Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and leans into crisp trivia, playful phrasing, and a neat letter-pattern payoff. 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: 31 (14 Across, 17 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 2D is the trickiest clue because its empty prompt leaves the crossings to suggest a wordless reaction.
Gimme Clue: 27A is the clearest gimme, since Microsoft Edge's built-in search service is a direct brand fact.
Theme Spotted: "Extended Play"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Ending with half or hard
Hint: Think of the same blunt ending that can follow both words in the clue. Three letters, starts with A.
4A. Hem and ___ (be indecisive)
Hint: Complete the fixed expression for wavering instead of making a decision. Three letters, starts with H.
7A. Airport code for the City of Brotherly Love
Hint: Enter the aviation identifier used for Philadelphia's main airport. Three letters, starts with P.
8A. Military higher-ups, collectively
Hint: The clue wants a collective label for senior military officers. Five letters, starts with B.
11A. Experimental model
Hint: Think of an early working model built to test a concept before full production. Nine letters, starts with P.
13A. Sport whose competitors are known as rikishi
Hint: This is the Japanese wrestling discipline practiced by competitors called rikishi. Four letters, starts with S.
14A. Cat's quiet call
Hint: Listen for the soft, restrained vocalization of a cat. Three letters, starts with M.
15A. "Please, have at it!"
Hint: The quoted invitation tells someone to dig in and give an activity everything they have. Eight letters, starts with G.
18A. Sheepish mother?
Hint: Read “sheepish” literally and identify a female parent in the flock. Three letters, starts with E.
19A. N.B.A. rarities, for short ... or what 11- and 15-Across contain
Hint: Think of a rare abbreviated NBA game result and the repeated letter-pair pattern hidden in the long entries referenced by the clue. Nine letters, starts with D.
25A. ___ loss (hit to one's coolness, in Gen Z slang)
Hint: Complete the Gen Z expression for losing one's cool factor or social presence. Four letters, starts with A.
26A. Penny, Kenny or Jenny
Hint: Penny, Kenny, and Jenny all fit the same basic personal-label category. Four letters, starts with N.
27A. Default search engine for Microsoft Edge
Hint: Identify the search service Microsoft Edge uses by default. Four letters, starts with B.
28A. Variety show bit
Hint: Picture a brief comic performance within a variety program. Four letters, starts with S.
Down Hints
1D. Home screen array
Hint: Think of the tappable software icons arranged across a phone's home screen. Four letters, starts with A.
2D. [No clue]
Hint: Let the crossings suggest a wordless gesture that communicates uncertainty or indifference. Five letters, starts with S.
3D. What some action film scenes and sports replays are shown in
Hint: The clue describes a playback effect that stretches action so each movement is easier to see. Five letters, starts with S.
4D. "Curb Your Enthusiasm" airer
Hint: Identify the premium cable network that aired “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” Three letters, starts with H.
5D. The "A" of MoMA
Hint: Expand the final initial in the New York museum's abbreviation. Three letters, starts with A.
6D. Robotaxi company based in Silicon Valley
Hint: This is Alphabet's Silicon Valley company known for autonomous taxi service. Five letters, starts with W.
9D. Shoot, as lava from a volcano
Hint: Look for a forceful verb describing lava shooting from a volcano. Four letters, starts with S.
10D. Stitched
Hint: The target describes fabric joined with a needle and thread. Four letters, starts with S.
12D. Common trade show freebie
Hint: Picture a reusable handled carrier handed out with branding at an expo booth. Seven letters, starts with T.
16D. Woodsy ___, mascot who says "Give a hoot! Don't pollute!"
Hint: Supply the nocturnal bird that completes the environmental mascot's moniker. Three letters, starts with O.
17D. Stereotypically angsty individuals
Hint: Think of people in the adolescent age bracket, stereotyped here as angsty. Five letters, starts with T.
19D. Dollop
Hint: The clue wants a small blob or light smear of something. Three letters, starts with D.
20D. French assent
Hint: Enter the word used in France to express agreement. Three letters, starts with O.
21D. Coffee container
Hint: Picture a vase-shaped vessel used here for serving coffee. Three letters, starts with U.
22D. Sturdy shade tree
Hint: This sturdy deciduous tree provides broad shade and produces acorns. Three letters, starts with O.
23D. "OMG, I do NOT need to know that!"
Hint: Use the texting initialism that pushes back when someone overshares. Three letters, starts with T.
24D. Tennis match division
Hint: Think of a scoring subdivision within a tennis match. Three letters, starts with S.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Ending with half or hard
Answer: ASS
4A. Hem and ___ (be indecisive)
Answer: HAW
7A. Airport code for the City of Brotherly Love
Answer: PHL
8A. Military higher-ups, collectively
Answer: BRASS
11A. Experimental model
Answer: PROTOTYPE
13A. Sport whose competitors are known as rikishi
Answer: SUMO
14A. Cat's quiet call
Answer: MEW
15A. "Please, have at it!"
Answer: GOTOTOWN
18A. Sheepish mother?
Answer: EWE
19A. N.B.A. rarities, for short ... or what 11- and 15-Across contain
Answer: DOUBLEOTS
25A. ___ loss (hit to one's coolness, in Gen Z slang)
Answer: AURA
26A. Penny, Kenny or Jenny
Answer: NAME
27A. Default search engine for Microsoft Edge
Answer: BING
28A. Variety show bit
Answer: SKIT
Down Answers
1D. Home screen array
Answer: APPS
2D. [No clue]
Answer: SHRUG
3D. What some action film scenes and sports replays are shown in
Answer: SLOMO
4D. "Curb Your Enthusiasm" airer
Answer: HBO
5D. The "A" of MoMA
Answer: ART
6D. Robotaxi company based in Silicon Valley
Answer: WAYMO
9D. Shoot, as lava from a volcano
Answer: SPEW
10D. Stitched
Answer: SEWN
12D. Common trade show freebie
Answer: TOTEBAG
16D. Woodsy ___, mascot who says "Give a hoot! Don't pollute!"
Answer: OWL
17D. Stereotypically angsty individuals
Answer: TEENS
19D. Dollop
Answer: DAB
20D. French assent
Answer: OUI
21D. Coffee container
Answer: URN
22D. Sturdy shade tree
Answer: OAK
23D. "OMG, I do NOT need to know that!"
Answer: TMI
24D. Tennis match division
Answer: SET
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 19A, “N.B.A. rarities, for short ... or what 11- and 15-Across contain,” is the defining clue. DOUBLEOTS means double overtimes in basketball, while PROTOTYPE and GOTOTOWN each contain OT twice.
Wordplay Winner: 2D wins the wordplay prize with SHRUG. The absence of a clue performs the answer's gesture of uncertainty before any letters enter the grid.
Quick Fill: BING at 27A was the fastest confident fill because the Microsoft Edge clue is direct. Its crossings confirm DAB, OUI, URN, and TOTEBAG.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
When a revealer points to long entries, scan those fills literally. Spotting two OT sequences in PROTOTYPE and GOTOTOWN makes DOUBLEOTS immediate.
Leave a blank clue such as 2D for the crossings instead of forcing it. ASS, PHL, PROTOTYPE, SUMO, and GOTOTOWN supply SHRUG cleanly.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The grid rewarded direct trivia knowledge, then delivered its best lift through DOUBLEOTS and the silent SHRUG clue. That balance made the finish feel crisp and playful.
See you at the next grid.
