Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and a sci-fi link ties together a grid of everyday definitions and sharper trivia. Settle in and use the familiar clues to get your bearings.
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: 36 (17 Across, 19 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 24D is the trickiest clue, because its straightforward chess wording asks for a less obvious general term for the pieces.
Gimme Clue: 25A is the clearest gimme, with the luau setting and flower necklace pointing to a precise object.
Theme Spotted: "Close Encounters of the Crossword Kind"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. 24-hour source of $$$
Hint: 1A: Think of a cash-dispensing machine you can use when the bank is closed. Three letters, starts with A.
4A. Undergarment purchase
Hint: 4A: Look for a supportive item worn beneath a shirt. Three letters, starts with B.
7A. 19th-century German composer Robert ___
Hint: 7A: Think of Robert, the German Romantic composer associated with piano music and songs. Eight letters, starts with S.
9A. Quick nibble
Hint: 9A: Use a conversational phrase for a small, casual meal. Nine letters, starts with B.
10A. Good bud
Hint: 10A: Read “bud” as a friend, rather than something growing on a plant. Three letters, starts with P.
11A. Size larger than small: Abbr.
Hint: 11A: Think of the abbreviated clothing size between small and large. Three letters, starts with M.
12A. On top of
Hint: 12A: Picture something positioned higher than something else. Five letters, starts with A.
14A. Shade of light brown, from the French
Hint: 14A: Think of the pale beige shade associated with unbleached fabric. Four letters, starts with E.
18A. Flat-topped hill common in the Southwest
Hint: 18A: Picture a Southwestern landform with steep sides and a broad, level summit. Four letters, starts with M.
19A. With 20-Across, feature of many a sci-fi film ... and a hint to this puzzle's shaded squares
Hint: 19A: With 20A, think of an encounter between humans and beings from another world. Five letters, starts with A.
20A. See 19-Across
Hint: 20A: Complete the phrase from 19A with the noun for communication or an encounter. Seven letters, starts with C.
22A. Health insurance giant
Hint: 22A: Look for the company name of a major health insurer. Six letters, starts with H.
25A. Luau necklace of flowers
Hint: 25A: Picture the floral garland worn around the neck at a Hawaiian celebration. Three letters, starts with L.
26A. Helps with a crime
Hint: 26A: Use a verb for assisting someone in wrongdoing. Five letters, starts with A.
27A. South Bend's state: Abbr.
Hint: 27A: Think of the abbreviated state name for Notre Dame's home. Three letters, starts with I.
28A. Basic unit of heredity
Hint: 28A: Look for a stretch of DNA that carries inherited information. Four letters, starts with G.
29A. Muddy home for pigs
Hint: 29A: Think of the farm enclosure where pigs live. Three letters, starts with S.
Down Hints
1D. Perform in a play
Hint: 1D: Use the verb for portraying a role onstage. Three letters, starts with A.
2D. Party planning committee's concern
Hint: 2D: Think of the unifying idea that guides a party's decor and activities. Five letters, starts with T.
3D. TV remote button
Hint: 3D: Choose the button that silences the television without switching it off. Four letters, starts with M.
4D. Sweetheart, slangily
Hint: 4D: Think of an affectionate slang term for a romantic partner. Three letters, starts with B.
5D. Molecule involved in protein synthesis
Hint: 5D: Think of DNA's molecular counterpart in the protein-making process. Three letters, starts with R.
6D. Dracula ___, insect known to drink the blood of its own larvae
Hint: 6D: The Dracula nickname belongs to a colony-dwelling insect. Three letters, starts with A.
7D. Grain towers
Hint: 7D: Picture tall farm structures used to store harvested grain. Five letters, starts with S.
8D. Car that was "large enough for the family but small enough for the individual," per Henry Ford
Hint: 8D: Think of Henry Ford's car known as the Tin Lizzie. Six letters, starts with M.
9D. Yankee great Ruth
Hint: 9D: Think of the Yankees slugger Ruth, nicknamed the Sultan of Swat. Four letters, starts with B.
10D. Cooking spray brand
Hint: 10D: Think of the kitchen spray sold to keep food from sticking to pans. Three letters, starts with P.
13D. Move out
Hint: 13D: Use a verb for leaving a dwelling and making it empty. Six letters, starts with V.
15D. Alternative to Viagra
Hint: 15D: Look for the name of another prescription pill used for the same purpose as Viagra. Six letters, starts with C.
16D. Newish
Hint: 16D: Think of something from the near past. Six letters, starts with R.
17D. In need of cleaning up
Hint: 17D: Picture a room with clutter scattered around. Six letters, starts with U.
19D. Actress de Armas
Hint: 19D: Think of de Armas, the performer featured in Knives Out. Three letters, starts with A.
21D. Carry-___ (unchecked bags)
Hint: 21D: Complete the plural term for luggage brought into the aircraft cabin. Three letters, starts with O.
22D. Witch
Hint: 22D: Think of a harsh fairy-tale term for an old witch. Three letters, starts with H.
23D. Purple yam used in Filipino cuisine
Hint: 23D: Look for the Filipino name for the purple root crop. Three letters, starts with U.
24D. Chess pieces
Hint: 24D: Think of the pieces collectively as troops on a board. Three letters, starts with M.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
---
---
---
---
---
Across Answers
1A. 24-hour source of $$$
Answer: ATM
4A. Undergarment purchase
Answer: BRA
7A. 19th-century German composer Robert ___
Answer: SCHUMANN
9A. Quick nibble
Answer: BITETOEAT
10A. Good bud
Answer: PAL
11A. Size larger than small: Abbr.
Answer: MED
12A. On top of
Answer: ABOVE
14A. Shade of light brown, from the French
Answer: ECRU
18A. Flat-topped hill common in the Southwest
Answer: MESA
19A. With 20-Across, feature of many a sci-fi film ... and a hint to this puzzle's shaded squares
Answer: ALIEN
20A. See 19-Across
Answer: CONTACT
22A. Health insurance giant
Answer: HUMANA
25A. Luau necklace of flowers
Answer: LEI
26A. Helps with a crime
Answer: ABETS
27A. South Bend's state: Abbr.
Answer: IND
28A. Basic unit of heredity
Answer: GENE
29A. Muddy home for pigs
Answer: STY
Down Answers
1D. Perform in a play
Answer: ACT
2D. Party planning committee's concern
Answer: THEME
3D. TV remote button
Answer: MUTE
4D. Sweetheart, slangily
Answer: BAE
5D. Molecule involved in protein synthesis
Answer: RNA
6D. Dracula ___, insect known to drink the blood of its own larvae
Answer: ANT
7D. Grain towers
Answer: SILOS
8D. Car that was "large enough for the family but small enough for the individual," per Henry Ford
Answer: MODELT
9D. Yankee great Ruth
Answer: BABE
10D. Cooking spray brand
Answer: PAM
13D. Move out
Answer: VACATE
15D. Alternative to Viagra
Answer: CIALIS
16D. Newish
Answer: RECENT
17D. In need of cleaning up
Answer: UNTIDY
19D. Actress de Armas
Answer: ANA
21D. Carry-___ (unchecked bags)
Answer: ONS
22D. Witch
Answer: HAG
23D. Purple yam used in Filipino cuisine
Answer: UBE
24D. Chess pieces
Answer: MEN
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 19A and 20A supply ALIEN CONTACT for the linked sci-fi clue. That phrase also serves as the clue's stated hint to the shaded squares, making it the puzzle's defining connection between subject matter and grid design.
Wordplay Winner: 24D, “Chess pieces,” earns the wordplay nod with MEN. The clue steers attention toward names such as rook or bishop, while the answer uses a collective term for the pieces.
Quick Fill: 25A, “Luau necklace of flowers,” makes LEI the fastest confident fill. Its crossings give L to CIALIS, E to RECENT, and I to UNTIDY, providing a useful foothold in the lower-right corner.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
When a proper name stalls you, build it through clearer crossings. Here, ACT, THEME, and MUTE help establish SCHUMANN without requiring an immediate recall of the composer.
Read linked clues together before treating either as a separate problem. Combining 19A and 20A makes ALIEN CONTACT a complete phrase and gives you the stated lead for the shaded squares.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The direct definitions give this grid a welcoming start, while MEN supplies a compact vocabulary twist. ALIEN CONTACT gives the finish a satisfying sci-fi focus.
See you at the next grid.
