Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and a playful grid trick sits alongside the trivia and conversational clues. Come on in and let the familiar prompts get you moving.
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: 11x10
Total Clues: 42 (20 Across, 22 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 11D is the trickiest clue because its question mark turns an ordinary support into a playful definition.
Gimme Clue: 32A is the clearest gimme, a direct translation of a familiar affirmative.
Theme Spotted: "Seize the Moment"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Campaign-funding orgs.
Hint: Think of the abbreviated groups that pool money to support candidates. Four letters, starts with P.
5A. Berry spelled with only one consonant
Hint: Think of the purple Brazilian fruit blended into breakfast bowls. Four letters, starts with A.
9A. Creature that squirts ink
Hint: Think of a tentacled swimmer with an ink-based defense. Five letters, starts with S.
11A. Creature with lemon and nurse varieties
Hint: Lemon and nurse name varieties of a finned predator. Five letters, starts with S.
12A. Kama ___
Hint: Complete the familiar name of the ancient Indian text. Five letters, starts with S.
13A. "Tell me if it needs more salt ..."
Hint: The cook wants you to sample the food before adjusting the seasoning. Five letters, starts with T.
14A. Professor's helpers, for short
Hint: Think of the abbreviated campus role held by graduate students who help with grading. Three letters, starts with T.
15A. The "S" in STEAM, informally
Hint: Use the informal shortening for the school subject involving experiments. Three letters, starts with S.
17A. Org. that may search your bags
Hint: Think of the initials on uniforms at an airport security checkpoint. Three letters, starts with T.
18A. Creature whose heart can weigh over 400 pounds
Hint: Look for a vast ocean mammal rather than a fish. Five letters, starts with W.
20A. Carve, as from a small piece of wood
Hint: Picture shaping a wooden figure by shaving away thin slivers with a knife. Seven letters, starts with W.
22A. ___ gras
Hint: The missing French word means liver. Four letters, starts with F.
24A. "Ditto!"
Hint: Think of a casual reply expressing agreement or a shared experience. Four letters, starts with S.
27A. Where each shaded creature can be found in nature ... and in this puzzle's grid?
Hint: Read the location phrase both as a natural habitat and as a clue to the grid's arrangement. 11 letters, starts with U.
31A. Private plane, maybe
Hint: Think of an aircraft powered by turbines rather than propellers. Three letters, starts with J.
32A. Yes, in French
Hint: Give an affirmative reply in the language of Paris. Three letters, starts with O.
33A. CPR pro
Hint: Think of the abbreviated role of an ambulance responder. Three letters, starts with E.
34A. "Kinda sorta"
Hint: Think of the conversational suffix that makes a description approximate. Three letters, starts with I.
35A. Not yet scheduled: Abbr.
Hint: Use the calendar abbreviation for details that remain undecided. Three letters, starts with T.
36A. "___ Misérables"
Hint: Supply the French plural article opening Victor Hugo's novel. Three letters, starts with L.
Down Hints
1D. Sound made when you're passing a note to someone in class
Hint: Imagine quietly getting a classmate's attention without alerting the teacher. Four letters, starts with P.
2D. Blue-green shade
Hint: Think of a watery hue between blue and green. Four letters, starts with A.
3D. Uses scissors
Hint: Use a present-tense verb for snipping paper or fabric. Four letters, starts with C.
4D. "Dear ___ or madam ..."
Hint: Complete the traditional formal greeting with a masculine honorific. Three letters, starts with S.
5D. "Got it!"
Hint: Think of the exclamation that marks a sudden realization. Three letters, starts with A.
6D. Group of actors
Hint: Think of the performers collectively credited in a stage production. Four letters, starts with C.
7D. The "A" in STEAM
Hint: Think of the creative disciplines added to the technical school subjects. Four letters, starts with A.
8D. Store that sells mattresses and meatballs
Hint: Think of the Swedish furniture retailer with a cafeteria. Four letters, starts with I.
10D. Miso soup base
Hint: Look for the Japanese stock that provides the soup's savory foundation. Five letters, starts with D.
11D. Walking stick?
Hint: Picture a performer standing on a pole fitted with a footrest. Five letters, starts with S.
16D. Animal revered in ancient Egypt
Hint: Think of the domestic feline depicted in Egyptian religious imagery. Three letters, starts with C.
18D. "Yahooooooo!"
Hint: Imagine the delighted cry from someone going down a playground slide. Four letters, starts with W.
19D. "Who ___ could it be?"
Hint: The missing word asks about an alternative person. Four letters, starts with E.
20D. What D, E and EE signify in shoes
Hint: These shoe labels describe how broad the fit is. Five letters, starts with W.
21D. Painter's studio stand
Hint: Think of the frame that holds a canvas upright while someone paints. Five letters, starts with E.
22D. Variety of apple ... or the name of a stratovolcano
Hint: The apple shares its name with Japan's famous volcanic peak. Four letters, starts with F.
23D. Singles
Hint: Read the clue as low-denomination bills rather than unmarried adults. Four letters, starts with O.
25D. Image that goes viral
Hint: Think of a captioned picture shared and remixed online. Four letters, starts with M.
26D. Fills up on, say
Hint: Read filling up as consuming a meal rather than refueling a vehicle. Four letters, starts with E.
28D. Decompose
Hint: Think of what neglected food does as it decays. Three letters, starts with R.
29D. Spot for a relaxing soak
Hint: Picture the bathroom fixture filled for a long bath. Three letters, starts with T.
30D. Concealed
Hint: Use a past-tense verb meaning kept out of view. Three letters, starts with H.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Campaign-funding orgs.
Answer: PACS
5A. Berry spelled with only one consonant
Answer: ACAI
9A. Creature that squirts ink
Answer: SQUID
11A. Creature with lemon and nurse varieties
Answer: SHARK
12A. Kama ___
Answer: SUTRA
13A. "Tell me if it needs more salt ..."
Answer: TASTE
14A. Professor's helpers, for short
Answer: TAS
15A. The "S" in STEAM, informally
Answer: SCI
17A. Org. that may search your bags
Answer: TSA
18A. Creature whose heart can weigh over 400 pounds
Answer: WHALE
20A. Carve, as from a small piece of wood
Answer: WHITTLE
22A. ___ gras
Answer: FOIE
24A. "Ditto!"
Answer: SAME
27A. Where each shaded creature can be found in nature ... and in this puzzle's grid?
Answer: UNDERTHESEA
31A. Private plane, maybe
Answer: JET
32A. Yes, in French
Answer: OUI
33A. CPR pro
Answer: EMT
34A. "Kinda sorta"
Answer: ISH
35A. Not yet scheduled: Abbr.
Answer: TBD
36A. "___ Misérables"
Answer: LES
Down Answers
1D. Sound made when you're passing a note to someone in class
Answer: PSST
2D. Blue-green shade
Answer: AQUA
3D. Uses scissors
Answer: CUTS
4D. "Dear ___ or madam ..."
Answer: SIR
5D. "Got it!"
Answer: AHA
6D. Group of actors
Answer: CAST
7D. The "A" in STEAM
Answer: ARTS
8D. Store that sells mattresses and meatballs
Answer: IKEA
10D. Miso soup base
Answer: DASHI
11D. Walking stick?
Answer: STILT
16D. Animal revered in ancient Egypt
Answer: CAT
18D. "Yahooooooo!"
Answer: WHEE
19D. "Who ___ could it be?"
Answer: ELSE
20D. What D, E and EE signify in shoes
Answer: WIDTH
21D. Painter's studio stand
Answer: EASEL
22D. Variety of apple ... or the name of a stratovolcano
Answer: FUJI
23D. Singles
Answer: ONES
25D. Image that goes viral
Answer: MEME
26D. Fills up on, say
Answer: EATS
28D. Decompose
Answer: ROT
29D. Spot for a relaxing soak
Answer: TUB
30D. Concealed
Answer: HID
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 27A's habitat-and-grid clue delivers UNDER THE SEA. SQUID, SHARK and WHALE each sit directly beneath a C, so the answer turns the sound of that letter into a visual joke.
Wordplay Winner: 11D, "Walking stick?", wins with STILT. The question mark redirects you from a handheld support to a pole you stand on to walk above the ground.
Quick Fill: 32A's OUI is the fastest confident fill, with a direct French translation to get the lower center moving. Its crossings feed ROT, TUB and HID.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Match the answer's form to the clue's signals. The shortening prompts at 14A and 15A call for TAS and SCI, while 35A explicitly requests TBD as an abbreviation.
When a question-mark clue stalls you, change the physical picture before hunting for synonyms. STILT at 11D rewards picturing the stick beneath your foot rather than in your hand.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The direct clues provide a welcoming foothold, while STILT adds a neat detour. UNDER THE SEA supplies the satisfying finish by making the grid itself part of the punch line.
See you at the next grid.