Quick Answer
Clue: “More blue”
Answer: SADDER
Answer length: 6 letters
Clue number & direction: 5-Down
The New York Times crossword clue “More blue” is answered with SADDER.
Why “SADDER” Is the Right NYT Answer
- In idiomatic English, “blue” often means “sad” or “down,” so “more blue” naturally translates to sadder, the comparative form of “sad.”
- Official Mini answer pages and solver sites for the January 24, 2026 puzzle all confirm SADDER as the 5-Down solution.
What “SADDER” Means in Plain English
- Sadder means “more sad,” indicating a greater degree of unhappiness or melancholy.
- In this clue, it relies on the common expression “feeling blue,” where “blue” equals “sad,” so “more blue” simply rephrases to “sadder.”
Crossword-Specific Help and Patterns
- In the grid, SADDER appears as S A D D E R, so you might first see it as SAD_E_ or _ADDER from partial crossings.
- SADDER is a familiar comparative form used in many crosswords with clues like “More unhappy,” “Deeper blue?,” or “Less cheerful.”
- For this Mini, crossings from entries like PLOW, SAUNA, MADMEN, BEDTIME, OLDHEAD, and downs such as WANED, MELEE, and BORE pin down each letter of SADDER at 5-Down.
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
- When you see “blue” in a feelings context (not color), think SAD, then look for a comparative (SADDER) or superlative (SADDEST) depending on letter count.
Comparative clue wording like “more blue,” “more unhappy,” or “less happy” often points directly to an -ER ending (SADDER, LOWER, BLUER); use crossings to confirm the base adjective.
