Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and a mix of literary clues, everyday wordplay and a shelter themed surprise gives this grid its character. Settle in and enjoy the crossings.
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 (19 Across, 17 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 21A asks for a specific film title, so knowing the playwright alone will not settle it.
Gimme Clue: 28A points to what a campfire leaves behind, making it a direct foothold.
Theme Spotted: "Take two!"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Birth month for many Libras: Abbr.
Hint: Think of the autumn month that overlaps much of the Libra birth window, then shorten it. Three letters, starts with O.
4A. Tardy animal in "Alice in Wonderland"
Hint: Follow the hurried creature Alice encounters on her way into Wonderland. Six letters, starts with R.
10A. Animal from Down Under, for short
Hint: Use the casual short form for Australia's hopping marsupial. Three letters, starts with R.
11A. Low tie score
Hint: Picture the smallest possible tied score in a game where each side has scored. Six letters, starts with O.
12A. Comic-___
Hint: Complete the name of the well-known comics and entertainment convention. Three letters, starts with C.
13A. Position
Hint: Read “position” as someone's point of view on an issue. Six letters, starts with S.
14A. Defense that might lead to exoneration
Hint: Think of proof that a suspect was elsewhere when a crime occurred. Five letters, starts with A.
16A. Contracts that protect corporate secrets, in brief
Hint: These abbreviated agreements require someone to keep sensitive information private. Four letters, starts with N.
17A. Loosen, as a knot
Hint: Imagine reversing what you did when you fastened your shoelaces. Five letters, starts with U.
19A. Interest stat
Hint: Look for the abbreviated annual measure shown alongside a loan's interest. Three letters, starts with A.
21A. 2025 Nia DaCosta film based on a Henrik Ibsen play
Hint: Find the full title of Nia DaCosta's film drawn from an Ibsen play. Five letters, starts with H.
24A. Fermented apple juice
Hint: Think of the drink made when pressed apples ferment. Five letters, starts with C.
26A. Profile ___
Hint: Complete the familiar phrase for the image shown beside a social media account. Three letters, starts with P.
27A. Formalwear named after a New York village
Hint: The formal outfit shares its name with a village in New York. Six letters, starts with T.
28A. Campfire residue
Hint: Think of the powdery remains left after logs burn. Three letters, starts with A.
29A. Word that's notoriously difficult to find a rhyme for
Hint: Name the fruit whose name is famously hard to rhyme in ordinary speech. Six letters, starts with O.
30A. Surface a Zamboni resurfaces
Hint: A Zamboni smooths the frozen surface beneath skaters. Three letters, starts with I.
31A. Analyze, as a sentence
Hint: Think of breaking a sentence into its grammatical parts. Five letters, starts with P.
32A. Fishing tool
Hint: Picture the long, slender piece of gear an angler casts with. Three letters, starts with R.
Down Hints
1D. Killer whale
Hint: This black and white marine mammal is also called a killer whale. Four letters, starts with O.
2D. "Be ___" ("Act casual")
Hint: The missing word tells someone to stay relaxed and act casual. Four letters, starts with C.
3D. Morrison who wrote "Sula"
Hint: Think of the acclaimed novelist who wrote Sula. Four letters, starts with T.
4D. Substance applied to violin bows
Hint: A violinist rubs this resinous material onto a bow to help it grip the strings. Five letters, starts with R.
5D. Unwelcome picnic "guest"
Hint: Think of a tiny insect drawn to food spread outdoors. Three letters, starts with A.
6D. Brimless cap
Hint: Picture a soft knit cap with no projecting brim. Six letters, starts with B.
7D. Package deal at a cat shelter (like the one depicted in this puzzle!)
Hint: At a shelter, this describes two cats offered for adoption together because of their close attachment. Ten letters, starts with B.
8D. ___ Trail (Peruvian hiking destination)
Hint: Complete the name of the Peruvian hiking route associated with an ancient Andean civilization. Four letters, starts with I.
9D. Cannon "ammo" at sporting events
Hint: Think of the shirts launched into the crowd at a sporting event. Four letters, starts with T.
15D. Great hardships
Hint: These are heavy troubles someone has to carry. Seven letters, starts with B.
18D. Pang, as of pain
Hint: Think of an intense pang, especially during pain or distress. Five letters, starts with T.
19D. Honda's luxury line
Hint: Name the upscale car brand made by Honda. Five letters, starts with A.
20D. Studio behind "Coco," but not "Cocoon"
Hint: Focus on the animation studio behind Coco; the similar sounding Cocoon is the decoy. Five letters, starts with P.
22D. Music genre associated with a glittering ball
Hint: Picture dance music playing beneath a glittering mirror ball. Five letters, starts with D.
23D. Had some post-Pilates pain, say
Hint: Describe, in the past tense, the dull soreness you felt after an exercise class. Five letters, starts with A.
25D. Outermost part
Hint: This is the boundary where a surface ends. Four letters, starts with E.
27D. Uppermost part
Hint: Look for the highest part of an object. Three letters, starts with T.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Birth month for many Libras: Abbr.
Answer: OCT
4A. Tardy animal in "Alice in Wonderland"
Answer: RABBIT
10A. Animal from Down Under, for short
Answer: ROO
11A. Low tie score
Answer: ONEONE
12A. Comic-___
Answer: CON
13A. Position
Answer: STANCE
14A. Defense that might lead to exoneration
Answer: ALIBI
16A. Contracts that protect corporate secrets, in brief
Answer: NDAS
17A. Loosen, as a knot
Answer: UNTIE
19A. Interest stat
Answer: APR
21A. 2025 Nia DaCosta film based on a Henrik Ibsen play
Answer: HEDDA
24A. Fermented apple juice
Answer: CIDER
26A. Profile ___
Answer: PIC
27A. Formalwear named after a New York village
Answer: TUXEDO
28A. Campfire residue
Answer: ASH
29A. Word that's notoriously difficult to find a rhyme for
Answer: ORANGE
30A. Surface a Zamboni resurfaces
Answer: ICE
31A. Analyze, as a sentence
Answer: PARSE
32A. Fishing tool
Answer: ROD
Down Answers
1D. Killer whale
Answer: ORCA
2D. "Be ___" ("Act casual")
Answer: COOL
3D. Morrison who wrote "Sula"
Answer: TONI
4D. Substance applied to violin bows
Answer: ROSIN
5D. Unwelcome picnic "guest"
Answer: ANT
6D. Brimless cap
Answer: BEANIE
7D. Package deal at a cat shelter (like the one depicted in this puzzle!)
Answer: BONDEDPAIR
8D. ___ Trail (Peruvian hiking destination)
Answer: INCA
9D. Cannon "ammo" at sporting events
Answer: TEES
15D. Great hardships
Answer: BURDENS
18D. Pang, as of pain
Answer: THROE
19D. Honda's luxury line
Answer: ACURA
20D. Studio behind "Coco," but not "Cocoon"
Answer: PIXAR
22D. Music genre associated with a glittering ball
Answer: DISCO
23D. Had some post-Pilates pain, say
Answer: ACHED
25D. Outermost part
Answer: EDGE
27D. Uppermost part
Answer: TOP
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 7D, “Package deal at a cat shelter (like the one depicted in this puzzle!),” is BONDEDPAIR. The clue makes the shelter's practice of placing closely attached cats together the grid's defining idea.
Wordplay Winner: 20D lands on PIXAR. The clue puts Coco beside the similar sounding Cocoon, then asks you to distinguish the studio behind the former film.
Quick Fill: 1A OCT is a quick anchor: its letters cross ORCA at 1D, COOL at 2D and TONI at 3D.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Use direct fills such as ASH and ICE to build crossings before tackling the film title HEDDA. For 7D BONDEDPAIR, read the shelter clue as a complete phrase rather than guessing from its first crossings.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The straightforward crossings give this grid a friendly rhythm, while BONDEDPAIR supplies a memorable theme entry.
See you at the next grid.
