Quick Answer
Clue: “Laid-back kind of personality”
Answer: TYPEB
Answer length: 5 letters
Clue number and direction: 5-Down
The New York Times crossword clue “Laid-back kind of personality” is answered with TYPEB, which fills all five squares of 5-Down.
Why TYPEB Is the Right NYT Answer
- In personality shorthand, Type B describes relaxed, easygoing, less time-pressured people, which matches the phrase “laid-back kind of personality” almost exactly.
- NYT Mini answer listings and multiple crossword helper sites confirm TYPEB as the 5-letter solution for this clue in the January 23, 2026 Mini.
- Other answers like “MELLOW” or “EASYGOING” either have the wrong length or do not fit the crossing pattern, while TYPEB neatly combines the psychological label with the clue’s wording.
What TYPEB Means in Plain English
- A Type B personality is generally relaxed, patient, and low-stress compared with the driven, competitive Type A personality.
- Type B people are often described as laid-back, flexible, and less obsessed with deadlines or constant achievement, which is exactly what the clue is pointing toward.
- The term comes from a classic psychology model that contrasts Type A and Type B traits, though in crosswords it is used purely as a handy label, not as medical advice.
Crossword-Specific Help for TYPEB
- In the grid, TYPEB appears as T Y P E B, and partial patterns like TYP_B, YPEB, or TYPE become very strong signals once you know the clue involves personality type.
- For this NYT Mini, 5-Down crosses theme-heavy across entries such as GRAFT, REPLY, AMPUP, NOLTE, and DWEEB, plus down entries like GRAND, REMOW, APPLE, and FLUTE, which help confirm each letter.
- TYPEB is a reasonably common entry in American-style crosswords, especially for clues like “Laid-back personality,” “Relaxed sort,” or “Non–Type A.”
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
- When a clue mentions laid-back, relaxed, mellow, or non Type A and the slot is 5 letters, think of TYPEB immediately.
- Watch for clue wording like “personality type,” “blood designation” (for other TYPE_ answers), or explicit “Type A’s opposite,” all of which often lead to TYPEB in a 5-letter grid.
Let crossings guide you: letters from intersecting answers will quickly form T?PEB or TYPE?, and with personality context, that locks in TYPEB.
