Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and leans into brisk clueing, cultural trivia, and a light bracketed pattern without giving up its clean wordplay. Settle in for a lively grid with satisfying connections.
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: 28 (13 Across, 15 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 22A is the toughest clue because the performer reference and bracketed tag must converge on one full name.
Gimme Clue: 14A is the clearest gimme, since the beaver construction clue points directly to a familiar structure.
Theme Spotted: "Two of a Kind"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. That's no lie!
Hint: 1A calls for a blunt confirmation that a statement is true. Four letters, starts with F.
5A. Pie ___ mode
Hint: 5A completes the dessert phrase for pie served with ice cream. Three letters, starts with A.
8A. 2000s spy thriller series starring Jennifer Garner
Hint: 8A names the Jennifer Garner espionage drama centered on secret identities and covert missions. Five letters, starts with A.
10A. Gender prefix
Hint: 10A seeks the prefix for a gender identity aligned with the sex assigned at birth. Three letters, starts with C.
11A. K-pop group with the hit song "How You Like That" [Colors]
Hint: 11A names the K-pop act behind the cited hit, with the bracketed tag providing confirmation. Nine letters, starts with B.
13A. ~~~
Hint: 13A asks you to name the repeated wavy diacritical marks shown in the clue. Six letters, starts with T.
14A. Construction project for beavers
Hint: 14A points to the water-blocking structure built by beavers. Three letters, starts with D.
17A. Hit with a rolled-up magazine, maybe
Hint: 17A wants the verb for striking a pest with rolled paper. Four letters, starts with S.
18A. Big name in floss
Hint: 18A names a dental-care brand associated with floss, toothbrushes, and electric brushes. Five letters, starts with O.
21A. "A long, long time ___ ..."
Hint: 21A needs the missing time word from the familiar opening phrase. Three letters, starts with A.
22A. Actress Depp of 2024's "Nosferatu" [Flowers]
Hint: 22A identifies the actress with the Depp surname who appears in the cited vampire film. Eight letters, starts with L.
24A. Deceive with a fake digital dating profile [Animals]
Hint: 24A uses the verb for deceiving someone through a false online identity. Seven letters, starts with C.
25A. Makes super happy
Hint: 25A seeks a present-tense verb meaning fills with intense joy. Six letters, starts with E.
Down Hints
1D. "Terrif!"
Hint: 1D is a clipped exclamation of enthusiastic praise. Three letters, starts with F.
2D. 100%
Hint: 2D means the entirety, with nothing omitted. Three letters, starts with A.
3D. Langley-based spy grp.
Hint: 3D is the federal foreign-intelligence group based in Langley. Three letters, starts with C.
4D. Useful skill in de-escalation
Hint: 4D names the diplomatic quality of handling a tense exchange with sensitivity and discretion. Four letters, starts with T.
5D. Denim treatment used in punk fashion
Hint: 5D describes the mottled, bleached-looking denim finish associated with punk fashion. Eight letters, starts with A.
6D. Ancestry
Hint: 6D uses the term for descent traced through a family. Seven letters, starts with L.
7D. Sends an invite for
Hint: 7D is a verb phrase for extending an invitation to someone. Six letters, starts with A.
9D. Bit of sports equipment with a binding
Hint: 9D names the narrow snow-sport equipment that secures a boot in a binding. Three letters, starts with S.
12D. Counterpart to "thx"
Hint: 12D wants the terse texting courtesy that serves as the counterpart to “thx.” Three letters, starts with P.
14D. ___ & Gabbana, Italian fashion label
Hint: 14D completes the full Italian fashion-house name whose second half is Gabbana. Five letters, starts with D.
15D. Alternative to Helvetica
Hint: 15D names a familiar sans serif typeface offered as an alternative to Helvetica. Five letters, starts with A.
16D. Island nation between Italy and Libya
Hint: 16D identifies the Mediterranean island country situated between Italy and Libya. Five letters, starts with M.
19D. Uber competitor
Hint: 19D names the ride-hailing platform positioned as an Uber competitor. Four letters, starts with L.
20D. Gooey cheese
Hint: 20D points to a gooey, soft-ripened cheese with a creamy interior. Four letters, starts with B.
23D. Spy org. that preceded 3-Down
Hint: 23D seeks the American intelligence organization that came before the Langley-based group in 3D. Three letters, starts with O.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. That's no lie!
Answer: FACT
5A. Pie ___ mode
Answer: ALA
8A. 2000s spy thriller series starring Jennifer Garner
Answer: ALIAS
10A. Gender prefix
Answer: CIS
11A. K-pop group with the hit song "How You Like That" [Colors]
Answer: BLACKPINK
13A. ~~~
Answer: TILDES
14A. Construction project for beavers
Answer: DAM
17A. Hit with a rolled-up magazine, maybe
Answer: SWAT
18A. Big name in floss
Answer: ORALB
21A. "A long, long time ___ ..."
Answer: AGO
22A. Actress Depp of 2024's "Nosferatu" [Flowers]
Answer: LILYROSE
24A. Deceive with a fake digital dating profile [Animals]
Answer: CATFISH
25A. Makes super happy
Answer: ELATES
Down Answers
1D. "Terrif!"
Answer: FAB
2D. 100%
Answer: ALL
3D. Langley-based spy grp.
Answer: CIA
4D. Useful skill in de-escalation
Answer: TACT
5D. Denim treatment used in punk fashion
Answer: ACIDWASH
6D. Ancestry
Answer: LINEAGE
7D. Sends an invite for
Answer: ASKSTO
9D. Bit of sports equipment with a binding
Answer: SKI
12D. Counterpart to "thx"
Answer: PLS
14D. ___ & Gabbana, Italian fashion label
Answer: DOLCE
15D. Alternative to Helvetica
Answer: ARIAL
16D. Island nation between Italy and Libya
Answer: MALTA
19D. Uber competitor
Answer: LYFT
20D. Gooey cheese
Answer: BRIE
23D. Spy org. that preceded 3-Down
Answer: OSS
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 11A, BLACKPINK, defines the grid. The K-pop clue lands cleanly, while the bracketed Colors tag turns the group name into BLACK and PINK.
Wordplay Winner: 24A is the wordplay winner because CATFISH works as the verb requested by the clue and as the animal identified by the bracketed tag.
Quick Fill: 1A FACT is the fastest confident fill because its direct clue leaves little ambiguity. Its letters immediately launch the crossings FAB, ALL, CIA, and TACT.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
When bracketed tags appear, test whether the full entry satisfies both the main clue and the tag. BLACKPINK, LILYROSE, and CATFISH each reward that double check.
Use relation clues as verification instead of treating them as isolated trivia. Once 3D CIA is secure, 23D OSS becomes a clean historical handoff.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The grid was brisk on short fill and more demanding at the long cultural entries, with CATFISH delivering the neatest final click.
See you at the next grid.
