Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and it leans into snack trivia, crisp definitions, and playful sound clues. Settle in for a bright, friendly solve.
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: 10x10
Total Clues: 37 (17 Across, 20 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 24A is the trickiest clue because its historical-agency wording demands specific government knowledge.
Gimme Clue: 30A is the clearest gimme, since its green animated-ogre description points directly to an unmistakable movie character.
Theme Spotted: "Brand Spell Check"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Magician's stage item, e.g.
Hint: For 1A, think of an object a magician handles onstage rather than the performer. Four letters, starts with P.
5A. Pleads
Hint: For 5A, use a verb for pleading earnestly. Four letters, starts with B.
9A. BMW rival
Hint: For 9A, name the German luxury carmaker positioned as a BMW competitor. Four letters, starts with A.
10A. Dark purple berry
Hint: For 10A, think of the deep-purple berry blended into smoothie bowls. Four letters, starts with A.
11A. Orange-yellow cracker topper
Hint: For 11A, picture the bright orange cheese spread squeezed onto crackers. Nine letters, starts with C.
13A. "When Breath Becomes ___" (2016 best-selling memoir)
Hint: For 13A, recall Paul Kalanithi's memoir title about mortality and medicine. Three letters, starts with A.
14A. Solo
Hint: For 14A, think of being by oneself, without company. Five letters, starts with A.
15A. Classic movie theater candy with white sprinkles
Hint: For 15A, picture the chocolate drops topped with tiny white candies at a cinema concession stand. Seven letters, starts with S.
18A. Treats that sound like something Santa would enjoy
Hint: For 18A, think of rolled chocolate snack cakes whose brand name repeats Santa's laugh. Five letters, starts with H.
19A. Pulled up a chair
Hint: For 19A, use the past-tense verb for taking a seat. Three letters, starts with S.
22A. Informative TV spot, for short
Hint: For 22A, think of the familiar abbreviation for a public-interest message broadcast on television. Three letters, starts with P.
24A. Government org. with a forerunner known as the Cipher Bureau
Hint: For 24A, identify the U.S. intelligence agency whose lineage traces to the Cipher Bureau. Three letters, starts with N.
25A. Colorful cereal with a toucan mascot
Hint: For 25A, name the rainbow-ring cereal advertised by a toucan. Ten letters, starts with F.
29A. Nickname for Louise
Hint: For 29A, use the familiar pet form of Louise. Four letters, starts with L.
30A. Green ogre
Hint: For 30A, name the animated green ogre who lives in a swamp. Five letters, starts with S.
31A. Throw forcefully, in Gen Z slang
Hint: For 31A, reach for Gen Z slang meaning to hurl something with force. Four letters, starts with Y.
32A. Signs of things to come
Hint: For 32A, think of portents that signal what lies ahead. Five letters, starts with O.
Down Hints
1D. Al of "The Godfather"
Hint: For 1D, name the actor who played Michael Corleone in The Godfather. Six letters, starts with P.
2D. Worried exclamation from Scooby-Doo
Hint: For 2D, imitate Scooby-Doo's anxious catchphrase when trouble appears. Six letters, starts with R.
3D. Praiseful poem
Hint: For 3D, think of a lyric poem written in praise of its subject. Three letters, starts with O.
4D. Dessert with a lattice crust, perhaps
Hint: For 4D, picture a baked dessert with fruit beneath woven pastry strips. Three letters, starts with P.
5D. Cries one's eyes out
Hint: For 5D, use the verb for sobbing loudly and uncontrollably. Five letters, starts with B.
6D. Reverberation
Hint: For 6D, think of a sound returning after it reflects from a distant surface. Four letters, starts with E.
7D. "No pain, no ___" (gym rat's motto)
Hint: For 7D, complete the gym motto by linking the hardship with its promised benefit. Four letters, starts with G.
8D. L, XL or XXL
Hint: For 8D, treat L, XL, and XXL as labels for a clothing measurement category. Four letters, starts with S.
12D. Sound in a sci-fi comic
Hint: For 12D, hear a laser blast rendered as a comic-book sound effect. Three letters, starts with Z.
13D. ___ Wednesday
Hint: For 13D, complete the name of the Christian observance that begins Lent. Three letters, starts with A.
16D. Unsatisfying excuse
Hint: For 16D, think of a weak excuse used to avoid responsibility. Six letters, starts with C.
17D. Helper: Abbr.
Hint: For 17D, the abbreviation marker calls for a shortened workplace helper title. Four letters, starts with A.
19D. Make (sleeping) sounds
Hint: For 19D, name the noisy breathing action suggested by the sleep symbol. Five letters, starts with S.
20D. Ski town near Buttermilk Mountain
Hint: For 20D, identify the Colorado resort city beside Buttermilk Mountain. Five letters, starts with A.
21D. Workplace assignments
Hint: For 21D, think of assignments on a workplace to-do list. Five letters, starts with T.
23D. Additionally
Hint: For 23D, use an adverb meaning in addition. Four letters, starts with A.
25D. Travel by plane
Hint: For 25D, think of traveling through the sky by aircraft. Three letters, starts with F.
26D. Regret
Hint: For 26D, use a verb meaning to bitterly regret. Three letters, starts with R.
27D. Nashville's Grand ___ Opry
Hint: For 27D, complete the Nashville country-music institution whose name starts with Grand and ends with Opry. Three letters, starts with O.
28D. Unit of electrical resistance
Hint: For 28D, recall the SI unit used to measure electrical resistance. Three letters, starts with O.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Magician's stage item, e.g.
Answer: PROP
5A. Pleads
Answer: BEGS
9A. BMW rival
Answer: AUDI
10A. Dark purple berry
Answer: ACAI
11A. Orange-yellow cracker topper
Answer: CHEEZWHIZ
13A. "When Breath Becomes ___" (2016 best-selling memoir)
Answer: AIR
14A. Solo
Answer: ALONE
15A. Classic movie theater candy with white sprinkles
Answer: SNOCAPS
18A. Treats that sound like something Santa would enjoy
Answer: HOHOS
19A. Pulled up a chair
Answer: SAT
22A. Informative TV spot, for short
Answer: PSA
24A. Government org. with a forerunner known as the Cipher Bureau
Answer: NSA
25A. Colorful cereal with a toucan mascot
Answer: FROOTLOOPS
29A. Nickname for Louise
Answer: LULU
30A. Green ogre
Answer: SHREK
31A. Throw forcefully, in Gen Z slang
Answer: YEET
32A. Signs of things to come
Answer: OMENS
Down Answers
1D. Al of "The Godfather"
Answer: PACINO
2D. Worried exclamation from Scooby-Doo
Answer: RUHROH
3D. Praiseful poem
Answer: ODE
4D. Dessert with a lattice crust, perhaps
Answer: PIE
5D. Cries one's eyes out
Answer: BAWLS
6D. Reverberation
Answer: ECHO
7D. "No pain, no ___" (gym rat's motto)
Answer: GAIN
8D. L, XL or XXL
Answer: SIZE
12D. Sound in a sci-fi comic
Answer: ZAP
13D. ___ Wednesday
Answer: ASH
16D. Unsatisfying excuse
Answer: COPOUT
17D. Helper: Abbr.
Answer: ASST
19D. Make (sleeping) sounds
Answer: SNORE
20D. Ski town near Buttermilk Mountain
Answer: ASPEN
21D. Workplace assignments
Answer: TASKS
23D. Additionally
Answer: ALSO
25D. Travel by plane
Answer: FLY
26D. Regret
Answer: RUE
27D. Nashville's Grand ___ Opry
Answer: OLE
28D. Unit of electrical resistance
Answer: OHM
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 11A, CHEEZWHIZ, defines the grid's snacky personality. The vivid cracker-topper description and the product's quirky branded spelling make the reveal memorable.
Wordplay Winner: 18A wins the wordplay prize with HOHOS. The clue splits the snack-cake brand into Santa's repeated laugh, turning a familiar product into a clean sound-based joke.
Quick Fill: SHREK at 30A was the fastest confident fill because “Green ogre” functions almost like a direct definition. It anchors ALSO, OHM, SNORE, ASPEN, and TASKS through its crossings.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Bank unmistakable proper names such as SHREK and PACINO, then let their crossings settle nearby vocabulary. Direct character and actor clues are valuable anchors in a grid with several branded entries.
When a brand clue is clear but its spelling is stylized, build it from crossings. CHEEZWHIZ swaps in branded spellings, while FROOTLOOPS requires careful handling of both product words.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The grid treated solvers to a lively snack aisle of brands, slang, and compact trivia. CHEEZWHIZ gave the puzzle its sharpest burst of personality.
See you at the next grid.
