Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Monday's grid leans into pop culture, geography, and a dash of internet slang across a tight 9x9 layout. 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: 9x9
Total Clues: 49 (31 Across, 18 Down)
Trickiest Clue: "Rage ___ (Oxford University Press's 2025 Word of the Year)" for BAIT
Gimme Clue: "Rapper Kendrick" for LAMAR
Theme Spotted: "Keep it Moving"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. Frequent teen feeling
Hint: That moody, existential dread teenagers are famous for. Five letters.
6. Natural hairstyle once called a blowout
Hint: Big, curly, and proudly worn. Four letters, starts with A.
10. Rapper Kendrick
Hint: The Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper from Compton. Five letters.
11. Confiscated
Hint: The teacher did this to your phone. Four letters.
12. Country with a "boot"
Hint: Shaped like footwear, home to pizza and pasta. Five letters.
13. Dance in which Hawaiian oral traditions are passed down
Hint: Flowing hand movements and storytelling through dance. Four letters.
14. Rage ___ (Oxford University Press's 2025 Word of the Year)
Hint: What you do for clicks online. Four letters.
15. Street feature uncommon in Manhattan
Hint: A narrow passage between buildings. Five letters.
16. "Sure, tell me more ..."
Hint: What you say before falling for an obvious setup. Six letters plus a space.
18. Concedes
Hint: What you do when you finally admit you're wrong. Six letters.
21. Tropical fruit often crosshatched into cubes
Hint: Sweet, orange, and a pain to cut properly. Five letters.
24. Matching blazer and skirt, e.g.
Hint: Power dressing for the office. Four letters.
26. ___ vera gel
Hint: The plant you rub on a sunburn. Four letters.
27. ___ Boroughs (Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island)
Hint: Not Manhattan. Five letters.
28. Neighborhood amenity that might close for winter
Hint: Lap swimming, but seasonal. Four letters.
29. Took the wheel
Hint: Past tense of operating a vehicle. Five letters.
30. Thor and Baldr, to Odin
Hint: Norse family tree. Four letters.
31. Yankees legend Jeter
Hint: Number 2, retired by the Bronx Bombers. Five letters.
Down Hints
1. Interrogation room excuse
Hint: "I was somewhere else." Five letters.
2. Birth-related
Hint: Think prenatal, but for the actual event. Five letters.
3. Service with an "undo send" option
Hint: The email platform that saves you from embarrassment. Five letters.
4. Breakfast items that taste similar to soft pretzels
Hint: Chewy, salty, and often topped with sesame or poppy seeds. Nine letters, space included.
5. Not give up
Hint: Keep going, attempt again. Three letters.
6. Yoga pants and performance tops, e.g.
Hint: The Lululemon section of your closet. Ten letters.
7. Court infraction
Hint: A whistle blows, a ref points. Four letters.
8. Play part
Hint: Stage role. Four letters.
9. "Sounds reasonable!"
Hint: Casual agreement. Four letters.
15. Convenience at a cash-only restaurant, perhaps
Hint: That machine near the register. Three letters.
17. Wedding vow words
Hint: Two words every partner hopes to hear. Two letters plus a space.
19. Practice problem provider
Hint: The person helping you with calculus. Five letters.
20. Kitchen strainer
Hint: What you use to drain pasta. Five letters.
21. Things you might study before a geography test
Hint: Atlases are full of them. Four letters.
22. Samosa ingredient, in Indian cooking
Hint: The potato inside that crispy triangle. Four letters.
23. Lunchtime-ish
Hint: Midday, when the sun is highest. Four letters.
25. Difficult hike
Hint: Long, arduous trail. Four letters.
27. "Very unusual ..."
Hint: Not even. Three letters.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. Frequent teen feeling
Answer: ANGST
6. Natural hairstyle once called a blowout
Answer: AFRO
10. Rapper Kendrick
Answer: LAMAR
11. Confiscated
Answer: TOOK
12. Country with a "boot"
Answer: ITALY
13. Dance in which Hawaiian oral traditions are passed down
Answer: HULA
14. Rage ___ (Oxford University Press's 2025 Word of the Year)
Answer: BAIT
15. Street feature uncommon in Manhattan
Answer: ALLEY
16. "Sure, tell me more ..."
Answer: I'LL BITE
18. Concedes
Answer: ADMITS
21. Tropical fruit often crosshatched into cubes
Answer: MANGO
24. Matching blazer and skirt, e.g.
Answer: SUIT
26. ___ vera gel
Answer: ALOE
27. ___ Boroughs (Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island)
Answer: OUTER
28. Neighborhood amenity that might close for winter
Answer: POOL
29. Took the wheel
Answer: DROVE
30. Thor and Baldr, to Odin
Answer: SONS
31. Yankees legend Jeter
Answer: DEREK
Down Answers
1. Interrogation room excuse
Answer: ALIBI
2. Birth-related
Answer: NATAL
3. Service with an "undo send" option
Answer: GMAIL
4. Breakfast items that taste similar to soft pretzels
Answer: SALT BAGELS
5. Not give up
Answer: TRY
6. Yoga pants and performance tops, e.g.
Answer: ATHLEISURE
7. Court infraction
Answer: FOUL
8. Play part
Answer: ROLE
9. "Sounds reasonable!"
Answer: OKAY
15. Convenience at a cash-only restaurant, perhaps
Answer: ATM
17. Wedding vow words
Answer: I DO
19. Practice problem provider
Answer: TUTOR
20. Kitchen strainer
Answer: SIEVE
21. Things you might study before a geography test
Answer: MAPS
22. Samosa ingredient, in Indian cooking
Answer: ALOO
23. Lunchtime-ish
Answer: NOON
25. Difficult hike
Answer: TREK
27. "Very unusual ..."
Answer: ODD
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: "Rage ___ (Oxford University Press's 2025 Word of the Year)" for BAIT. The clue demands solvers to know that Oxford picked "rage bait" as the 2025 Word of the Year, a nod to how internet outrage drives engagement. It rewards solvers who keep up with language trends.
Wordplay Winner: "Sure, tell me more ..." for I'LL BITE. The phrase works on two levels: the literal meaning of taking a bite (connecting back to BAIT at 14A) and the conversational idiom of being hooked into a story. A nice thematic echo across the grid.
Quick Fill: "Rapper Kendrick" for LAMAR. A music trivia gimme for anyone who's listened to hip-hop in the last decade. Four letters, no guesswork.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Pay attention to clues that reference recent cultural events. "Rage ___" with the Oxford Word of the Year tag requires 2025-2026 cultural literacy. The NYT Crossword regularly pulls from contemporary language, so staying current pays off.
Short fillers like TOOK, TRY, OKAY, and ODD are Monday staples that build momentum. Knock out the three- and four-letter words first to reveal crossing letters for the longer entries like ATHLEISURE and SALT BAGELS. The 9x9 grid rewards early pattern recognition.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? The ANGST-to-ALOE run in the top-left corner is a solid warm-up for any solver. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
