Quick Answer
Clue: “Remove from a position of power”
Answer: OUST
Answer length: 4 letters
Clue number and direction: 1-Across
The New York Times crossword clue “Remove from a position of power” is answered with OUST, filling the four-square 1-Across slot.
Why OUST Is the Right NYT Answer
- To oust someone is to remove them from a position, office, or seat of power, often forcefully or by legal means, which matches the clue word-for-word.
- Crossword databases and NYT-focused helper sites give OUST as the exact 4-letter solution for this Mini clue and date.
- Other verbs like DEPOSE or UNSEAT also mean “remove from power,” but they have different lengths, so OUST is the only tight 4-letter fit.
What OUST Means in Plain English
- To oust is to force someone out of a job, position of authority, or place, often through a vote, legal action, or pressure. For example, news headlines might say a board “ousted” a CEO or voters “ousted” a leader in an election.
- The word carries a sense of being pushed out rather than leaving voluntarily, which is why it pairs naturally with “position of power” in the clue.
Crossword-Specific Help for OUST
- In the grid, OUST appears as O U S T, and with a few crossings you might see patterns like O_ST or _UST, which strongly suggest OUST when the clue is about removal from office.
- Reference lists show many clues sharing this answer: “Remove from office,” “Depose,” “Kick out of power,” and “Unseat.”
- Because it’s short, vowel-heavy, and politically flavoured, OUST is a very common entry in NYT and other crosswords, so it is worth locking into your mental word list.
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
- For 4-letter removal-from-power clues like “Depose,” “Unseat,” “Kick out of office,” “Remove from office,” OUST is usually your first candidate.
- Watch for patterns like O_ST or OU_T; with any political or corporate context in the clue, OUST is almost always right.
Remember that longer variants (DEPOSE, UNSEAT, TOPPLE) may appear when the grid calls for 5–7 letters; check the count before filling.
More NYT Mini Crossword Answers for January 28, 2026
| Clue | Answer | |
| 1A | Remove from a position of power | View Answer |
| 5A | Not cool | View Answer |
| 7A | “Fine, see if ___!” | View Answer |
| 8A | Kind of bored | View Answer |
| 9A | Primatologists’ subjects: | View Answer |
| 1D | Kind of board | View Answer |
| 2D | Prepare to use, as a pen | View Answer |
| 3D | Desirable place to sit on a hot day | View Answer |
| 4D | Pair on a bicycle | View Answer |
| 6D | __ XING (street sign) | View Answer |
