Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Friday's grid brings a mix of pop culture references and clever wordplay.
Whether you're looking for a mid-length challenge or warming up for the full-size puzzle, we've got hints and answers to keep you moving.
How The Midi Works
The Midi is the middle ground between the Mini and the classic NYT Crossword, typically featuring an 8x10 or 9x11 grid with 15-20 Across and 15-20 Down clues.
It takes about 5-15 minutes to solve, making it perfect for a coffee break or commute. 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: 10x11
Total Clues: 38 (20 Across, 18 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 30A: "What a bibliophile prizes"
Gimme Clue: 14A: "It opens doors for you"
Theme Spotted: Toy tricks connection between 34-Across and 3D/7D
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. ___ B, rapper with the 2025 hit album "Am I the Drama?"
Hint: Grammy-winning female rapper, first name starts with C
6A. Q-tip, e.g.
Hint: Cotton cleaning tool, four letters
10A. Approximately
Hint: Roughly, around, five letters
11A. Lose color
Hint: Become less vivid, four letters
12A. Milwaukee's N.B.A. team
Hint: Giannis Antetokounmpo's team, five letters
13A. Boatloads
Hint: A great deal, four letters with space
14A. It opens doors for you
Hint: Metal object for locks, three letters
15A. Seller of the Skogsta dinner table and Kivik sofa
Hint: Swedish furniture giant, four letters
16A. Pets that share about 95% of their DNA with tigers
Hint: Common household animals, four letters
18A. Explosive stuff
Hint: Acronym for trinitrotoluene, three letters
19A. "Come again?"
Hint: Expression of confusion, three letters
20A. "Sup, bro!"
Hint: Casual greeting, two letters
21A. Big pig that digs
Hint: Farm animal, three letters
24A. Intense anger
Hint: Wrath, fury, three letters
25A. "___ vey!" (Yiddish "yeesh!")
Hint: Exclamation of dismay, two letters
26A. ___ out a living
Hint: Scrape by, three letters
27A. Kind of salad with bacon, blue cheese, eggs, tomatoes and chicken
Hint: Named after a baseball manager, four letters
29A. Object of adoration
Hint: Celebrity, icon, four letters
30A. What a bibliophile prizes
Hint: Collector's item for book lovers, eight letters with space
33A. Putting up with
Hint: Tolerating, enduring, seven letters
34A. Something that does tricks ... such as those at 3- and 7-Down
Hint: Classic toy on a string, four letters
Down Hints
1D. Lyft alternative
Hint: Taxi, three letters
2D. ___ Dhabi
Hint: Capital of UAE, three letters
3D. Do a new parent's job
Hint: Soothe an infant, three words
4D. "Put up your !"
Hint: Prepare to fight, five letters
5D. Teeny-tiny
Hint: Very small, four letters
6D. Home country of Miguel de Cervantes and Federico García Lorca
Hint: European nation, five letters
7D. Do a pet owner's job
Hint: Take the canine for exercise, three words
8D. Balm that soothes sunburns
Hint: Plant-based skin treatment, four letters
9D. β
Hint: Second Greek letter, four letters
16D. Smartly dressed
Hint: Stylish, elegant, four letters
17D. ___ borealis
Hint: Northern lights, six letters
18D. 34-Across, e.g.
Hint: Plaything, three letters
20D. "___ te amo" ("I love you," in Spanish)
Hint: Spanish for "I", two letters
22D. "All right already! I hear you!"
Hint: Expression of agreement, four letters
23D. Hair-hardening stuff
Hint: Styling product, three letters
28D. Pizazz
Hint: Energy, vigor, four letters
29D. Molecule that has gained or lost electrons
Hint: Charged particle, three letters
31D. Surname in the ice cream aisle
Hint: Frozen dessert brand, three letters
32D. Dating app description
Hint: Personal summary, three letters
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. ___ B, rapper with the 2025 hit album "Am I the Drama?"
Answer: CARDI
6A. Q-tip, e.g.
Answer: SWAB
10A. Approximately
Answer: ABOUT
11A. Lose color
Answer: PALE
12A. Milwaukee's N.B.A. team
Answer: BUCKS
13A. Boatloads
Answer: ALOT
14A. It opens doors for you
Answer: KEY
15A. Seller of the Skogsta dinner table and Kivik sofa
Answer: IKEA
16A. Pets that share about 95% of their DNA with tigers
Answer: CATS
18A. Explosive stuff
Answer: TNT
19A. "Come again?"
Answer: HUH
20A. "Sup, bro!"
Answer: YO
21A. Big pig that digs
Answer: HOG
24A. Intense anger
Answer: IRE
25A. "___ vey!" (Yiddish "yeesh!")
Answer: OY
26A. ___ out a living
Answer: EKE
27A. Kind of salad with bacon, blue cheese, eggs, tomatoes and chicken
Answer: COBB
29A. Object of adoration
Answer: IDOL
30A. What a bibliophile prizes
Answer: RAREBOOK
33A. Putting up with
Answer: ABIDING
34A. Something that does tricks ... such as those at 3- and 7-Down
Answer: YOYO
Down Answers
1D. Lyft alternative
Answer: CAB
2D. ___ Dhabi
Answer: ABU
3D. Do a new parent's job
Answer: ROCKTHEBABY
4D. "Put up your !"
Answer: DUKES
5D. Teeny-tiny
Answer: ITSY
6D. Home country of Miguel de Cervantes and Federico García Lorca
Answer: SPAIN
7D. Do a pet owner's job
Answer: WALKTHEDOG
8D. Balm that soothes sunburns
Answer: ALOE
9D. β
Answer: BETA
16D. Smartly dressed
Answer: CHIC
17D. ___ borealis
Answer: AURORA
18D. 34-Across, e.g.
Answer: TOY
20D. "___ te amo" ("I love you," in Spanish)
Answer: YO
22D. "All right already! I hear you!"
Answer: OKOK
23D. Hair-hardening stuff
Answer: GEL
28D. Pizazz
Answer: BRIO
29D. Molecule that has gained or lost electrons
Answer: ION
31D. Surname in the ice cream aisle
Answer: EDY
32D. Dating app description
Answer: BIO
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 30A "What a bibliophile prizes" for RAREBOOK. This clue requires specific collector knowledge and the eight-letter answer with a space adds complexity.
Wordplay Winner: 34A "Something that does tricks ... such as those at 3- and 7-Down" for YOYO. The clue cleverly references ROCKTHEBABY and WALKTHEDOG as "tricks" a yoyo performs.
Quick Fill: 14A "It opens doors for you" for KEY. This straightforward clue provides immediate entry into the grid with a common three-letter word.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Watch for Spanish language clues like 20D "___ te amo" and 6D's reference to Spanish authors. These often signal YO or SPAIN answers.
Recognize pop culture references quickly. Today's puzzle includes Cardi B (1A), IKEA (15A), and the Milwaukee Bucks (12A) - all current references that solvers should spot immediately.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? The toy tricks theme connecting YOYO to ROCKTHEBABY and WALKTHEDOG showed clever construction.
Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one. See you at the next grid.
