Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and a conversational streak runs through the grid, alongside film trivia and playful definitions. Come on in and let the clearer clues guide you through the tougher references.
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: 32 (15 Across, 17 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 15A is the toughest reference, because recognizing a heritage site demands more specific geography knowledge than a capital-city clue.
Gimme Clue: 9A is a clean starting point, with a familiar voting term and no disguise in the wording.
Theme Spotted: "Weird Flex, But OK"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Spherical object
Hint: Think of a ball-shaped object, with a slightly poetic name. Three letters, starts with O.
4A. Thwarts, as a plan
Hint: The plan fails because someone actively prevents its success. Five letters, starts with F.
9A. Affirmative vote
Hint: Think of the spoken response supporting a motion during a voice vote. Three letters, starts with A.
10A. Fan of fine fare
Hint: This person enthusiastically pursues good meals and interesting restaurants. Six letters, starts with F.
11A. Consider possible, but not guaranteed
Hint: Think of anticipating an outcome without being fully convinced it will happen. Ten letters, starts with H.
13A. Dark
Hint: Picture a room whose lamps are switched off. Five letters, starts with U.
14A. ___ Fifth Avenue
Hint: Think of the luxury department store associated with the Manhattan shopping avenue. Four letters, starts with S.
15A. Country that's home to Vat Phou, a UNESCO World Heritage site
Hint: Look to a landlocked country in Southeast Asia. Four letters, starts with L.
17A. Eddie Murphy's character in "Beverly Hills Cop"
Hint: Recall the Detroit detective whose investigation brings him to Beverly Hills. Nine letters, starts with A.
22A. Orangutans have long ones
Hint: Think of the limbs these apes use to reach and swing through trees. Four letters, starts with A.
23A. Clichéd and overused, as a phrase
Hint: The expression has lost its freshness through repetition. Five letters, starts with T.
24A. Fruit whose name is 75% vowels
Hint: Think of the purple palm fruit blended into smoothie bowls. Four letters, starts with A.
25A. Standing upright
Hint: Picture a posture with a straight spine rather than a slouch. Five letters, starts with E.
26A. Org.
Hint: The shortened clue calls for a shortened term for a membership organization. Four letters, starts with A.
27A. Sch. near Washington Square Park in Manhattan
Hint: Think of the university associated with Greenwich Village and the violet school color. Three letters, starts with N.
Down Hints
1D. Honolulu locale
Hint: Name the Hawaiian island containing the state capital. Four letters, starts with O.
2D. Actor Gosling
Hint: Think of the performer who plays Ken in Barbie. Four letters, starts with R.
3D. Word that can follow Liberty, Taco or Tinker
Hint: Test the same completion after the landmark, restaurant brand and fairy's name. Four letters, starts with B.
4D. Animal with "fennec" and "arctic" species
Hint: Think of a bushy-tailed canine with desert and polar relatives. Three letters, starts with F.
5D. "I messed up!"
Hint: Pair a spontaneous admission of a blunder with an immediate apology. Nine letters, starts with O.
6D. Notion
Hint: Think of a thought that comes to mind when inspiration strikes. Four letters, starts with I.
7D. Puppy "kiss"
Hint: The quotation marks point to affection delivered with a tongue. Four letters, starts with L.
8D. Filming locations
Hint: Think of the staged environments where cameras capture a scene. Four letters, starts with S.
10D. ___ position (curled-up pose)
Hint: The pose resembles a baby's curled posture before birth. Five letters, starts with F.
12D. Enters one by one
Hint: Picture a group coming through a doorway in an orderly line. Seven letters, starts with F.
16D. Frequently
Hint: Choose an adverb meaning regularly rather than rarely. Five letters, starts with O.
17D. Paths of beer pong shots
Hint: Picture the curved trajectories of balls tossed toward cups. Four letters, starts with A.
18D. Dec. 25
Hint: The abbreviated month points toward a shortened holiday name. Four letters, starts with X.
19D. "In ___ of gifts ..."
Hint: The completed expression means in place of presents. Four letters, starts with L.
20D. And so on: Abbr.
Hint: Think of the abbreviation placed after examples to signal that a list continues. Three letters, starts with E.
21D. So far
Hint: Think of a short word meaning up to now, common in questions and negative statements. Three letters, starts with Y.
22D. One level below the big leagues
Hint: Think of the highest classification in minor league baseball. 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. Spherical object
Answer: ORB
4A. Thwarts, as a plan
Answer: FOILS
9A. Affirmative vote
Answer: AYE
10A. Fan of fine fare
Answer: FOODIE
11A. Consider possible, but not guaranteed
Answer: HALFEXPECT
13A. Dark
Answer: UNLIT
14A. ___ Fifth Avenue
Answer: SAKS
15A. Country that's home to Vat Phou, a UNESCO World Heritage site
Answer: LAOS
17A. Eddie Murphy's character in "Beverly Hills Cop"
Answer: AXELFOLEY
22A. Orangutans have long ones
Answer: ARMS
23A. Clichéd and overused, as a phrase
Answer: TRITE
24A. Fruit whose name is 75% vowels
Answer: ACAI
25A. Standing upright
Answer: ERECT
26A. Org.
Answer: ASSN
27A. Sch. near Washington Square Park in Manhattan
Answer: NYU
Down Answers
1D. Honolulu locale
Answer: OAHU
2D. Actor Gosling
Answer: RYAN
3D. Word that can follow Liberty, Taco or Tinker
Answer: BELL
4D. Animal with "fennec" and "arctic" species
Answer: FOX
5D. "I messed up!"
Answer: OOPSSORRY
6D. Notion
Answer: IDEA
7D. Puppy "kiss"
Answer: LICK
8D. Filming locations
Answer: SETS
10D. ___ position (curled-up pose)
Answer: FETAL
12D. Enters one by one
Answer: FILESIN
16D. Frequently
Answer: OFTEN
17D. Paths of beer pong shots
Answer: ARCS
18D. Dec. 25
Answer: XMAS
19D. "In ___ of gifts ..."
Answer: LIEU
20D. And so on: Abbr.
Answer: ETC
21D. So far
Answer: YET
22D. One level below the big leagues
Answer: AAA
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 5D, "I messed up!", gives us OOPS SORRY, the grid's strongest conversational moment. The answer moves naturally from recognizing a mistake to apologizing for it, making the long entry sound like something spoken aloud.
Wordplay Winner: 3D wins with BELL, which completes Liberty Bell, Taco Bell and Tinker Bell. The clue links a landmark, a restaurant brand and a fictional fairy through the same finishing word.
Quick Fill: 9A, AYE, is the quickest confident fill because "Affirmative vote" points straight to the familiar parliamentary response. It supplies crossing letters for 1D OAHU, 2D RYAN and 3D BELL, giving the upper-left corner a useful foothold.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Use shortened clues as format signals. The compact wording at 26A and 27A prepares you for ASSN and NYU, while the abbreviated month at 18D nudges you toward XMAS.
When a spoken clue resists a tidy synonym, try a complete conversational response. OOPS SORRY at 5D shows why saying the clue aloud can help you hear the intended phrase.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The grid balances specific recall with phrases you can hear in conversation. OOPS SORRY gives it its warmest touch, a small admission that feels right at home in a puzzle with a few stubborn clues.
See you at the next grid.
