Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and a playful repetition theme gives the trivia and wordplay a rhythmic lift. Come on in and let the gentler clues 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: 10x10
Total Clues: 34 (17 Across, 17 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 19A is the trickiest, since its blank completes a spoken spelling example rather than a conventional definition.
Gimme Clue: 22A is a friendly foothold, with a direct everyday synonym and no verbal detour.
Theme Spotted: "Going Back for Seconds"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Spotify or Shopify
Hint: Think of software you open on a phone. Three letters, starts with A.
4A. Symbol at the start of a music staff
Hint: This musical symbol establishes how to read the pitches that follow. Four letters, starts with C.
8A. Establishments with liquor licenses
Hint: Picture drinking establishments where cocktails are served. Four letters, starts with B.
10A. Totally bonkers
Hint: Reach for a Spanish borrowing meaning crazy. Four letters, starts with L.
11A. Hold on tightly
Hint: Grip firmly and refuse to let go. Five letters, starts with C.
13A. Monster in a fairy tale
Hint: Think of a hulking storybook monster. Four letters, starts with O.
14A. Steamed semolina dish with a repetitive name
Hint: Picture tiny steamed semolina granules served beneath a stew. Eight letters, starts with C.
16A. New Jersey's most populous city
Hint: The ranking here concerns population, rather than land area. Six letters, starts with N.
17A. Fish in Hawaiian cuisine with a repetitive name
Hint: Think of the Hawaiian menu name for dolphinfish. Eight letters, starts with M.
19A. "A ___ apple"
Hint: Read this as a pronunciation example used when spelling aloud. Four letters, starts with A.
20A. Podcast interruptions
Hint: Think of commercial breaks interrupting the conversation. Three letters, starts with A.
22A. Inquire
Hint: Use the everyday verb for putting a question to someone. Three letters, starts with A.
23A. Chocolate confection with a repetitive name
Hint: Picture a bite-sized chocolate sweet with a filling. Six letters, starts with B.
26A. ___ Jemison (first Black woman to travel to space)
Hint: Recall the astronaut Jemison's given name. Three letters, starts with M.
27A. Cow parts that dispense milk
Hint: Picture the milk-producing organs beneath dairy cattle. Six letters, starts with U.
28A. Pretty shady, slangily
Hint: Think of clipped internet slang for someone who seems untrustworthy. Three letters, starts with S.
29A. Swiss-based competitor of Lipton
Hint: Look for a tea brand competing in Lipton's market. Six letters, starts with N.
Down Hints
1D. Easy as ___
Hint: Complete the familiar comparison to the beginning of the alphabet. Three letters, starts with A.
2D. Buddy
Hint: Use an informal word for a close friend. Three letters, starts with P.
3D. Cost increases
Hint: Think of what retailers impose when the same purchase starts costing more. Ten letters, starts with P.
4D. Pointers that tell time
Hint: Picture the moving pointers on an analog dial. Ten letters, starts with C.
5D. Wikipedia's globe made of puzzle pieces, for one
Hint: Identify the type of visual emblem that represents an organization. Four letters, starts with L.
6D. Beigelike color
Hint: Think of the pale shade associated with unbleached linen. Four letters, starts with E.
7D. Enemies
Hint: Use a compact synonym for adversaries. Four letters, starts with F.
9D. Strand during the winter, maybe
Hint: Read strand as a verb meaning to leave someone trapped by winter weather. Six letters, starts with S.
12D. U.S. territory in Oceania
Hint: Think of the largest and southernmost of the Mariana Islands. Four letters, starts with G.
15D. Mrs., in Spanish
Hint: Use an abbreviated Spanish honorific for a married woman. Three letters, starts with S.
16D. Capital of the Bahamas
Hint: Locate the Bahamian seat of government on New Providence. Six letters, starts with N.
17D. Counterparts of sirs
Hint: Think of polite forms of address directed toward women. Five letters, starts with M.
18D. "My best guess is ..."
Hint: Use a conversational phrase suggesting you would put money on your prediction. Five letters, starts with I.
21D. ___ loser (bad sport)
Hint: Complete the expression for someone who handles defeat badly. Four letters, starts with S.
23D. Seeded part of a Big Mac
Hint: Look to the sesame-topped bread surrounding the burger. Three letters, starts with B.
24D. "___ to Joy"
Hint: The missing word names a poetic tribute. Three letters, starts with O.
25D. Government org. focused on cryptography
Hint: Think of the intelligence agency associated with codebreaking, using its initials. 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. Spotify or Shopify
Answer: APP
4A. Symbol at the start of a music staff
Answer: CLEF
8A. Establishments with liquor licenses
Answer: BARS
10A. Totally bonkers
Answer: LOCO
11A. Hold on tightly
Answer: CLING
13A. Monster in a fairy tale
Answer: OGRE
14A. Steamed semolina dish with a repetitive name
Answer: COUSCOUS
16A. New Jersey's most populous city
Answer: NEWARK
17A. Fish in Hawaiian cuisine with a repetitive name
Answer: MAHIMAHI
19A. "A ___ apple"
Answer: ASIN
20A. Podcast interruptions
Answer: ADS
22A. Inquire
Answer: ASK
23A. Chocolate confection with a repetitive name
Answer: BONBON
26A. ___ Jemison (first Black woman to travel to space)
Answer: MAE
27A. Cow parts that dispense milk
Answer: UDDERS
28A. Pretty shady, slangily
Answer: SUS
29A. Swiss-based competitor of Lipton
Answer: NESTEA
Down Answers
1D. Easy as ___
Answer: ABC
2D. Buddy
Answer: PAL
3D. Cost increases
Answer: PRICEHIKES
4D. Pointers that tell time
Answer: CLOCKHANDS
5D. Wikipedia's globe made of puzzle pieces, for one
Answer: LOGO
6D. Beigelike color
Answer: ECRU
7D. Enemies
Answer: FOES
9D. Strand during the winter, maybe
Answer: SNOWIN
12D. U.S. territory in Oceania
Answer: GUAM
15D. Mrs., in Spanish
Answer: SRA
16D. Capital of the Bahamas
Answer: NASSAU
17D. Counterparts of sirs
Answer: MAAMS
18D. "My best guess is ..."
Answer: IDBET
21D. ___ loser (bad sport)
Answer: SORE
23D. Seeded part of a Big Mac
Answer: BUN
24D. "___ to Joy"
Answer: ODE
25D. Government org. focused on cryptography
Answer: NSA
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 17A, "Fish in Hawaiian cuisine with a repetitive name," gives MAHIMAHI a starring role. Its repeated MAHI unit makes the theme visible, matching the doubled constructions in COUSCOUS and BONBON.
Wordplay Winner: 19A wins the wordplay prize with AS IN. The opening A is the letter being illustrated, so the completed phrase reads "A as in apple," turning a sparse fragment into a familiar spelling aid.
Quick Fill: 1D, ABC, is my quickest confident fill from "Easy as ___." It anchors the upper-left corner by supplying the opening letters of APP, BARS and CLING.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
When clues repeat distinctive wording, carry that signal forward. The repetitive-name phrasing links COUSCOUS, MAHIMAHI and BONBON, so a confirmed repeated unit gives you a useful spelling check.
For a compact phrase clue, read the completed wording aloud before rejecting it. AS IN turns 19A into natural speech, while I'D BET gives 18D the conversational voice its clue requests.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The repeating answers give this grid a cheerful rhythm, while AS IN supplies the sharpest change of perspective. Familiar vocabulary still leaves room for a satisfying little surprise.
See you at the next grid.