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 14, 2026
1 Across: In the thick of – AMID
5 Across: School attendee – PUPIL
10 Across: Muscles above abs – PECS
14 Across: Junction point – NODE
15 Across: Father of Kartikeya and Ganesha, in Hindu traditions – SHIVA
16 Across: Feedback for a prof – EVAL
17 Across: *Part of the bus that makes the wheels go round and round, round and round – DRIVESHAFT
19 Across: Frost – RIME
20 Across: “Groovy!” – RAD
21 Across: Leave slack-jawed – STUN
22 Across: Extend beyond – OUTLIE
24 Across: Mass-mailing tool – ELIST
26 Across: *Part of the Blessed Trinity – HOLYGHOST
28 Across: Barbecue wipe – WETNAP
30 Across: Punster – WAG
31 Across: One of the Three Stooges – MOE
32 Across: At the original rate, in sheet music – ATEMPO
35 Across: Canasta combination – MELD
36 Across: * Folded flyer – PAPERAIRPALNE
40 Across: Ordinances – LAWS
41 Across: Kolkata resident – INDIAN
42 Across: Simile center – ASA
43 Across: Long stretch – EON
45 Across: Lawn care task – EDGING
49 Across: *Command aboard the USS Enterprise – WARPSPEED
53 Across: Sing in a high range? – YODEL
54 Across: Most peculiar – ODDEST
55 Across: Glorify – LAUD
57 Across: Farm-to-table program, briefly – CSA
58 Across: Golda of Israel – MEIR
59 Across: Permission to adapt a novel, say, or what the answers to the starred clues all have – FILMRIGHTS
62 Across: Novelist Tyler – ANNE
63 Across: Rubber-stamping – OKING
64 Across: Gets even with – TIES
65 Across: Badgers – NAGS
66 Across: Witherspoon of “The Morning Show” – REESE
67 Across: Agile – SPRY
1 Down: “Christina’s World” painter Wyeth – ANDREW
2 Down: Booster target, perhaps – MORALE
3 Down: Victorious cry – IDIDIT
4 Down: Actor Patel – DEV
5 Down: Sibilant summons – PSST
6 Down: Slangy affirmative – UHHUH
7 Down: Grand instrument – PIANO
8 Down: Assisted reproductive option: Abbr. – IVF
9 Down: Singer Jackson – LATOYA
10 Down: Capital of Western Australia – PERTH
11 Down: Really bad sign – EVILOMEN
12 Down: Top with spaghetti straps – CAMISOLE
13 Down: Came down hard? – SLEETED
18 Down: Grand property – ESTATE
23 Down: Brand of fleecy slippers – UGG
25 Down: Onesie closers – SNAPS
27 Down: Euphemistic expression of affection – LWORD
29 Down: Each – PER
33 Down: Quebec neighbor – MAINE
34 Down: Brooch – PIN
35 Down: National fruit of the Philippines – MANGO
36 Down: Caltech locale – PASADENA
37 Down: Handing an Emmy to, e.g. – AWARDING
38 Down: __ chart – PIE
39 Down: Royal bride of 1981 – LADYDI
40 Down: Doors album whose last track is “ Riders on the Storm ” – LAWOMAN
43 Down: Pothook shape – ESS
44 Down: Select – OPTFOR
46 Down: Pet-locating device – IDCHIP
47 Down: Mama bird, for one – NESTER
48 Down: Like some stares – GLASSY
50 Down: French fathers – PERES
51 Down: “Love Me Like You Do” singer Goulding – ELLIE
52 Down: Sends to eternal punishment – DAMNS
56 Down: Craving – URGE
60 Down: Actor Barinholtz – IKE
61 Down: Classic sports cars – GTS

This crossword puzzle strikes a playful balance between high-brow mythology and modern pop culture references. The grid construction is notably elegant, featuring wide-open corners and longer thematic entries that reward a flexible vocabulary. Many of the clues lean into clever wordplay, such as the musical and mechanical puns that breathe life into the longer horizontal spans. The starred items are particularly well-crafted, requiring you to think about common phrases that share a hidden, versatile noun to unlock the central mystery of the board. I’d comfortably rate this crossword 4.5 out of 5 .
You can also checkout today’s answers for other Crossword puzzles below:
- NYT Mini Crossword Hints and Answers
- LA Times Mini Crossword
- USA Today Crossword Hints and Answers
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.