Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and a centrally placed geographic gimmick gives the trivia and wordplay a satisfying sense of direction. Settle in for a grid that rewards both quick recall and careful crossings.
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: 10x9
Total Clues: 34 (16 Across, 18 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 6D is the trickiest clue because it asks for the surname of a tennis champion whose peak came several decades ago.
Gimme Clue: 11A is the clearest gimme, with its familiar interlocking toy bricks pointing to a major household brand.
Theme Spotted: "Yankee Ingenuity"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Zip
Hint: Think of the amount represented by nothing at all. Four letters, starts with Z.
5A. Water park ride with floating logs
Hint: Picture the channel that carries riders and their floating logs downhill. Five letters, starts with F.
10A. "Preach!"
Hint: This is the approving response someone might call out during a stirring sermon. Four letters, starts with A.
11A. Toy bricks
Hint: Think of the famous interlocking plastic pieces used to build miniature creations. Five letters, starts with L.
12A. What political science majors study: Abbr.
Hint: Political science students examine this public institution, and the grid wants its standard abbreviation. Four letters, starts with G.
13A. Not cool
Hint: The description applies to someone behind the times rather than fashionable. Five letters, starts with U.
14A. "Hold My ___" (2022 Lady Gaga hit)
Hint: Complete the Lady Gaga song title with the body part offered for someone to hold. Four letters, starts with H.
16A. Where the six states circled in this puzzle are located geographically (in their proper places!)
Hint: Name the northeastern U.S. region containing the six geographically arranged states referenced by the clue. Ten letters, starts with N.
22A. N.F.L. group crouching before the snap, informally
Hint: This informal football term names the blockers crouched in front of the quarterback. Five letters, starts with O.
23A. "The Raven" poet
Hint: Recall the American writer associated with Gothic tales and a famous talking bird. Three letters, starts with P.
24A. Reject, as a bill from Congress
Hint: This is the presidential power used to refuse approval of legislation. Four letters, starts with V.
25A. Buddhist principle of cause and effect
Hint: Think of the principle that links actions with their eventual consequences. Five letters, starts with K.
27A. Performs at a studio lot
Hint: Use the present-tense verb for performing a role before the cameras. Four letters, starts with A.
28A. ___ Tuck (Robin Hood's friend)
Hint: Robin Hood's companion bears a religious title before his surname. Five letters, starts with F.
29A. Eye irritation
Hint: Think of the tender red bump that can form along an eyelid. Four letters, starts with S.
30A. They might keep you in bed
Hint: These common respiratory illnesses can make rest under the covers appealing. Five letters, starts with C.
Down Hints
1D. Zig's opposite
Hint: This sharp change of direction traditionally follows a zig. Three letters, starts with Z.
2D. Music genre that emerged from the '80s D.C. punk scene
Hint: Think of the emotionally charged rock offshoot rooted in the Washington, D.C., punk scene. Three letters, starts with E.
3D. Fire (up)
Hint: Use the verb for making an engine race while it remains in place. Three letters, starts with R.
4D. Exactly right
Hint: Picture an idiom that connects perfect accuracy with precise aim. Nine letters, starts with O.
5D. Tossed with force
Hint: The past-tense verb describes sending something through the air with considerable force. Five letters, starts with F.
6D. Ivan ___, eight-time Grand Slam tournament winner from 1984 to 1990
Hint: Recall the Czech-born tennis great Ivan who won eight major singles titles. Five letters, starts with L.
7D. "Well, this isn't great"
Hint: Supply the short groan prompted by an unpleasant development. Three letters, starts with U.
8D. "Excusez-___"
Hint: Complete the French expression with the emphatic pronoun meaning “me.” Three letters, starts with M.
9D. Mind-reading ability, for short
Hint: The clue wants the familiar abbreviation for supposed perception beyond the ordinary senses. Three letters, starts with E.
15D. Suffix with hex- or prop-
Hint: Both prefixes become names for saturated hydrocarbons when given this shared ending. Three letters, starts with A.
16D. Exploding stars
Hint: These stellar eruptions produce sudden, dramatic increases in brightness. Five letters, starts with N.
17D. Vote into office
Hint: Use the verb for choosing a candidate through a vote. Five letters, starts with E.
18D. Quick with punny responses, say
Hint: The adjective describes someone quick with clever remarks and puns. Five letters, starts with W.
19D. Its showers bring May flowers, in a saying
Hint: Look one month before May in the familiar saying about rain and flowers. Five letters, starts with A.
20D. Wanderer
Hint: Think of a person who travels without maintaining a permanent home. Five letters, starts with N.
21D. Sweeties
Hint: This affectionate plural can refer to beloved people or sweethearts. Five letters, starts with D.
25D. Fast-food chain that follows exactly 11 accounts on X, as a nod to the 11 herbs and spices in its secret recipe
Hint: Think of the Colonel's fried-chicken chain and its famous secret seasoning blend. Three letters, starts with K.
26D. Certain queer identity, in brief
Hint: The abbreviation describes an identity involving little or no romantic attraction. Three letters, starts with A.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Zip
Answer: ZERO
5A. Water park ride with floating logs
Answer: FLUME
10A. "Preach!"
Answer: AMEN
11A. Toy bricks
Answer: LEGOS
12A. What political science majors study: Abbr.
Answer: GOVT
13A. Not cool
Answer: UNHIP
14A. "Hold My ___" (2022 Lady Gaga hit)
Answer: HAND
16A. Where the six states circled in this puzzle are located geographically (in their proper places!)
Answer: NEWENGLAND
22A. N.F.L. group crouching before the snap, informally
Answer: OLINE
23A. "The Raven" poet
Answer: POE
24A. Reject, as a bill from Congress
Answer: VETO
25A. Buddhist principle of cause and effect
Answer: KARMA
27A. Performs at a studio lot
Answer: ACTS
28A. ___ Tuck (Robin Hood's friend)
Answer: FRIAR
29A. Eye irritation
Answer: STYE
30A. They might keep you in bed
Answer: COLDS
Down Answers
1D. Zig's opposite
Answer: ZAG
2D. Music genre that emerged from the '80s D.C. punk scene
Answer: EMO
3D. Fire (up)
Answer: REV
4D. Exactly right
Answer: ONTHENOSE
5D. Tossed with force
Answer: FLUNG
6D. Ivan ___, eight-time Grand Slam tournament winner from 1984 to 1990
Answer: LENDL
7D. "Well, this isn't great"
Answer: UGH
8D. "Excusez-___"
Answer: MOI
9D. Mind-reading ability, for short
Answer: ESP
15D. Suffix with hex- or prop-
Answer: ANE
16D. Exploding stars
Answer: NOVAS
17D. Vote into office
Answer: ELECT
18D. Quick with punny responses, say
Answer: WITTY
19D. Its showers bring May flowers, in a saying
Answer: APRIL
20D. Wanderer
Answer: NOMAD
21D. Sweeties
Answer: DEARS
25D. Fast-food chain that follows exactly 11 accounts on X, as a nod to the 11 herbs and spices in its secret recipe
Answer: KFC
26D. Certain queer identity, in brief
Answer: ARO
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 16A, NEW ENGLAND, defines the puzzle because it spans the entire center row while identifying the region containing the six circled states, which are placed in their proper geographic positions.
Wordplay Winner: 1A wins the wordplay with ZERO, using “Zip” in its less immediate sense of nothing rather than speed or a fastener.
Quick Fill: LEGOS at 11A is the fastest confident fill, and its five crossings immediately support FLUNG, LENDL, UGH, MOI, and ESP across the upper-right section.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Attack an explicit revealer early. Filling NEW ENGLAND supplies opening letters for NOVAS, ELECT, WITTY, APRIL, NOMAD, and DEARS, turning six lower crossings into quick confirmation checks.
Bank conversational fills such as AMEN, UGH, and MOI before wrestling with older proper names. Those short entries provide valuable crossing letters for the surrounding entries.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The grid treated solvers fairly, pairing accessible short fill with a memorable central reveal. NEW ENGLAND gives the construction both its map and its personality.
See you at the next grid.
