh: A brand new USA TODAY Easy Crossword is released every day, guaranteeing a fresh burst of puzzle fun.
