Here are the Letter Boxed January 20, 2026 Answers from New York Times Games. Our solutions and answers are 100% valid and accurate. We suggest trying to solve the game on your own before using the help of our website.
Sides of this Letter Box are:
KFXADOCHLBUN
The answers are:
HANDFULLOCKBOX
There once was a HANDFUL of cash,
Guarded tight in a LOCKBOX so brash.
With a manicure neat,
She closed fingers complete—
What’s held safe makes a sweeter splash. 💅💰
HANDFUL – LOCKBOX. Super quick.
20/20
Methinks Singular Solution. 🧐
HANDFUL-LOCKBOX Also fast solve.
Very impressive solve streak👏👏
It’s hard to rhyme LOCKBOX or HANDFUL…
I even tried POP-ROCKS and ANVIL.
Both things can hold cash,
but there’s still no good match.
That’s why this one belongs in the LANDFILL.
👍
Agree, yesterday’s limericks were livelier.
Handful – Lockbox surprisingly under a minute. That rarely happens for me.
OA
OA quickly
OA pretty quick here too.
OA, though it took me ages because I wanted to use HALFBACK, BOXHAUL, etc., or find a longer word. But Sam kept THWARTING me, and there was nearly dictionary GORE on the desk (yes, I looked up boxhaul to make sure it was a word!). At last, I found my way.
(I’m guessing that’s the only solution, would be curious to see others)
If ‘SCHLOCK’ is a word, Sam, so is ‘BOXHAUL’!
OA in two minutes. 18/20. And agreed. If obscure words like ‘FAUXHAWK’ and ‘SHVITZING’ are accepted, why not accept BOXHAUL? It’s ridiculous.
Nice work! I think I missed LOCKBOX initially because my attempt for the first word is either to use up as many ‘difficult’ letters as possible, so I was really focused on things like ‘FOXHOUND’ (not possible) or just as many letters as possible – e.g., BOXHAUL, and that’s 2 of the 3 most annoying letters – that my brain didn’t see it until I went ‘Ok, let’s use BOX as the base. What else is possible?’ Then it was clear.
18/20? I’m pretty sure you’ve posted a solution every day this year?
Thanks! And no, I haven’t – I was unable to find a solution on January 12 (CHERUBIM – MOBILITY) and 14 (CRACKDOWN – NIGHT) despite trying relentlessly for hours. Ironic as it is, I find puzzles with uncommon letters much easier than those with common ones, because I get so caught up in the various possibilities that the grid has to offer – except, of course, if the solution contains some obscure word I haven’t heard of before!
Just realized my initial comment is awaiting moderation because I put a link to the famous 2000 Presidential debate sketch from SNL where Al Gore goes on and on about his LOCKBOX. Which was instantly what I think of any time I hear the term LOCKBOX. It’s also the skit from whence “Strategery” comes. OA. 19/20.
OA
Boxhaul is in MW. And allowed in Scrabble. But what would you pair it with?
PS the only alternative I could think of today is
BACKHANDFUL* LOX
Per Google
*In essence, it’s a descriptive, informal term showing an action or quantity that’s both small and slightly aggressive or unfavorable, drawing on the meanings of backhand meaning at Vocabulary.com.”
It also seems to have suggestive connotations. 🙂
Backhand duoflux , an advanced audio effect plugin. Prob a proper noun?
OA pretty quickly after let go of blackbox