Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and mixes crisp definitions, conversational fill, trivia, and a playful bit of wordplay. Settle in and enjoy the clean variety.
How The Midi Works
The Midi is the middle ground between the Mini and the classic NYT Crossword, offering a mid-size grid that takes a few satisfying minutes to clear. Solve the intersecting words, and when the grid is complete, you'll hear a satisfying chime.
New puzzles drop daily. The Midi offers more complexity than the Mini while remaining accessible for solvers who want a quick but substantial challenge.
Quick Scan
In a rush? Here's the at-a-glance breakdown for today's puzzle:
Grid Size: 9x9
Total Clues: 30 (14 Across, 16 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 15D is the trickiest clue, since it hinges on recalling an actor from The White Lotus rather than unpacking a definition.
Gimme Clue: 9A is the clearest gimme, with a direct desert description pointing to a familiar adjective.
Theme Spotted: “Themeless Puzzles”
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. 9x9 crossword
Hint: Think of the NYT crossword format that sits between the Mini and the full-size puzzle. Four letters, starts with M.
5A. Like a leaky pen
Hint: Picture the dark smears a faulty pen can leave on your fingers. Four letters, starts with I.
9A. Dry, as the desert
Hint: Choose the adjective for land that receives extremely little moisture. Four letters, starts with A.
10A. "___ shalt not steal": Exodus
Hint: Recall the archaic second-person singular pronoun used in the biblical quotation. Four letters, starts with T.
11A. Receipt
Hint: Think of the paper record handed over after a store purchase. Nine letters, starts with S.
13A. Roadside assistance org.
Hint: Use the initials of the motor club associated with roadside help. Three letters, starts with A.
14A. "Achoo" response
Hint: Supply the polite phrase traditionally offered after someone sneezes. Eight letters, starts with B.
19A. Kind of cable used in a car, for short
Hint: Think of the abbreviated audio-input cable commonly connected inside a car. Three letters, starts with A.
20A. Big piles
Hint: Use a plural noun for large, loosely arranged piles. Five letters, starts with H.
22A. Class taught on the bunny slopes
Hint: Name the beginner instruction offered on a gentle winter-sports slope. Nine letters, starts with S.
24A. Headwear for angel costumes
Hint: Picture the glowing rings worn above the heads of costume angels. Five letters, starts with H.
25A. Suffix with Filip-
Hint: Add the ending that turns the supplied stem into the national demonym. Three letters, starts with I.
26A. "The Second ___" (groundbreaking feminist book by Simone de Beauvoir)
Hint: Recall the concluding noun in Simone de Beauvoir's groundbreaking book title. Three letters, starts with S.
27A. Make a running stitch, say
Hint: Think of the action performed with a needle and thread to create that stitch. Three letters, starts with S.
Down Hints
1D. More, in Spanish
Hint: Translate the comparative quantity word into Spanish. Three letters, starts with M.
2D. "This American Life" creator Glass
Hint: Think of the public-radio host and producer who created This American Life. Three letters, starts with I.
3D. ___ Pickles, punnily named "Rugrats" baby
Hint: Identify the youngest child in the Pickles family, whose name continues the pickle pun. Three letters, starts with D.
4D. Products of a brainstorm session
Hint: Name what a brainstorming session aims to generate. Five letters, starts with I.
5D. "Thumbs-up from us!"
Hint: Turn a group's approving gesture into a compact spoken sentence. Seven letters, starts with I.
6D. Stanley Cup org.
Hint: Use the initials of the North American professional ice hockey league that awards the Stanley Cup. Three letters, starts with N.
7D. Fish in Japanese water gardens
Hint: Picture the ornamental carp kept in Japanese water gardens. Three letters, starts with K.
8D. "Sounds good to me!"
Hint: Use a casual spoken affirmative that signals agreement. Three letters, starts with Y.
12D. Accessories for some graduates
Hint: Think of ceremonial bands worn across the torso at some graduations. Six letters, starts with S.
14D. Huge party
Hint: Choose a slangy noun for a large, lively celebration. Four letters, starts with B.
15D. ___ Gage, "The White Lotus" actor
Hint: Complete the full name of the actor from The White Lotus. Five letters, starts with L.
16D. Banishment
Hint: Think of forced removal from one's home or country. Five letters, starts with E.
17D. Desert watering hole
Hint: Picture a fertile desert spot sustained by a natural water source. Five letters, starts with O.
18D. Winning by a little
Hint: Think of the scoreboard phrase for holding a narrow lead. Five letters, starts with U.
21D. Cold pack?
Hint: Read “pack” as a bank of frozen precipitation, not a therapeutic compress. Four letters, starts with S.
23D. Classic bagel topping
Hint: Think of the cured salmon traditionally layered onto a bagel. Three letters, starts with L.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
---
---
---
---
---
Across Answers
1A. 9x9 crossword
Answer: MIDI
5A. Like a leaky pen
Answer: INKY
9A. Dry, as the desert
Answer: ARID
10A. "___ shalt not steal": Exodus
Answer: THOU
11A. Receipt
Answer: SALESSLIP
13A. Roadside assistance org.
Answer: AAA
14A. "Achoo" response
Answer: BLESSYOU
19A. Kind of cable used in a car, for short
Answer: AUX
20A. Big piles
Answer: HEAPS
22A. Class taught on the bunny slopes
Answer: SKILESSON
24A. Headwear for angel costumes
Answer: HALOS
25A. Suffix with Filip-
Answer: INO
26A. "The Second ___" (groundbreaking feminist book by Simone de Beauvoir)
Answer: SEX
27A. Make a running stitch, say
Answer: SEW
Down Answers
1D. More, in Spanish
Answer: MAS
2D. "This American Life" creator Glass
Answer: IRA
3D. ___ Pickles, punnily named "Rugrats" baby
Answer: DIL
4D. Products of a brainstorm session
Answer: IDEAS
5D. "Thumbs-up from us!"
Answer: ITSAYES
6D. Stanley Cup org.
Answer: NHL
7D. Fish in Japanese water gardens
Answer: KOI
8D. "Sounds good to me!"
Answer: YUP
12D. Accessories for some graduates
Answer: SASHES
14D. Huge party
Answer: BASH
15D. ___ Gage, "The White Lotus" actor
Answer: LUKAS
16D. Banishment
Answer: EXILE
17D. Desert watering hole
Answer: OASIS
18D. Winning by a little
Answer: UPONE
21D. Cold pack?
Answer: SNOW
23D. Classic bagel topping
Answer: LOX
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 22A, “Class taught on the bunny slopes,” with SKI LESSON, defines today's puzzle. The clue paints a precise scene, and the answer lands as an exact everyday phrase spanning the grid.
Wordplay Winner: SNOW wins the wordplay prize for 21D, “Cold pack?” The question mark turns “pack” from a therapeutic compress into accumulated frozen precipitation.
Quick Fill: AAA is the fastest confident fill because the roadside-assistance clue points cleanly to a standard abbreviation. It anchors the center by confirming IDEAS, SASHES, and IT'S A YES at its crossings.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Bank direct clues such as ARID, AAA, and AUX before tackling the proper-name trivia. Their crossing letters reduce the recall burden around the top and center.
Use SALES SLIP and SKI LESSON as cross-grid rails. Each fills a complete row and supplies crossing letters to every Down entry it meets.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The grid treated solvers fairly, balancing direct fills with compact trivia and one crisp question-mark turn. SKI LESSON gave the puzzle its strongest image, while SNOW supplied the final wink.
See you at the next grid.
