Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and leans into crisp wordplay, broad trivia, and lively contemporary references without a formal theme. Settle in and enjoy the mix.
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 (15 Across, 15 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 22A is the trickiest clue because recognizing the Lil Pump track requires specific music knowledge.
Gimme Clue: 27A is the clearest gimme, with a familiar gesture matching the clue directly.
Theme Spotted: "Close But No Cigar"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Stethoscope wearers, in brief
Hint: Think of the standard abbreviation for the medical professionals most associated with stethoscopes. Three letters, starts with D.
4A. Paper : pencil :: ___ : stylus
Hint: Complete the analogy with the Apple tablet commonly operated using a stylus. Four letters, starts with I.
8A. Tear
Hint: Picture what can happen to paper or fabric when it is pulled apart. Three letters, starts with R.
9A. Still in bed
Hint: Use a compact phrase indicating that someone remains under the covers. Five letters, starts with N.
11A. Some psychedelic experiences
Hint: The clue refers to hallucinogen-induced journeys rather than ordinary travel. Nine letters, starts with A.
13A. Horror or history
Hint: Horror and history can each describe a category of creative work. Five letters, starts with G.
14A. Gossip, in slang
Hint: Think of the slang term used when someone shares juicy information. Three letters, starts with T.
15A. Big name in health insurance
Hint: Look for a nationally recognized health insurer whose brand name fits the clue. Five letters, starts with C.
17A. Ask for too many details
Hint: The target is a verb for intrusively seeking personal information. Three letters, starts with P.
19A. No longer following orders
Hint: Think of an adjective for someone who has broken from authority and begun acting independently. Five letters, starts with R.
22A. 2017 Lil Pump hit whose name includes a fashion brand
Hint: Recall the Lil Pump track built around a repeated luxury-fashion refrain. Nine letters, starts with G.
24A. Apportion
Hint: Use a verb meaning to distribute or assign portions. Five letters, starts with A.
25A. Women's suffragist ___ B. Wells
Hint: Think of the journalist, anti-lynching campaigner, and women's suffragist named in the clue. Three letters, starts with I.
26A. Start of a counting-out rhyme
Hint: Recite the opening beat of the familiar playground choosing rhyme. Four letters, starts with E.
27A. Silent assent
Hint: Picture the small head movement that communicates agreement without speech. Three letters, starts with N.
Down Hints
1D. Performance art form featuring "queens"
Hint: Think of the stage art built around heightened gender performance and its celebrated queens. Four letters, starts with D.
2D. Grain in a poke bowl
Hint: Choose the staple grain commonly placed beneath fish and toppings in a poke bowl. Four letters, starts with R.
3D. Water-extracting washing machine setting
Hint: Focus on the washing-machine phase that rotates rapidly to remove water. Nine letters, starts with S.
4D. Good moral behavior
Hint: The clue seeks the moral quality associated with honesty and firm principles. Nine letters, starts with I.
5D. ___ ejemplo (Spanish "for example")
Hint: Supply the Spanish word placed before “ejemplo” to form the expression translated in the clue. Three letters, starts with P.
6D. Back to doing something
Hint: Use the conversational phrase for resuming a familiar activity. Nine letters, starts with A.
7D. Deceive
Hint: The target is a verb meaning to trick someone into believing something false. Four letters, starts with D.
10D. "This is your brain on drugs," e.g., for short
Hint: Think of the abbreviated category for an awareness message intended to benefit the public. Three letters, starts with P.
12D. ___-FIT attire (Nike sweat-wicking fabric)
Hint: Look at Nike's branded prefix before “FIT” on moisture-managing apparel. Three letters, starts with D.
16D. Festive drink topped with nutmeg
Hint: The clue points to the shortened name of a creamy holiday beverage commonly dusted with nutmeg. Three letters, starts with N.
17D. Grp. with drivers, but not parkers
Hint: Read “drivers” as golf clubs and identify the professional organization suggested by that joke. Three letters, starts with P.
18D. Game player's guideline
Hint: Think of an instruction that governs how a game is played. Four letters, starts with R.
20D. Reverse
Hint: Picture the familiar command that reverses the most recent action. Four letters, starts with U.
21D. Old-fashioned "My word!"
Hint: Reach for a vintage exclamation expressing surprise or alarm. Four letters, starts with E.
23D. Scam
Hint: Use a short noun for a fraudulent scheme. Three letters, starts with C.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Stethoscope wearers, in brief
Answer: DRS
4A. Paper : pencil :: ___ : stylus
Answer: IPAD
8A. Tear
Answer: RIP
9A. Still in bed
Answer: NOTUP
11A. Some psychedelic experiences
Answer: ACIDTRIPS
13A. Horror or history
Answer: GENRE
14A. Gossip, in slang
Answer: TEA
15A. Big name in health insurance
Answer: CIGNA
17A. Ask for too many details
Answer: PRY
19A. No longer following orders
Answer: ROGUE
22A. 2017 Lil Pump hit whose name includes a fashion brand
Answer: GUCCIGANG
24A. Apportion
Answer: ALLOT
25A. Women's suffragist ___ B. Wells
Answer: IDA
26A. Start of a counting-out rhyme
Answer: EENY
27A. Silent assent
Answer: NOD
Down Answers
1D. Performance art form featuring "queens"
Answer: DRAG
2D. Grain in a poke bowl
Answer: RICE
3D. Water-extracting washing machine setting
Answer: SPINCYCLE
4D. Good moral behavior
Answer: INTEGRITY
5D. ___ ejemplo (Spanish "for example")
Answer: POR
6D. Back to doing something
Answer: ATITAGAIN
7D. Deceive
Answer: DUPE
10D. "This is your brain on drugs," e.g., for short
Answer: PSA
12D. ___-FIT attire (Nike sweat-wicking fabric)
Answer: DRI
16D. Festive drink topped with nutmeg
Answer: NOG
17D. Grp. with drivers, but not parkers
Answer: PGA
18D. Game player's guideline
Answer: RULE
20D. Reverse
Answer: UNDO
21D. Old-fashioned "My word!"
Answer: EGAD
23D. Scam
Answer: CON
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 22A pairs “2017 Lil Pump hit whose name includes a fashion brand” with GUCCI GANG. It defines the puzzle's range by placing a highly specific pop-culture answer amid compact vocabulary and classic crossword clues.
Wordplay Winner: 17D wins the wordplay prize with PGA. “Drivers” initially sounds like motorists, while “parkers” reinforces that reading, but the clue pivots to golf clubs and the professional golf organization.
Quick Fill: NOD is the fastest confident fill because “Silent assent” points cleanly to a familiar gesture. Its crossings help secure the ends of AT IT AGAIN, UNDO, and EGAD in the lower-right corner.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Prioritize the long vertical phrases when their clueing is direct. SPIN CYCLE, INTEGRITY, and AT IT AGAIN create strong crossing frameworks through most of the grid.
Treat abbreviation signals as immediate invitations to compress. DRS, PSA, and PGA become quick anchors once “in brief,” “for short,” and “Grp.” are noticed.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The grid treated solvers fairly, offering direct footholds before demanding sharper trivia recall. GUCCI GANG supplied the memorable flash without overwhelming the clean wordplay around it.
See you at the next grid.
