Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and a playful removal trick gives the straightforward definitions an extra twist. Come on in and follow the cross-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: 10x11
Total Clues: 37 (19 Across, 18 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 8A is the trickiest, because its cross-reference asks you to interpret another fill as an instruction.
Gimme Clue: 1A offers a welcoming foothold, with a sweet glaze pointing directly toward a familiar roast.
Theme Spotted: "Withheld Payments"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Honey-glazed meat
Hint: Think of a cured pork roast finished with a sticky, sweet glaze. Three letters, starts with H.
4A. "___ whiz!"
Hint: Supply the mild exclamation that makes this an old-fashioned expression of surprise. Three letters, starts with G.
7A. Earth-conscious prefix
Hint: Think of the prefix attached to products marketed as environmentally friendly. Three letters, starts with E.
8A. Like some hair ... or 24-Across after an 18-Across?
Hint: Focus on hair that forms ringlets, then revisit the cross-reference. Five letters, starts with C.
10A. TV type, for short
Hint: Look for a flat-panel display abbreviation. Three letters, starts with L.
11A. Japanese cartoon art
Hint: Think of the Japanese animation tradition, rather than printed comics. Five letters, starts with A.
12A. New Jersey's capital
Hint: The state government's home sits along the Delaware River. Seven letters, starts with T.
14A. Currency in Finland and France
Hint: Think of the money represented by the € symbol. Four letters, starts with E.
15A. Hits up on social media, casually
Hint: Read this as a verb for contacting someone through a private inbox. Three letters, starts with D.
18A. Form of tenant protest
Hint: Think of renters collectively withholding their payments. Ten letters, starts with R.
22A. Winnerless result
Hint: Neither side finishes ahead. Three letters, starts with T.
23A. French word before a birth name
Hint: This biographical term introduces the name someone was born with. Three letters, starts with N.
24A. At the present moment
Hint: Use an adverb meaning right now. Nine letters, starts with C.
27A. R&B singer Erykah
Hint: Think of the neo-soul vocalist known for a rich, jazzy sound. Four letters, starts with B.
28A. Personal or state slogan
Hint: Look for a brief expression of guiding beliefs. Five letters, starts with M.
29A. Instrument that an orchestra tunes to
Hint: Think of the orchestral woodwind played with a double reed. Four letters, starts with O.
30A. Person who has visions
Hint: These visions concern the future, rather than ordinary eyesight. Four letters, starts with S.
31A. Huge amount ... or 12-Across after an 18-Across?
Hint: Start with an informal expression for a huge amount, then use the linked clues to confirm it. Three letters, starts with T.
32A. Rabbit relative
Hint: Think of the long-eared runner in the fable about a tortoise. Four letters, starts with H.
Down Hints
1D. With 17-Down, haphazardly
Hint: Recall the rhyming expression for doing something in a disorganized rush, and supply its opening portion. Six letters, starts with H.
2D. Accumulate
Hint: Think of what interest does as it builds up. Six letters, starts with A.
3D. Antithesis of ancient
Hint: Look for an adjective describing the present era rather than antiquity. Six letters, starts with M.
4D. Dating app with a mask logo
Hint: Think of the gay dating app identified by a stylized mask. Six letters, starts with G.
5D. Tree with helicopter seeds
Hint: Think of a shade tree that produces winged seeds. Three letters, starts with E.
6D. "The Bluest ___" (Toni Morrison novel)
Hint: The missing noun in Morrison's novel names an organ of sight. Three letters, starts with E.
8D. Inspiration for many "purr" puns
Hint: Think of a whiskered pet whose contented rumble supplies the joke. Three letters, starts with C.
9D. Game with Reverse cards
Hint: Think of the color-matching card game where play can switch direction. Three letters, starts with U.
13D. "That's a lie!"
Hint: Use a blunt spoken denial of someone's claim. Seven letters, starts with N.
16D. Beverage also known as pudina chai
Hint: Think of an herbal brew with a cooling, fresh flavor. Seven letters, starts with M.
17D. See 1-Down
Hint: Complete the rhyming expression begun at 1D for a disorderly rush. Seven letters, starts with S.
19D. Knight's title
Hint: Think of the honorific placed before a knight's name. Three letters, starts with S.
20D. Abound
Hint: Use a verb meaning to swarm or overflow with life. Four letters, starts with T.
21D. Donkey friend of Winnie-the-Pooh
Hint: Picture Pooh's gloomy companion with the pinned-on tail. Six letters, starts with E.
24D. Mexican tourist destination, familiarly
Hint: Think of the shortened resort name associated with the southern tip of Baja California. Four letters, starts with C.
25D. Thick Japanese noodle
Hint: Think of thick, chewy wheat noodles served in Japanese soups. Four letters, starts with U.
26D. Snack
Hint: Think of a casual word for nibbling between meals. Four letters, starts with N.
27D. Social media "user" with no brain
Hint: The quotation marks suggest an automated account rather than a human. Three letters, starts with B.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
---
---
---
---
---
Across Answers
1A. Honey-glazed meat
Answer: HAM
4A. "___ whiz!"
Answer: GEE
7A. Earth-conscious prefix
Answer: ECO
8A. Like some hair ... or 24-Across after an 18-Across?
Answer: CURLY
10A. TV type, for short
Answer: LCD
11A. Japanese cartoon art
Answer: ANIME
12A. New Jersey's capital
Answer: TRENTON
14A. Currency in Finland and France
Answer: EURO
15A. Hits up on social media, casually
Answer: DMS
18A. Form of tenant protest
Answer: RENTSTRIKE
22A. Winnerless result
Answer: TIE
23A. French word before a birth name
Answer: NEE
24A. At the present moment
Answer: CURRENTLY
27A. R&B singer Erykah
Answer: BADU
28A. Personal or state slogan
Answer: MOTTO
29A. Instrument that an orchestra tunes to
Answer: OBOE
30A. Person who has visions
Answer: SEER
31A. Huge amount ... or 12-Across after an 18-Across?
Answer: TON
32A. Rabbit relative
Answer: HARE
Down Answers
1D. With 17-Down, haphazardly
Answer: HELTER
2D. Accumulate
Answer: ACCRUE
3D. Antithesis of ancient
Answer: MODERN
4D. Dating app with a mask logo
Answer: GRINDR
5D. Tree with helicopter seeds
Answer: ELM
6D. "The Bluest ___" (Toni Morrison novel)
Answer: EYE
8D. Inspiration for many "purr" puns
Answer: CAT
9D. Game with Reverse cards
Answer: UNO
13D. "That's a lie!"
Answer: NOTTRUE
16D. Beverage also known as pudina chai
Answer: MINTTEA
17D. See 1-Down
Answer: SKELTER
19D. Knight's title
Answer: SIR
20D. Abound
Answer: TEEM
21D. Donkey friend of Winnie-the-Pooh
Answer: EEYORE
24D. Mexican tourist destination, familiarly
Answer: CABO
25D. Thick Japanese noodle
Answer: UDON
26D. Snack
Answer: NOSH
27D. Social media "user" with no brain
Answer: BOT
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 18A, "Form of tenant protest," gives RENT STRIKE, the phrase that makes the theme click. Read it as an instruction to strike RENT, and CURRENTLY becomes CURLY while TRENTON becomes TON.
Wordplay Winner: 8A wins with CURLY, which answers the hair description and also emerges when RENT is removed from CURRENTLY. The clue turns an ordinary adjective into proof that the deletion trick works.
Quick Fill: HAM at 1A is my quickest confident fill, with the honey glaze making the target clear. It supplies the opening letters of HELTER, ACCRUE and MODERN, 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:
When a clue offers a plain definition followed by a cross-reference, solve the plain definition first. CURLY and TON can both fall that way, leaving RENT STRIKE to explain their extra layer.
Read linked clues together before treating them as separate problems. HELTER and SKELTER form a familiar expression, so recognizing the phrase gives you a route into both entries.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The direct definitions give this grid a friendly surface, while RENT STRIKE rewards a closer look at the cross-references. That small shift from phrase to instruction makes the finish satisfying.
See you at the next grid.
