Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and leans into lively trivia and three equation-style wordplay centerpieces without making the surrounding fill feel fussy. Settle in and enjoy the shifts between quick definitions and playful constructions.
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: 35 (16 Across, 19 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 13A is the trickiest clue because it asks for a specific celebrity fragrance from 2015, a narrow piece of product trivia.
Gimme Clue: 5A is the clearest gimme, since recognizing the named breed immediately points to its basic animal category.
Theme Spotted: "Double Digits"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Members of a "Benevolent and Protective Order"
Hint: Think of the fraternal organization commonly identified by the quoted formal title. Four letters, starts with E.
5A. Chihuahua, e.g.
Hint: Zoom out from the named breed to its everyday animal category. Three letters, starts with D.
8A. ___ on the job
Hint: Complete the familiar phrase describing someone dozing while supposedly working. Six letters, starts with A.
10A. Org. that monitors air and water quality
Hint: The target is the abbreviated federal agency responsible for environmental protection. Three letters, starts with E.
11A. TWO DIGITS + TWO DIGITS = Evenly split
Hint: Read the left side as two copies of the same two-digit percentage, then match the right side's equal division. Ten letters, starts with F.
13A. Singer Grande's fragrance, launched in 2015
Hint: The target is the full one-word title of Grande's fragrance launched in 2015. Three letters, starts with A.
14A. What spectacles rest on
Hint: Focus on the part of the face that supports the bridge of a pair of spectacles. Four letters, starts with N.
15A. DIGIT + DIGIT = Phone call sound
Hint: Picture the accessory that can sit around a finger, twice, and listen for the resulting phone sound. Eight letters, starts with R.
19A. Caramel-filled, foil-wrapped treat
Hint: Picture the small chocolate-and-caramel candy sold in shiny foil. Four letters, starts with R.
20A. "DIG IT" + "DIG IT" = "Roger that"
Hint: Translate each quoted slang phrase into an expression of approval, then repeat it to make the acknowledgment. Eight letters, starts with C.
24A. Quaint bathtub supports
Hint: Picture the ornate animal-like feet beneath a vintage freestanding tub. Five letters, starts with C.
26A. Boundary
Hint: Use a compact synonym for an outer limit or margin. Four letters, starts with E.
27A. It might be glazed or cream-filled
Hint: Think of the round fried pastry that commonly receives either topping. Five letters, starts with D.
28A. Seaweed sushi wrapper
Hint: Name the dark edible seaweed sheet commonly wrapped around sushi rolls. Four letters, starts with N.
29A. List in craft kit instructions
Hint: The instructions would present these as an ordered series of actions. Five letters, starts with S.
30A. ___ leches cake
Hint: Supply the Spanish numeral in the name of the milk-soaked Latin American cake. Four letters, starts with T.
Down Hints
1D. Spritelike
Hint: Think of an adjective for a delicate, fairy-like appearance. Five letters, starts with E.
2D. Reason for a redo, in tennis
Hint: Name the tennis call made when a serve touches the net but still lands correctly and must be replayed. Three letters, starts with L.
3D. C major, e.g.
Hint: C major is this basic way of organizing pitches around a tonal center. Three letters, starts with K.
4D. No. on a beach bottle
Hint: Look for the abbreviated sun-protection rating printed beside a number on sunscreen. Three letters, starts with S.
5D. Clear, as a cold windshield
Hint: Use the verb for removing condensation that clouds a pane of glass. Five letters, starts with D.
6D. Chooses
Hint: Use a compact present-tense verb meaning makes a choice. Four letters, starts with O.
7D. Marvin of Motown
Hint: Think of the Motown singer Marvin who recorded "What's Going On" and supply the name indicated by the clue. Four letters, starts with G.
8D. A ways away
Hint: Use an adverb meaning at a considerable distance. Four letters, starts with A.
9D. Virtual assistant that voiced the Batcomputer in "The Lego Batman Movie"
Hint: Think of Apple's voice assistant, which received the Batcomputer role in the animated film. Four letters, starts with S.
12D. Opposite of guilty
Hint: Think of the courtroom description for someone cleared of wrongdoing. Eight letters, starts with I.
16D. "Don't be so childish!"
Hint: Turn the rebuke into a blunt two-word command to act more maturely. Six letters, starts with G.
17D. Fowl resting places
Hint: Name the plural resting places where chickens settle overnight. Six letters, starts with R.
18D. Not feeling well
Hint: Use a short adjective meaning sick or unwell. Three letters, starts with I.
20D. Walking stick
Hint: Use the familiar term for a stick carried to provide balance while walking. Four letters, starts with C.
21D. One may cause you to sniff and grimace
Hint: Identify the unpleasant smell that could produce both reactions in the clue. Four letters, starts with O.
22D. Shrek or Fiona
Hint: Both named characters belong to the same large fairy-tale creature type. Four letters, starts with O.
23D. Braids of orchids, perhaps
Hint: Think of floral garlands traditionally placed around the neck in Hawaii. Four letters, starts with L.
24D. Cassette tapes --> ___ --> MP3s
Hint: Choose the shiny disc format that came between analog tapes and digital audio files. Three letters, starts with C.
25D. Batch at an auction
Hint: Use the auctioneer's term for a batch sold as one unit. 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. Members of a "Benevolent and Protective Order"
Answer: ELKS
5A. Chihuahua, e.g.
Answer: DOG
8A. ___ on the job
Answer: ASLEEP
10A. Org. that monitors air and water quality
Answer: EPA
11A. TWO DIGITS + TWO DIGITS = Evenly split
Answer: FIFTYFIFTY
13A. Singer Grande's fragrance, launched in 2015
Answer: ARI
14A. What spectacles rest on
Answer: NOSE
15A. DIGIT + DIGIT = Phone call sound
Answer: RINGRING
19A. Caramel-filled, foil-wrapped treat
Answer: ROLO
20A. "DIG IT" + "DIG IT" = "Roger that"
Answer: COOLCOOL
24A. Quaint bathtub supports
Answer: CLAWS
26A. Boundary
Answer: EDGE
27A. It might be glazed or cream-filled
Answer: DONUT
28A. Seaweed sushi wrapper
Answer: NORI
29A. List in craft kit instructions
Answer: STEPS
30A. ___ leches cake
Answer: TRES
Down Answers
1D. Spritelike
Answer: ELFIN
2D. Reason for a redo, in tennis
Answer: LET
3D. C major, e.g.
Answer: KEY
4D. No. on a beach bottle
Answer: SPF
5D. Clear, as a cold windshield
Answer: DEFOG
6D. Chooses
Answer: OPTS
7D. Marvin of Motown
Answer: GAYE
8D. A ways away
Answer: AFAR
9D. Virtual assistant that voiced the Batcomputer in "The Lego Batman Movie"
Answer: SIRI
12D. Opposite of guilty
Answer: INNOCENT
16D. "Don't be so childish!"
Answer: GROWUP
17D. Fowl resting places
Answer: ROOSTS
18D. Not feeling well
Answer: ILL
20D. Walking stick
Answer: CANE
21D. One may cause you to sniff and grimace
Answer: ODOR
22D. Shrek or Fiona
Answer: OGRE
23D. Braids of orchids, perhaps
Answer: LEIS
24D. Cassette tapes --> ___ --> MP3s
Answer: CDS
25D. Batch at an auction
Answer: LOT
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: RINGRING at 15A defines today's puzzle because each "digit" can take a RING, while the doubled result reproduces a phone's sound. The clue works simultaneously as a construction and a definition.
Wordplay Winner: COOLCOOL at 20A is the wordplay winner. "Dig it" maps to COOL in slang, and doubling it produces the breezy acknowledgment "Roger that."
Quick Fill: DOG at 5A was the fastest confident fill, and its three letters start DEFOG, OPTS, and GAYE in the upper-right crossings.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
For equation-style clues, solve the plain-language definition on the right before unpacking the construction on the left. That approach quickly narrows FIFTYFIFTY, RINGRING, and COOLCOOL.
Bank short certainties such as DOG, EPA, LET, and KEY early, then use their crossings to test the trivia-heavy names and brands.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The grid treated solvers fairly, surrounding its three playful constructions with clean, recognizable fill. RINGRING supplied the sharpest payoff because its equation became both visual wordplay and sound effect.
See you at the next grid.
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