Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and its playful addition clues bring a fresh twist to familiar trivia and everyday vocabulary. Settle in and let the crossings guide you through the trickier stretches.
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: 20A is the trickiest clue because it moves from an argument to college sports to arithmetic, requiring a fresh interpretation at each plus sign.
Gimme Clue: 25A is the clearest gimme, with a direct brand clue pointing to Apple's familiar computer name.
Theme Spotted: "Chopped Cheese"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. ID that's often memorized
Hint: Think of the abbreviated federal identifier used on tax and employment forms. Three letters, starts with S.
4A. Ocean color
Hint: Look for a shade between blue and green. Four letters, starts with A.
8A. Outer layer worn in winter
Hint: Think of the cold-weather garment worn over your indoor clothing. Four letters, starts with C.
10A. Currency for Vatican City and San Marino
Hint: These small states use the same shared currency as neighboring Italy. Four letters, starts with E.
11A. "How ___!" (Stephanie Tanner's catchphrase on "Full House")
Hint: Stephanie's exclamation calls out someone's bad manners. Four letters, starts with R.
12A. Rock and ___
Hint: Complete the familiar musical phrase rather than thinking about a stone. Four letters, starts with R.
13A. Most populous continent + Board game with black and white pieces
Hint: Join the continent containing China and India to the strategy game played with black and white stones. Six letters, starts with A.
15A. Golf standard + "Moi," in English + The "S" of S.F.
Hint: Read each segment independently, moving from a golf benchmark to the English translation of a French pronoun to the opening word of the California city's name. Eight letters, starts with P.
18A. Jazz singer Jones
Hint: Think of the singer Jones whose gentle vocals blend jazz and pop. Five letters, starts with N.
20A. Opposite of con + University of Tennessee athlete, for short + What every integer is divisible by
Hint: Join the affirmative side of an argument, the shortened Tennessee sports nickname and the multiplicative identity. Nine letters, starts with P.
24A. Massachusetts town known for its witch trials
Hint: Think of the Massachusetts community closely associated with witch-trial history. Five letters, starts with S.
25A. Apple computer
Hint: Use the short name for Apple's desktop and laptop computer family. Three letters, starts with M.
26A. Old saying
Hint: Think of a proverb that has endured through repeated use. Five letters, starts with A.
27A. "Go find out!"
Hint: The command tells you to put a question to someone who knows. Three letters, starts with A.
Down Hints
1D. Leftover bit
Hint: Picture a small remnant of paper or fabric after cutting. Five letters, starts with S.
2D. John Philip ___, bandleader known as the "March King"
Hint: Think of the American bandleader and composer celebrated for his marching music. Five letters, starts with S.
3D. Low point
Hint: Reach for the opposite of a zenith. Five letters, starts with N.
4D. Hairspray can output
Hint: Think of the fine suspension of droplets released into the air. Seven letters, starts with A.
5D. Status ___
Hint: Complete the Latin expression meaning the existing state of affairs. Three letters, starts with Q.
6D. www.nytimes.com/crosswords, e.g.
Hint: Think of the abbreviated term for an address entered into a browser. Three letters, starts with U.
7D. "You've got mail!" company
Hint: Recall the internet service associated with that familiar spoken inbox notification. Three letters, starts with A.
9D. The Mets, Nets or Jets
Hint: Look for the singular noun describing any of these sports organizations. Four letters, starts with T.
14D. Human ___ Project
Hint: The missing term refers to an organism's complete set of genetic material. Six letters, starts with G.
16D. Enticing scent
Hint: Think of the pleasant smell drifting from fresh coffee or baking bread. Five letters, starts with A.
17D. Grandmothers, affectionately
Hint: Use an affectionate family nickname in its plural form. Five letters, starts with N.
19D. "Darn it!"
Hint: Choose a mild exclamation of frustration that softens a stronger swear. Four letters, starts with H.
20D. Ad featuring Smokey Bear, e.g., for short
Hint: This abbreviated message promotes public welfare rather than a product for sale. Three letters, starts with P.
21D. Awesome
Hint: Use an enthusiastic slang synonym for cool. Three letters, starts with R.
22D. Greeting in Portugal
Hint: Think of the Portuguese equivalent of hello. Three letters, starts with O.
23D. Broc or cuke
Hint: The shortened examples signal a shortened produce category. Three letters, starts with V.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. ID that's often memorized
Answer: SSN
4A. Ocean color
Answer: AQUA
8A. Outer layer worn in winter
Answer: COAT
10A. Currency for Vatican City and San Marino
Answer: EURO
11A. "How ___!" (Stephanie Tanner's catchphrase on "Full House")
Answer: RUDE
12A. Rock and ___
Answer: ROLL
13A. Most populous continent + Board game with black and white pieces
Answer: ASIAGO
15A. Golf standard + "Moi," in English + The "S" of S.F.
Answer: PARMESAN
18A. Jazz singer Jones
Answer: NORAH
20A. Opposite of con + University of Tennessee athlete, for short + What every integer is divisible by
Answer: PROVOLONE
24A. Massachusetts town known for its witch trials
Answer: SALEM
25A. Apple computer
Answer: MAC
26A. Old saying
Answer: ADAGE
27A. "Go find out!"
Answer: ASK
Down Answers
1D. Leftover bit
Answer: SCRAP
2D. John Philip ___, bandleader known as the "March King"
Answer: SOUSA
3D. Low point
Answer: NADIR
4D. Hairspray can output
Answer: AEROSOL
5D. Status ___
Answer: QUO
6D. www.nytimes.com/crosswords, e.g.
Answer: URL
7D. "You've got mail!" company
Answer: AOL
9D. The Mets, Nets or Jets
Answer: TEAM
14D. Human ___ Project
Answer: GENOME
16D. Enticing scent
Answer: AROMA
17D. Grandmothers, affectionately
Answer: NANAS
19D. "Darn it!"
Answer: HECK
20D. Ad featuring Smokey Bear, e.g., for short
Answer: PSA
21D. Awesome
Answer: RAD
22D. Greeting in Portugal
Answer: OLA
23D. Broc or cuke
Answer: VEG
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 20A turns "Opposite of con + University of Tennessee athlete, for short + What every integer is divisible by" into PROVOLONE. PRO, VOL and ONE join cleanly, making the longest entry a cheese name assembled from unrelated subjects.
Wordplay Winner: 15A earns the wordplay prize with PARMESAN, built from PAR for the golf standard, ME for "moi" and SAN for the opening of San Francisco. The plus signs tell you to concatenate the fragments, and the finished cheese name supplies the payoff.
Quick Fill: 25A, "Apple computer," gives MAC a confident foothold in the lower-right corner. Its letters cross AROMA at 16D, NANAS at 17D and HECK at 19D, giving each vertical entry a useful confirmation.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
For clues with plus signs, solve each fragment independently before joining them in the printed order. ASIAGO, PARMESAN and PROVOLONE reward that approach, and their shared cheese connection helps confirm the completed fills.
Use familiar phrase completions as footholds before tackling specialized trivia. ROLL at 12A and QUO at 5D provide letters for the currency clue at 10A through its vertical crossings.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The direct clues offer steady footing while the additive entries give the grid its personality. PROVOLONE delivers the most satisfying finish, turning a jumble of subjects into a neatly constructed answer.
See you at the next grid.
