Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and a sound-based gimmick connects the longer answers, while everyday clues and playful misdirection keep the grid lively. Come on in and give the straightforward clues a first pass.
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: 10x9
Total Clues: 33 (15 Across, 18 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 21A is the trickiest clue because its programming definition also asks you to hear a connection between other entries.
Gimme Clue: 1A offers the clearest foothold, with a mud bath pointing directly toward a familiar relaxation venue.
Theme Spotted: "I Started It!"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Place for a mud bath
Hint: Think of a wellness venue offering treatments and relaxation. Three letters, starts with S.
4A. Not just mine
Hint: The possession belongs to the speaker and others together. Four letters, starts with O.
8A. Smooth-talking
Hint: Think fluent and polished, with a suggestion of shallow sincerity. Four letters, starts with G.
9A. Brazilian dance
Hint: Picture the rhythmic dancing associated with Rio's Carnival. Five letters, starts with S.
10A. Sailor's "Yes, sir!"
Hint: Think of a nautical acknowledgment addressed directly to the ship's commander. Ten letters, starts with A.
12A. R&B group with the 1995 #1 hit "Waterfalls"
Hint: The same R&B group also recorded "No Scrubs." Three letters, starts with T.
13A. Let sleeping dogs ___
Hint: Complete the proverb about leaving dormant trouble undisturbed. Three letters, starts with L.
14A. Trial figure giving a firsthand account
Hint: This person can testify about an event observed directly. Ten letters, starts with E.
19A. Recede, as the tide
Hint: Think of the water withdrawing from shore. Three letters, starts with E.
20A. One of two in the game Catan
Hint: Think of a numbered cube rolled during play, expressed as a singular noun. Three letters, starts with D.
21A. Assign a starting value, in computer programming lingo ... or a phonetic hint to 10- and 14-Across?
Hint: Use the programming definition first, then read the result aloud to connect it with 10A and 14A. Ten letters, starts with I.
25A. Nods off for a bit
Hint: Think of dozing briefly rather than settling down for the night. Four letters, starts with N.
26A. Tied, as shoes
Hint: Picture footwear secured with cords threaded through eyelets. Five letters, starts with L.
27A. Org. with the Nets and Knicks
Hint: Think of the professional basketball league shared by these New York teams. Three letters, starts with N.
28A. Tons and tons
Hint: Read the clue as an informal expression of abundance. Four letters, starts with L.
Down Hints
1D. In a crafty way
Hint: Think of doing something with sneaky cleverness. Five letters, starts with S.
2D. Bishop, but not priest
Hint: Move your thinking from church to the chessboard. Five letters, starts with P.
3D. "Shark Tank" airer
Hint: The clue wants the broadcast network carrying the entrepreneurial pitch show. Three letters, starts with A.
4D. Like Cheerios and some breakfast bars
Hint: Look for an adjective describing the grain used to make these breakfast foods. Five letters, starts with O.
5D. Thurman of "Kill Bill"
Hint: Think of the actress who plays the sword-wielding lead in "Kill Bill." Three letters, starts with U.
6D. Slugger's stat
Hint: Think of the abbreviated batting statistic that credits a hitter for bringing a runner home. Three letters, starts with R.
7D. First word in the names of seven counties in California
Hint: Think of the Spanish masculine honorific for a saint used in California place names. Three letters, starts with S.
8D. Golden ___ Bridge
Hint: Complete the name of the landmark bridge connecting the city by the bay with Marin County. Four letters, starts with G.
9D. "Ammunition" for a class clown
Hint: Picture a soggy paper projectile launched through a straw. Eight letters, starts with S.
11D. It might be disproved by a 14-Across
Hint: Think of a claim that someone was elsewhere when an offense occurred. Five letters, starts with A.
15D. Moistens
Hint: Use a verb meaning makes damp. Four letters, starts with W.
16D. Order from a monarch, say
Hint: Think of a formal decree issued by someone in authority. Five letters, starts with E.
17D. S, M, L and XL
Hint: These clothing labels tell you how a garment should fit. Five letters, starts with S.
18D. N.C.A.A. bracket assignment
Hint: Think of a team's ranking used to position it in a tournament bracket. Four letters, starts with S.
21D. Holiday ___
Hint: Complete the hotel brand rather than a phrase about vacation plans. Three letters, starts with I.
22D. Catch red-handed
Hint: Think of a brisk verb for catching someone in the act. Three letters, starts with N.
23D. Tap option at a craft brewery, for short
Hint: Think of the abbreviated name of a hop-forward beer style. Three letters, starts with I.
24D. Thai's neighbor
Hint: Think of the language spoken across Thailand's northeastern border. Three letters, starts with L.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Place for a mud bath
Answer: SPA
4A. Not just mine
Answer: OURS
8A. Smooth-talking
Answer: GLIB
9A. Brazilian dance
Answer: SAMBA
10A. Sailor's "Yes, sir!"
Answer: AYECAPTAIN
12A. R&B group with the 1995 #1 hit "Waterfalls"
Answer: TLC
13A. Let sleeping dogs ___
Answer: LIE
14A. Trial figure giving a firsthand account
Answer: EYEWITNESS
19A. Recede, as the tide
Answer: EBB
20A. One of two in the game Catan
Answer: DIE
21A. Assign a starting value, in computer programming lingo ... or a phonetic hint to 10- and 14-Across?
Answer: INITIALIZE
25A. Nods off for a bit
Answer: NAPS
26A. Tied, as shoes
Answer: LACED
27A. Org. with the Nets and Knicks
Answer: NBA
28A. Tons and tons
Answer: LOTS
Down Answers
1D. In a crafty way
Answer: SLYLY
2D. Bishop, but not priest
Answer: PIECE
3D. "Shark Tank" airer
Answer: ABC
4D. Like Cheerios and some breakfast bars
Answer: OATEN
5D. Thurman of "Kill Bill"
Answer: UMA
6D. Slugger's stat
Answer: RBI
7D. First word in the names of seven counties in California
Answer: SAN
8D. Golden ___ Bridge
Answer: GATE
9D. "Ammunition" for a class clown
Answer: SPITBALL
11D. It might be disproved by a 14-Across
Answer: ALIBI
15D. Moistens
Answer: WETS
16D. Order from a monarch, say
Answer: EDICT
17D. S, M, L and XL
Answer: SIZES
18D. N.C.A.A. bracket assignment
Answer: SEED
21D. Holiday ___
Answer: INN
22D. Catch red-handed
Answer: NAB
23D. Tap option at a craft brewery, for short
Answer: IPA
24D. Thai's neighbor
Answer: LAO
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 21A's programming clue yields INITIALIZE, which also sounds like "initial eyes." That phrase points to the opening AYE in AYECAPTAIN at 10A and EYE in EYEWITNESS at 14A, turning a technical definition into the grid's phonetic payoff.
Wordplay Winner: 2D, "Bishop, but not priest," wins for compact misdirection with PIECE. The clue invites a religious comparison before the answer shifts the bishop onto a chessboard.
Quick Fill: SPA at 1A is the fastest confident fill because the mud-bath clue gives it a direct definition. It supplies the opening letters of SLYLY at 1D, PIECE at 2D and ABC at 3D, making it a useful anchor for the upper-left corner.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Fill the familiar completions first, such as LIE at 13A and GATE at 8D, then use their letters to test the longer answers. A short phrase completion can give you firmer footing than an open-ended definition.
When a clue explicitly says "phonetic hint," read the answer aloud before searching for hidden letters. Here, INITIALIZE explains the matching sounds at the starts of AYECAPTAIN and EYEWITNESS.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The straightforward clues provide footholds, and INITIALIZE rewards a final change from reading to listening. That sound-based connection gives the grid a satisfying finish.
See you at the next grid.
