Firing up the Washington Post’s daily crossword is a classic ritual, but it can be a real brain-bender. Whether you’re a seasoned solver or just getting started, some days the clues (and that tricky theme!) just don’t click. Since the WaPo daily can be tough sometimes, solving it can be quite a challenge. If you’ve found yourself stuck on a few answers, you’ve come to the right guide. Here are hints and answers for today’s Washington Post (LA Times) Daily crossword puzzle.
Note: The Washington Post and the LA Times share the same Daily Crossword every day, so you can play either.
Today’s Washington Post/LA Times Crossword Answers for January 1, 2026
Across Answers
- 1 Across: Complete failures – BOMBS
- 6 Across: “Now!” – STAT
- 10 Across: A couple of bucks? – DEER
- 14 Across: Oak tree, once – ACORN
- 15 Across: Words of dismay – OHNO
- 16 Across: New Age artist who often sings in Irish – ENYA
- 17 Across: Crossover design from Vivienne Westwood and Diane von Fürstenberg? – BUBBLEWRAP
- 19 Across: Suds – BEER
- 20 Across: Former quarterback Manning – ELI
- 21 Across: __-Caps candy – SNO
- 22 Across: Give a damn? – CURSE
- 23 Across: __ gel: contents of “Do not eat” packets – SILICA
- 26 Across: On the decline – WANING
- 29 Across: Creative team behind Lilly Pulitzer’s signature frock? – SHIFTWORKERS
- 33 Across: Liturgical vestment – STOLE
- 36 Across: Really, really enjoy a joke – ROAR
- 37 Across: Madre’s sister – TIA
- 38 Across: Greek cafe – TAVERNA
- 40 Across: Alive and __ – KICKING
- 43 Across: Viking weapon – AXE
- 44 Across: Pinnacle – ACME
- 46 Across: Aection from a dog – LICKS
- 47 Across: Item in Giorgio Armani’s 50th anniversary collection? – BIRTHDAYSUIT
- 51 Across: Patterned fabric woven on Jacquard looms – DAMASK
- 52 Across: Orates – SPEAKES
- 56 Across: __ shorts – CARGO
- 58 Across: Be in debt – OWE
- 60 Across: Briny – SEA
- 61 Across: Vaping device – ECIG
- 62 Across: Line of Mary Quant’s trademark skirts? – MINISERIES
- 66 Across: Place for pews – NAVE
- 67 Across: Legend – ICON
- 68 Across: Wet bars? – SOAPS
- 69 Across: Even – TIED
- 70 Across: Keyboard locale – DESK
- 71 Across: Really hard to see – EENSY
Down Answers
- 1 Down: Innocents – BABES
- 2 Down: Circular openings in domes – OCULI
- 3 Down: Synergy Supreme+ gasoline retailer – MOBIL
- 4 Down: “Putting my phone down a sec” – BRB
- 5 Down: Weekly skit show, for short – SNL
- 6 Down: Scattered – SOWN
- 7 Down: Target in a game of catch – THROWTO
- 8 Down: Japanese carrier – ANA
- 9 Down: Blouse – TOP
- 10 Down: Expose as false – DEBUNK
- 11 Down: Peppy – ENERGETIC
- 12 Down: Seeing things – EYES
- 13 Down: Redder than medium – RARE
- 18 Down: Actor Morales – ESAI
- 22 Down: Round g. – CIR
- 24 Down: Remote getaway spot – ISLE
- 25 Down: “Moonstruck” Oscar winner – CHER
- 27 Down: Faces the day – AWAKES
- 28 Down: Musubi seaweed – NORI
- 30 Down: Brawl – FRACAS
- 31 Down: Playing surface surrounded by boards – RINK
- 32 Down: Droops – SAGS
- 33 Down: Try – STAB
- 34 Down: Call with a raised hand – TAXI
- 35 Down: State of ramped-up productivity – OVERDRIVE
- 39 Down: Zilch – NADA
- 41 Down: Rate of speed – CLIP
- 42 Down: Beach toy – KITE
- 45 Down: Greek island in the Cyclades – MYKONOS
- 48 Down: Caught off base? – TAGGED
- 49 Down: Med. plan option – HMO
- 50 Down: Functions – USES
- 53 Down: Nepali, e.g. – ASIAN
- 54 Down: Stays fresh – KEEPS
- 55 Down: “Listen to __”: podcast that covers a classic teen magazine – SASSY
- 56 Down: Penny – CENT
- 57 Down: Berry native to the Amazon rainforest – ACAI
- 59 Down: “Don’t take me too seriously” indicator – WINK
- 62 Down: Prefix with way or wife – MID
- 63 Down: Raw bar need – ICE
- 64 Down: Language suffix – ESE
- 65 Down: Caviar – ROE
Click to reveal the solved crossword image
Today’s Washington Post puzzle lands in that sweet spot where it feels busy but not brutal. The grid looks intimidating at first glance, yet the cluing is fair enough that momentum builds quickly once a few corners fall. There is a nice mix of straightforward entries and playful misdirection, which keeps it from feeling like autopilot fill. Some clues push you to rethink the obvious, but they rarely cross into eye-roll territory. Overall, it feels sharp, modern, and confident, the kind of solve that rewards paying attention without demanding total brain melt.
You can also checkout today’s answers for other Crossword puzzles below:
How to Play Washington Post/LA Times Crossword Puzzle
You can play the daily crossword for free on the Washington Post’s website under their “Games” section.
- Choose a Clue: Click on any clue in the “Across” or “Down” lists.
- Enter Your Answer: The corresponding squares in the grid will be highlighted. Type your answer. The cursor will automatically move to the next square.
- Switch Directions: You can press the spacebar or click a square a second time to toggle between “Across” and “Down.”
- Check Your Work: You can press the “Check” or “Reveal” feature if you get truly stuck.
That’s it, folks, come back again tomorrow for a fresh set of answers.
