Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and leans on crisp wordplay, cultural trivia, and clean phrase completions. Settle in for a lively grid with plenty of accessible footholds.
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: 9x10
Total Clues: 31 (15 Across, 16 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 13A is the trickiest clue because it demands recall of an older retail partnership rather than a current brand name.
Gimme Clue: 25A is the clearest gimme, since the familiar command leaves only one natural completion.
Theme Spotted: "Ro-blox"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Quibble that's "picked"
Hint: Think of the small fault someone singles out while criticizing. Three letters, starts with N.
4A. Wild guess
Hint: The clue wants a reckless attempt made with little evidence. Four letters, starts with S.
8A. Alter ___
Hint: Complete the phrase for a second self or alternate identity. Three letters, starts with E.
9A. "Pitched" shelter
Hint: Picture a portable camping shelter supported by poles. Four letters, starts with T.
10A. Oar-propelled vessels
Hint: Picture small vessels moved by pulling oars. Eight letters, starts with R.
12A. Air-conditioning coolant
Hint: Think of the trademarked refrigerant name long associated with cooling systems. Five letters, starts with F.
13A. Onetime retail partner of Sears
Hint: Supply the second name in the old Sears retail pairing. Seven letters, starts with R.
18A. Rare hit in baseball
Hint: This hit sends the batter safely to the base just shy of home. Six letters, starts with T.
19A. Dull person
Hint: Use a noun for someone painfully tedious. Four letters, starts with B.
22A. "This 2,000 pound truck weighs ___!"
Hint: Read the truck's stated weight literally, then turn the unit into the missing phrase. Four letters, starts with A.
23A. Country now known as Zimbabwe
Hint: Recall the former name of the southern African country now called Zimbabwe. Eight letters, starts with R.
25A. "Ready, ___, fire!"
Hint: Complete the command between readiness and firing. Three letters, starts with A.
26A. Quick kiss
Hint: Think of a brief, light kiss. Four letters, starts with P.
27A. Spinner in the final frame of "Inception"
Hint: Recall the small object Cobb spins in the film's final shot. Three letters, starts with T.
28A. Queries
Hint: Use the verb for putting questions to someone. Four letters, starts with A.
Down Hints
1D. Big name in foam darts
Hint: Think of the toy brand strongly associated with foam blasters and darts. Four letters, starts with N.
2D. Frankenstein's assistant
Hint: Look to the stock laboratory aide from Frankenstein screen lore. Four letters, starts with I.
3D. Eiffel ___
Hint: Complete the name of the iron landmark overlooking Paris. Five letters, starts with T.
4D. Sean Penn's character in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," for one
Hint: Identify Jeff Spicoli by the slang label for his hazy, drug-using archetype. Six letters, starts with S.
5D. Beverage that's steeped
Hint: Think of the hot drink made by soaking leaves in water. Three letters, starts with T.
6D. Insect in a "farm"
Hint: Picture the tiny colony-building insect kept in a clear habitat. Three letters, starts with A.
7D. Megapopular K-pop group
Hint: Think of the South Korean music act known across global pop culture. Three letters, starts with B.
11D. Kicked out
Hint: Use a past-tense verb meaning expelled or removed. Six letters, starts with B.
14D. Prejudices
Hint: Use the plural noun for ingrained leanings that distort judgment. Six letters, starts with B.
15D. Slight increase
Hint: Look for a noun describing a small rise in a measured value. Six letters, starts with U.
16D. Outerwear for hobbit costumes
Hint: Picture the flowing outer garments worn over a hobbit costume. Six letters, starts with C.
17D. Movie character who says "I only exist within the warmth of your gaze. Without it, I'm just another blond guy who can't do flips"
Hint: The speaker is the blond companion in the film centered on a famous fashion doll. Three letters, starts with K.
19D. Little snot
Hint: Use a mildly insulting term for a badly behaved child. Four letters, starts with B.
20D. State whose three largest cities start with the letter "C"
Hint: Its largest cities include Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati. Four letters, starts with O.
21D. Lopsided victory
Hint: Think of an easy, one-sided victory. Four letters, starts with R.
24D. Clean air org.
Hint: Name the federal agency charged with protecting the environment and regulating air pollution. Three letters, starts with E.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Quibble that's "picked"
Answer: NIT
4A. Wild guess
Answer: STAB
8A. Alter ___
Answer: EGO
9A. "Pitched" shelter
Answer: TENT
10A. Oar-propelled vessels
Answer: ROWBOATS
12A. Air-conditioning coolant
Answer: FREON
13A. Onetime retail partner of Sears
Answer: ROEBUCK
18A. Rare hit in baseball
Answer: TRIPLE
19A. Dull person
Answer: BORE
22A. "This 2,000 pound truck weighs ___!"
Answer: ATON
23A. Country now known as Zimbabwe
Answer: RHODESIA
25A. "Ready, ___, fire!"
Answer: AIM
26A. Quick kiss
Answer: PECK
27A. Spinner in the final frame of "Inception"
Answer: TOP
28A. Queries
Answer: ASKS
Down Answers
1D. Big name in foam darts
Answer: NERF
2D. Frankenstein's assistant
Answer: IGOR
3D. Eiffel ___
Answer: TOWER
4D. Sean Penn's character in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," for one
Answer: STONER
5D. Beverage that's steeped
Answer: TEA
6D. Insect in a "farm"
Answer: ANT
7D. Megapopular K-pop group
Answer: BTS
11D. Kicked out
Answer: BOOTED
14D. Prejudices
Answer: BIASES
15D. Slight increase
Answer: UPTICK
16D. Outerwear for hobbit costumes
Answer: CLOAKS
17D. Movie character who says "I only exist within the warmth of your gaze. Without it, I'm just another blond guy who can't do flips"
Answer: KEN
19D. Little snot
Answer: BRAT
20D. State whose three largest cities start with the letter "C"
Answer: OHIO
21D. Lopsided victory
Answer: ROMP
24D. Clean air org.
Answer: EPA
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: ATON makes 22A the defining clue. A 2,000-pound truck weighs A TON, so spacing converts the entry into a clean punch line.
Wordplay Winner: NIT wins the wordplay prize at 1A. A quibble is a NIT, while the quoted "picked" reverses the familiar action of picking one.
Quick Fill: AIM is the fastest confident fill because "Ready, AIM, fire!" is fixed language. It immediately checks BRAT, OHIO, and ROMP at the crossings.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Bank fixed phrases such as EGO and AIM early. Short, certain entries expose useful letters for longer material.
When ROEBUCK does not arrive immediately, build it from crossings such as TOWER, BOOTED, BIASES, UPTICK, and CLOAKS. Let intersecting entries supply the uncommon sequence before committing.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The grid treated solvers fairly, pairing direct fill with a few satisfying recall tests. ATON supplied the sharpest grin at the finish.
See you at the next grid.
