Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and playful visual wordplay shares the grid with approachable trivia and crisp everyday clues. Settle in and enjoy the reveal taking shape.
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: 10x10
Total Clues: 31 (14 Across, 17 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 7A is the trickiest clue because its definition switches domains and points toward 25A before the visual gimmick becomes clear.
Gimme Clue: 4A is the cleanest gimme, a familiar computer connector standard clued without disguise.
Theme Spotted: "On Tilt"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Chewy yogurt mix-in
Hint: Think of a chewy whole grain commonly stirred into yogurt or sprinkled over it. Three letters, starts with O.
4A. PC port type
Hint: This ubiquitous connector standard handles peripherals, storage devices, and charging cables. Three letters, starts with U.
7A. Snorkeling gear, informally ... or levers in a 25-Across machine (and depicted at the bottom of this grid!)
Hint: Picture what snorkelers wear on their feet, then connect those items to the controls inside the 25A machine. Eight letters, starts with F.
10A. ___ Mac ("Rumours" band)
Hint: Think of the band behind “Rumours” and supply the word immediately before Mac. Nine letters, starts with F.
12A. Devises, as a plan
Hint: The plan is being invented or concocted, not prepared for dinner. Seven letters, starts with C.
14A. Penne ___ vodka
Hint: Complete the familiar restaurant-style name for penne served with vodka sauce. Four letters, starts with A.
17A. "Jurassic Park" actor Sam
Hint: Think of the actor who played paleontologist Alan Grant in “Jurassic Park.” Five letters, starts with N.
18A. Big name in condiments
Hint: Picture the famous ketchup label that also appears across a broad range of condiments. Five letters, starts with H.
20A. Film franchise with "Black Widow" and "Black Panther," for short
Hint: The clue seeks the abbreviated name of the connected superhero film franchise containing both characters. Three letters, starts with M.
21A. Meat in a croque-monsieur
Hint: Think of the cured pork tucked inside this grilled French sandwich. Three letters, starts with H.
22A. Emergency allergy treatment device
Hint: Name the handheld device designed to deliver epinephrine during a severe allergic reaction. Six letters, starts with E.
25A. Classic arcade game visually depicted in this puzzle
Hint: Picture the tabletop arcade game built around a steel ball, bumpers, and scoring targets. Seven letters, starts with P.
27A. Give a jump scare, say
Hint: Look for a verb meaning to make someone recoil with sudden fright. Seven letters, starts with S.
28A. Neon or xenon
Hint: The clue wants the broad state-of-matter category shared by both elements. Three letters, starts with G.
Down Hints
1D. ___ the rails (out of control)
Hint: Complete the familiar idiom for behavior that has gone wildly out of control. Three letters, starts with O.
2D. Every bit
Hint: Use a compact word expressing totality, with nothing omitted. Three letters, starts with A.
3D. Overtime preceder
Hint: Think of the deadlocked score that can send a game into overtime. Three letters, starts with T.
4D. Until
Hint: The answer is a short phrase that can replace “until” when setting a maximum point. Four letters, starts with U.
5D. Attach, as a button
Hint: The clue wants the short verb phrase for stitching a button securely into place. Five letters, starts with S.
6D. In need of cash
Hint: Use the informal adjective for someone who has no money left. Five letters, starts with B.
8D. Nut in some sticky-sweet pies
Hint: Think of the nut often baked into a glossy, sticky-sweet pie filling. Five letters, starts with P.
9D. "Piece of cake!"
Hint: The quotation is a breezy exclamation meaning that a task is effortless. Eight letters, starts with S.
11D. ___ de leche (Latin American confection)
Hint: Complete the confection’s name with the Spanish word for sweet. Five letters, starts with D.
13D. Plumber's tool ... or a pull-and-release rod in a 25-Across machine
Hint: Picture the rubber-cup tool used on blocked drains, then transfer that name to the machine’s pull-and-release rod. Seven letters, starts with P.
14D. Massage moan
Hint: Supply the soft sound of relief or pleasure someone could make during a massage. Three letters, starts with A.
15D. Jumps
Hint: Use an energetic verb for springing through the air. Five letters, starts with L.
16D. Word after "speed" and "data"
Hint: One shared noun completes familiar compounds built with both “speed” and “data.” Five letters, starts with L.
19D. Animal whose stripes are believed to deter biting insects
Hint: Picture the striped equid whose bold pattern can interfere with biting insects’ landings. Five letters, starts with Z.
23D. Butter units
Hint: Think of small portions cut or shaped from a stick of butter. Four letters, starts with P.
24D. Unwell
Hint: Use a compact adjective meaning sick or unwell. Three letters, starts with I.
26D. Pester incessantly
Hint: The answer is a short verb for repeatedly bothering someone with complaints or reminders. Three letters, starts with N.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Chewy yogurt mix-in
Answer: OAT
4A. PC port type
Answer: USB
7A. Snorkeling gear, informally ... or levers in a 25-Across machine (and depicted at the bottom of this grid!)
Answer: FLIPPERS
10A. ___ Mac ("Rumours" band)
Answer: FLEETWOOD
12A. Devises, as a plan
Answer: COOKSUP
14A. Penne ___ vodka
Answer: ALLA
17A. "Jurassic Park" actor Sam
Answer: NEILL
18A. Big name in condiments
Answer: HEINZ
20A. Film franchise with "Black Widow" and "Black Panther," for short
Answer: MCU
21A. Meat in a croque-monsieur
Answer: HAM
22A. Emergency allergy treatment device
Answer: EPIPEN
25A. Classic arcade game visually depicted in this puzzle
Answer: PINBALL
27A. Give a jump scare, say
Answer: STARTLE
28A. Neon or xenon
Answer: GAS
Down Answers
1D. ___ the rails (out of control)
Answer: OFF
2D. Every bit
Answer: ALL
3D. Overtime preceder
Answer: TIE
4D. Until
Answer: UPTO
5D. Attach, as a button
Answer: SEWON
6D. In need of cash
Answer: BROKE
8D. Nut in some sticky-sweet pies
Answer: PECAN
9D. "Piece of cake!"
Answer: SOSIMPLE
11D. ___ de leche (Latin American confection)
Answer: DULCE
13D. Plumber's tool ... or a pull-and-release rod in a 25-Across machine
Answer: PLUNGER
14D. Massage moan
Answer: AHH
15D. Jumps
Answer: LEAPS
16D. Word after "speed" and "data"
Answer: LIMIT
19D. Animal whose stripes are believed to deter biting insects
Answer: ZEBRA
23D. Butter units
Answer: PATS
24D. Unwell
Answer: ILL
26D. Pester incessantly
Answer: NAG
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 7A, FLIPPERS, defines the puzzle because its snorkeling meaning supplies a clean surface answer while its machine meaning connects directly to 25A, PINBALL. That dual role turns ordinary vocabulary into part of the grid’s visual joke.
Wordplay Winner: 13D, PLUNGER, wins the wordplay prize by shifting from a plumber’s rubber-cup tool to the spring-loaded rod that launches a ball in PINBALL. The same noun fits both mechanisms precisely.
Quick Fill: USB was the fastest confident fill because the direct PC-port clue leaves little ambiguity. Its crossings immediately support UPTO, SEWON, and BROKE across the upper grid.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Bank the compact, direct entries first, especially OAT, USB, HAM, and GAS, then use their letters to attack the longer phrases.
When PINBALL lands, revisit every clue mentioning its machine. That immediately clarifies both FLIPPERS and PLUNGER and prevents their everyday meanings from slowing the solve.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The grid treated solvers fairly, offering generous trivia anchors before rewarding a second look at FLIPPERS and PLUNGER. PINBALL gave the finish a playful snap.
See you at the next grid.
