Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and mixes screen culture, geography, and crisp everyday phrasing with compact wordplay. Settle in for a lively grid with rewarding 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: 9x9
Total Clues: 29 (14 Across, 15 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 21D is the trickiest clue because its Oscar Wilde quotation asks you to identify a broad concept from a lofty description.
Gimme Clue: 2D is the clearest gimme because the clue asks for a basic Spanish family word.
Theme Spotted: "It's Showtime"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. List-shortening abbreviation
Hint: Think of the compact abbreviation placed after named examples when a list continues. Four letters, starts with E.
5A. Chinese chairman
Hint: Focus on the family name of the Chinese chairman in the clue. Three letters, starts with M.
8A. Nicki ___, "Super Bass" rapper
Hint: Complete the stage name of the rapper behind “Super Bass.” Five letters, starts with M.
10A. Party-sized coffee vessel
Hint: Picture the large serving vessel used to dispense hot drinks to a crowd. Three letters, starts with U.
11A. 2020s crime drama set in Japan
Hint: Recall the crime drama set amid journalism and organized crime in Japan. Nine letters, starts with T.
13A. Romantic partners
Hint: Think of two people joined by a romantic relationship. Six letters, starts with L.
14A. Morning talk show since 1997
Hint: Name the long-running morning talk show built around a panel discussion. Seven letters, starts with T.
16A. ___ Park, geographical name in Chicago and London
Hint: Look for the place name shared by parks in Chicago and London. Four letters, starts with H.
17A. Not quite right
Hint: Think of a short adjective for something that feels slightly wrong or inaccurate. Three letters, starts with O.
20A. Big moment for a diva
Hint: Picture a diva commanding the stage alone during a featured vocal passage. Nine letters, starts with O.
23A. "Get my point now?!"
Hint: Use the sharp little verb a speaker might add after proving a point. Three letters, starts with S.
24A. More ill-mannered
Hint: Choose the comparative form of an adjective meaning impolite or ill-mannered. Five letters, starts with R.
25A. Spain, on World Cup scoreboards
Hint: Use the scoreboard abbreviation assigned to Spain in international soccer. Three letters, starts with E.
26A. Device on which you might watch 11- and 14-Across, appropriately
Hint: Name the household screen used to watch both programs referenced by the clue. Five letters, starts with T.
Down Hints
1D. Ambulance worker, for short
Hint: Think of the abbreviated job title for an emergency medical responder in an ambulance. Three letters, starts with E.
2D. Spanish for "uncle"
Hint: Supply the Spanish family term requested directly by the clue. Three letters, starts with T.
3D. Like snow after after a storm, perhaps
Hint: Picture how high fresh snowfall could reach around the lower leg after a storm. Nine letters, starts with A.
4D. Break between two legs of travel
Hint: Think of the pause at an airport between separate legs of a journey. Seven letters, starts with L.
5D. Bay Area forest named for an environmentalist
Hint: Recall the Bay Area redwood preserve named for a noted environmentalist. Nine letters, starts with M.
6D. Shapes of rainbows
Hint: Picture the curved paths traced by rainbows across the sky. Four letters, starts with A.
7D. Atomic number of hydrogen
Hint: Consult hydrogen’s position at the very beginning of the periodic table. Three letters, starts with O.
9D. Rock's Jon Bon ___
Hint: Complete the stage name of the rock musician identified in the clue. Four letters, starts with J.
12D. Pattern of flying geese
Hint: Picture the angled flight pattern geese adopt in the sky. Three letters, starts with V.
14D. "___ were the days"
Hint: Supply the demonstrative in the nostalgic expression about days gone by. Five letters, starts with T.
15D. Heavily promotes, with "up"
Hint: Use a verb that pairs with “up” to mean promotes with great intensity. Five letters, starts with H.
18D. Run away
Hint: Choose a direct verb for escaping from danger quickly. Four letters, starts with F.
19D. Structure made of couch cushions, perhaps
Hint: Picture a child’s hideout assembled from sofa cushions. Four letters, starts with F.
21D. "The most intense mode of individualism that the world has known," per Oscar Wilde
Hint: Think of the broad creative discipline Wilde praised as intense individual expression. Three letters, starts with A.
22D. Chevy Suburban, for one
Hint: Place the Chevy Suburban in its broad vehicle category. 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. List-shortening abbreviation
Answer: ETAL
5A. Chinese chairman
Answer: MAO
8A. Nicki ___, "Super Bass" rapper
Answer: MINAJ
10A. Party-sized coffee vessel
Answer: URN
11A. 2020s crime drama set in Japan
Answer: TOKYOVICE
13A. Romantic partners
Answer: LOVERS
14A. Morning talk show since 1997
Answer: THEVIEW
16A. ___ Park, geographical name in Chicago and London
Answer: HYDE
17A. Not quite right
Answer: OFF
20A. Big moment for a diva
Answer: OPERASOLO
23A. "Get my point now?!"
Answer: SEE
24A. More ill-mannered
Answer: RUDER
25A. Spain, on World Cup scoreboards
Answer: ESP
26A. Device on which you might watch 11- and 14-Across, appropriately
Answer: TVSET
Down Answers
1D. Ambulance worker, for short
Answer: EMT
2D. Spanish for "uncle"
Answer: TIO
3D. Like snow after after a storm, perhaps
Answer: ANKLEDEEP
4D. Break between two legs of travel
Answer: LAYOVER
5D. Bay Area forest named for an environmentalist
Answer: MUIRWOODS
6D. Shapes of rainbows
Answer: ARCS
7D. Atomic number of hydrogen
Answer: ONE
9D. Rock's Jon Bon ___
Answer: JOVI
12D. Pattern of flying geese
Answer: VEE
14D. "___ were the days"
Answer: THOSE
15D. Heavily promotes, with "up"
Answer: HYPES
18D. Run away
Answer: FLEE
19D. Structure made of couch cushions, perhaps
Answer: FORT
21D. "The most intense mode of individualism that the world has known," per Oscar Wilde
Answer: ART
22D. Chevy Suburban, for one
Answer: SUV
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 26A, “Device on which you might watch 11- and 14-Across, appropriately,” lands perfectly with TVSET. Both TOKYOVICE and THEVIEW are television programs, so the clue turns two separate trivia entries into a clean final connection.
Wordplay Winner: 20A wins the wordplay honors with OPERASOLO for “Big moment for a diva.” The clue sounds figurative, while the answer identifies the diva’s featured passage with literal precision.
Quick Fill: TIO at 2D was the fastest confident fill because the direct Spanish translation leaves little room for doubt. It anchors ETAL, MINAJ, and TOKYOVICE through its crossings.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Bank direct translations and standard codes immediately. TIO and ESP provide firm crossing letters that help unlock longer entries nearby.
When a long title such as TOKYOVICE resists instant recall, build it from short Downs instead of lingering on the trivia. EMT, TIO, ONE, and JOVI show how compact answers can expose a larger proper name.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
This grid treated solvers fairly, pairing direct short fill with longer cultural references that became clear through crossings. TVSET supplied a satisfying final wink by connecting the puzzle’s two featured programs.
See you at the next grid.
