Quick Answer
Clue: “Email button with a backward-facing arrow”
Answer: REPLY
Answer length: 5 letters
Clue number and direction: 6-Across
In the grid, 6-Across is filled as R E P L Y, crossing several Down entries from the same Mini.
Why REPLY Is the Right NYT Answer
- Most email interfaces use a backward-facing arrow icon for the reply function, so the clue is basically describing that familiar UI symbol. There is no wordplay here; it is a direct definition of the labeled button you see in your inbox.
- The 5-letter pattern REPLY matches the specified length for 6-Across and is confirmed by answer lists for the January 23, 2026 NYT Mini. Other email actions like “reply all” or “forward” either have the wrong length or different icons, which rules them out.
What REPLY Means in Plain English
- To reply simply means to answer a message, whether by email, text, or another form of communication. In email apps, tapping the REPLY button opens a new message addressed back to the original sender.
- Crossword editors like this word because it is everyday vocabulary and fits common letter patterns like _EPLY or REP_Y when crossings are in place.
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
- For tech or interface clues that mention email icons, “backward arrow,” or “respond,” think of REPLY as a primary candidate for a 5-letter slot.
- In the grid, you might see patterns such as R_PLY, _EPLY, or REP_Y as crossings fill from downs, making REPLY easy to confirm.
- Expect related clue lines like “Email action,” “Hit after reading an email,” or “Button to answer a message,” all of which often resolve to REPLY in NYT and similar puzzles.
For this Mini, crossings from entries like GRAND, REMOW, APPLE, FLUTE, and TYPEB (the downs intersecting 1-Across and nearby across answers) help lock in letters that support REPLY at 6-Across.
