Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and a linked set of visual clues gives the trivia a playful thread, with a sly question-mark clue adding bite. Come on in and enjoy the solve.
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 (17 Across, 17 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 28A is the trickiest clue because its question mark invites you to rethink what kind of heart could be good.
Gimme Clue: 18D is the clearest gimme. Picture a phone keypad and read the requested button.
Theme Spotted: "License Plate Game"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Image on ... an Arizona license plate
Hint: Think of a spiny desert plant with an unmistakable silhouette. Six letters, starts with C.
7A. Month in which flowering and filing occurs: Abbr.
Hint: Spring blooms and the U.S. tax deadline point to the same calendar abbreviation. Three letters, starts with A.
10A. University in Bethlehem, Pa.
Hint: Think of the Pennsylvania university whose teams are the Mountain Hawks. Six letters, starts with L.
11A. Prefix with classical
Hint: The prefix signals something new or revived. Three letters, starts with N.
12A. ... a Florida license plate
Hint: Picture the citrus fruit associated with Florida's groves. Six letters, starts with O.
13A. Smidgen
Hint: Think of a tiny amount, as in a little bit more. Three letters, starts with T.
14A. The Washington ___
Hint: Complete the name of the newspaper based in the nation's capital. Four letters, starts with P.
15A. Cumin or coriander
Hint: Name the pantry seasoning type that includes these ingredients. Five letters, starts with S.
17A. Spanish for "aunt"
Hint: Use the Spanish family term for a parent's sister. Three letters, starts with T.
19A. Spanish for "eight"
Hint: Count to eight in Spanish and keep the final word. Four letters, starts with O.
20A. ... a Hawaii license plate
Hint: Picture the colorful sky display that sunlight and rain can create. Seven letters, starts with R.
23A. Settings for "The Pitt" and "Grey's Anatomy," for short
Hint: Use the plural hospital shorthand for units handling urgent cases. Three letters, starts with E.
24A. ... a Wyoming license plate
Hint: Focus on the Western rider in the bucking-horse image. Six letters, starts with C.
28A. Good heart?
Hint: Think of a strong card in a particular suit. Three letters, starts with A.
29A. Specialty
Hint: Think of the skill you describe as your strong suit. Five letters, starts with F.
30A. Degree that may take up to seven years to earn, for short
Hint: Use the academic abbreviation associated with a dissertation and advanced research. Three letters, starts with P.
31A. "Ant-Man and the ___," 2018 superhero movie
Hint: Think of Ant-Man's fellow shrinking hero, whose suit also lets her fly. Four letters, starts with W.
Down Hints
1D. Sound of a hoof hitting the ground
Hint: Listen for the hard footfall of a horse on pavement. Four letters, starts with C.
2D. Aviation lead-in to méxico or líneas Argentinas
Hint: Use the flight-related prefix shared by the airline names. Four letters, starts with A.
3D. Scolded
Hint: Think of a firm synonym for reprimanded, keeping the past tense. Nine letters, starts with C.
4D. Old comic book hero with a reduplicative name
Hint: Think of the young reporter who travels with his dog Snowy. Six letters, starts with T.
5D. Brand of fuzzy boots
Hint: Think of the footwear label associated with sheepskin-lined boots. Three letters, starts with U.
6D. "___ the One" (1996 rom-com co-starring Jennifer Aniston)
Hint: The missing title word contracts a feminine pronoun with a verb. Four letters, starts with S.
7D. Bit of tomfoolery
Hint: Think of a playful prank or silly exploit. Five letters, starts with A.
8D. ... a Georgia license plate
Hint: Picture the fuzzy-skinned fruit associated with Georgia. Five letters, starts with P.
9D. ___ Drive, retail district in Beverly Hills
Hint: Recall the Beverly Hills shopping street lined with luxury boutiques. Five letters, starts with R.
16D. Certain Native American celebration
Hint: Think of a Native American gathering featuring music and dancing. Six letters, starts with P.
18D. Letters under 2 on a phone
Hint: Visualize the letter group printed beneath the phone's 2 key. Three letters, starts with A.
20D. Collect, as crops
Hint: Think of the verb paired with sow in a familiar farming expression. Four letters, starts with R.
21D. ... a Utah license plate
Hint: Picture a natural sandstone opening in Utah's red-rock scenery. Four letters, starts with A.
22D. Sound after a punch to the gut
Hint: Think of the grunt made when a blow knocks the wind out of you. Three letters, starts with O.
25D. Supportive garment
Hint: Look for an undergarment that provides bust support. Three letters, starts with B.
26D. Tie-breaking periods, for short
Hint: Use plural sports shorthand for extra sessions after regulation ends tied. Three letters, starts with O.
27D. "Mm-hmm"
Hint: Think of a casual spoken agreement. Three letters, starts with Y.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
---
---
---
---
---
Across Answers
1A. Image on ... an Arizona license plate
Answer: CACTUS
7A. Month in which flowering and filing occurs: Abbr.
Answer: APR
10A. University in Bethlehem, Pa.
Answer: LEHIGH
11A. Prefix with classical
Answer: NEO
12A. ... a Florida license plate
Answer: ORANGE
13A. Smidgen
Answer: TAD
14A. The Washington ___
Answer: POST
15A. Cumin or coriander
Answer: SPICE
17A. Spanish for "aunt"
Answer: TIA
19A. Spanish for "eight"
Answer: OCHO
20A. ... a Hawaii license plate
Answer: RAINBOW
23A. Settings for "The Pitt" and "Grey's Anatomy," for short
Answer: ERS
24A. ... a Wyoming license plate
Answer: COWBOY
28A. Good heart?
Answer: ACE
29A. Specialty
Answer: FORTE
30A. Degree that may take up to seven years to earn, for short
Answer: PHD
31A. "Ant-Man and the ___," 2018 superhero movie
Answer: WASP
Down Answers
1D. Sound of a hoof hitting the ground
Answer: CLOP
2D. Aviation lead-in to méxico or líneas Argentinas
Answer: AERO
3D. Scolded
Answer: CHASTISED
4D. Old comic book hero with a reduplicative name
Answer: TINTIN
5D. Brand of fuzzy boots
Answer: UGG
6D. "___ the One" (1996 rom-com co-starring Jennifer Aniston)
Answer: SHES
7D. Bit of tomfoolery
Answer: ANTIC
8D. ... a Georgia license plate
Answer: PEACH
9D. ___ Drive, retail district in Beverly Hills
Answer: RODEO
16D. Certain Native American celebration
Answer: POWWOW
18D. Letters under 2 on a phone
Answer: ABC
20D. Collect, as crops
Answer: REAP
21D. ... a Utah license plate
Answer: ARCH
22D. Sound after a punch to the gut
Answer: OOF
25D. Supportive garment
Answer: BRA
26D. Tie-breaking periods, for short
Answer: OTS
27D. "Mm-hmm"
Answer: YEP
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 1A, "Image on ... an Arizona license plate," gives CACTUS and establishes the puzzle's defining device. The later ellipses borrow that opening wording, turning the themed clues into a tour of state license-plate imagery.
Wordplay Winner: 28A, "Good heart?", wins the wordplay prize with ACE. The clue redirects heart from character or anatomy to a card suit, where an ace is a strong holding.
Quick Fill: 18D's ABC is the fastest confident fill because the phone keypad fixes the sequence. Its A crosses TIA, its B crosses RAINBOW, and its C crosses COWBOY, giving themed answers RAINBOW and COWBOY useful footholds.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Read an ellipsis clue together with the clue that supplies its opening words. Here, carrying "Image on" from 1A into the other license-plate clues keeps you focused on depicted objects rather than state nicknames.
When a question-mark clue resists a literal reading, test another meaning of its key noun. ACE at 28A rewards switching heart to a card suit, a useful habit whenever a short clue feels oddly phrased.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The license-plate thread gives the grid a clear route, while ACE supplies a satisfying detour. Recognizing the repeated clue setup makes the whole solve feel connected.
See you at the next grid.