Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and pairs colored-letter picture clues with brisk definitions and a dash of trivia. Settle in and say the pictures aloud.
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: 34 (16 Across, 18 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 13A takes an extra step: you have to turn the pictured letter and its color into sounds before the clue clicks.
Gimme Clue: 1A points directly to an everyday tool with a toothed cutting edge.
Theme Spotted: "Shady Characters"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Tool with teeth
Hint: Think of a blade whose serrated edge cuts timber. Three letters, starts with S.
4A. Shocked and horrified
Hint: Picture someone frozen by a dreadful surprise. Six letters, starts with A.
10A. "We're goin' up, up, up / It's ___ moment" (lyric from the 2025 #1 hit "Golden")
Hint: The lyric calls this a shared moment for the singers. Three letters, starts with O.
11A. Emergencies
Hint: Think of urgent situations that demand immediate action. Six letters, starts with C.
12A. Hubbub
Hint: A commotion or fuss over something small fits the tone. Three letters, starts with A.
13A. An image of the letter C in red
Hint: Say the pictured character and its hue aloud, then think of the body of water in the Exodus story. Six letters, starts with R.
14A. An image of the letter I in pink
Hint: The pictured letter and hue sound like a contagious eye condition. Seven letters, starts with P.
16A. Posing in a studio?
Hint: Think of a mat-based practice built around postures and breathing. Four letters, starts with Y.
17A. Sieve material
Hint: Picture the woven screen that strains solids from liquid. Four letters, starts with M.
21A. An image of the letter J in blue
Hint: Put the hue beside the spoken name of the pictured letter to hear a familiar crested bird. Seven letters, starts with B.
24A. Easy-to-play instruments
Hint: Think of little humming instruments played by vocalizing into them. Six letters, starts with K.
27A. Clairvoyant's supposed gift, for short
Hint: The clue wants an abbreviation for a supposed ability to perceive things beyond the ordinary senses. Three letters, starts with E.
28A. Funky rhythm
Hint: Think of the rhythmic pulse that makes funk move. Six letters, starts with G.
29A. "Weekend Update" co-anchor Michael
Hint: Recall the comic who shares the Weekend Update desk with Colin Jost. Three letters, starts with C.
30A. Savannas and deserts, e.g.
Hint: Think of broad ecological regions defined by climate and living communities. Six letters, starts with B.
31A. ___ Heel State (North Carolina)
Hint: North Carolina's nickname supplies a sticky road material for the blank. Three letters, starts with T.
Down Hints
1D. All lathered up
Hint: Picture skin or fabric covered in lather. Five letters, starts with S.
2D. Sound portion of a broadcast
Hint: It's the part of a broadcast you hear rather than watch. Five letters, starts with A.
3D. Mistaken
Hint: Think of an answer that misses the mark. Five letters, starts with W.
4D. Parcel unit
Hint: Use the land-measure term associated with property parcels. Four letters, starts with A.
5D. "Pardon me, would you have any ___ Poupon?"
Hint: The mustard brand in that famously polite advertisement supplies the blank. Four letters, starts with G.
6D. "Oh no, it's the paparazzi!"
Hint: Imagine a celebrity begging a friend to shield them from photographers. Six letters, starts with H.
7D. Jerk
Hint: Here, the clue calls for an insult aimed at an obnoxious person. Three letters, starts with A.
8D. "Get it?"
Hint: It's a short verb you might say when checking whether someone understands the joke. Three letters, starts with S.
9D. Letters on some airport workers' uniforms
Hint: Think of the federal agency that handles passenger screening at U.S. airports. Three letters, starts with T.
15D. Explosive onomatopoeia
Hint: Hear the comic-book sound of a sudden blast. Six letters, starts with K.
18D. Oust
Hint: Think of forcing someone out of an office or seat. Five letters, starts with E.
19D. Actress Alexander whose first name can be a nickname for "Alexander"
Hint: The clue asks for the first name of actress Alexander, who played Maura Isles on Rizzoli & Isles. Five letters, starts with S.
20D. Bouncing off the walls
Hint: Picture someone so keyed up they cannot sit still. Five letters, starts with H.
22D. Valentine's Day sentiment
Hint: Think of the feeling at the center of a Valentine's card. Four letters, starts with L.
23D. Puts to work
Hint: Think of a verb for putting a tool or resource to work. Four letters, starts with U.
24D. Org. in "The Americans"
Hint: Name the Soviet intelligence agency at the center of the spy drama in the clue. Three letters, starts with K.
25D. Singer Grande, to fans
Hint: Think of the nickname fans use for Grande, the singer behind Thank U, Next. Three letters, starts with A.
26D. Attraction that may have a penguinarium
Hint: Picture a public animal park with an exhibit for penguins. Three letters, starts with Z.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Tool with teeth
Answer: SAW
4A. Shocked and horrified
Answer: AGHAST
10A. "We're goin' up, up, up / It's ___ moment" (lyric from the 2025 #1 hit "Golden")
Answer: OUR
11A. Emergencies
Answer: CRISES
12A. Hubbub
Answer: ADO
13A. An image of the letter C in red
Answer: REDSEA
14A. An image of the letter I in pink
Answer: PINKEYE
16A. Posing in a studio?
Answer: YOGA
17A. Sieve material
Answer: MESH
21A. An image of the letter J in blue
Answer: BLUEJAY
24A. Easy-to-play instruments
Answer: KAZOOS
27A. Clairvoyant's supposed gift, for short
Answer: ESP
28A. Funky rhythm
Answer: GROOVE
29A. "Weekend Update" co-anchor Michael
Answer: CHE
30A. Savannas and deserts, e.g.
Answer: BIOMES
31A. ___ Heel State (North Carolina)
Answer: TAR
Down Answers
1D. All lathered up
Answer: SOAPY
2D. Sound portion of a broadcast
Answer: AUDIO
3D. Mistaken
Answer: WRONG
4D. Parcel unit
Answer: ACRE
5D. "Pardon me, would you have any ___ Poupon?"
Answer: GREY
6D. "Oh no, it's the paparazzi!"
Answer: HIDEME
7D. Jerk
Answer: ASS
8D. "Get it?"
Answer: SEE
9D. Letters on some airport workers' uniforms
Answer: TSA
15D. Explosive onomatopoeia
Answer: KABOOM
18D. Oust
Answer: EJECT
19D. Actress Alexander whose first name can be a nickname for "Alexander"
Answer: SASHA
20D. Bouncing off the walls
Answer: HYPER
22D. Valentine's Day sentiment
Answer: LOVE
23D. Puts to work
Answer: USES
24D. Org. in "The Americans"
Answer: KGB
25D. Singer Grande, to fans
Answer: ARI
26D. Attraction that may have a penguinarium
Answer: ZOO
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 13A's red letter C becomes REDSEA when spoken aloud: “red C” sounds like the name of the body of water. That tiny change from image to sound defines the grid's picture-clue trick.
Wordplay Winner: 14A turns a pink letter I into PINKEYE. The misdirection is visual: the pictured color and letter make sense as an answer only when you hear them together.
Quick Fill: 1A SAW is a confident start from “Tool with teeth,” and its letters open 1D SOAPY, 2D AUDIO, and 3D WRONG.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
When a clue shows a colored letter, say the color and letter aloud. That move unlocks 13A REDSEA, 14A PINKEYE, and 21A BLUEJAY.
Fill direct definitions such as 1A SAW and 17A MESH first, then use their crossings to work through clues that need another step.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
BLUEJAY is a cheerful highlight: a small colored letter turns into a familiar bird, while the straightforward crossings keep the trick fair.
See you at the next grid.
