Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Monday's grid brings a solid 10x10 challenge that leans into pop culture with a dash of wordplay. Broadway musicals, Hamilton trivia, and a board game deep cut keep things interesting without veering into Tuesday-level difficulty. 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: 10x10
Total Clues: 36 (18 Across, 18 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 17D, "Alternative weapon to the candlestick, knife, lead pipe, revolver or rope, in Clue." You need Clue/Cluedo knowledge to place this one.
Gimme Clue: 30A, "That was silly of me!." Homer Simpson's signature exclamation is a free square.
Theme Spotted: "Early Birds"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. Not together
Hint: Think of something being separated. Five letters, starts with A.
6. Transcript stat
Hint: The three-letter abbreviation for your academic average.
9. Get back, as an advantage
Hint: To recover or reclaim something you lost. Six letters.
11. Coffee vessel with a spigot
Hint: You'll find this at a diner breakfast buffet. Three letters.
12. Hordes of people
Hint: Large groups or masses. Six letters, starts with C.
13. One of eight on a scorpion
Hint: Arachnids have eight of these. Three letters.
14. Long-eared pooches
Hint: A breed of hound with floppy ears. Seven letters.
16. "... the night before Christmas ..."
Hint: The first word of the classic poem. Four letters.
18. 1996 Tony-winning musical set in New York's Alphabet City
Hint: A Pulitzer-winning rock musical about artists in the East Village. Four letters.
19. "Aaron ___, Sir" (song in "Hamilton")
Hint: Alexander Hamilton's rival and eventual dueling opponent. Four letters.
20. Exams with scores ranging from 400 to 1600
Hint: The standardized test American high schoolers stress over. Four letters.
21. March Madness favorite
Hint: The top-ranked team in the tournament bracket. Seven letters, two words.
23. Animal house?
Hint: A wild animal's shelter. Three letters.
24. Stylish and expensive
Hint: Fancy, chic, and high-end. Six letters, starts with S.
28. "And so on"
Hint: The Latin abbreviation for "and the rest." Three letters.
29. Place where cats nap, perhaps
Hint: A cozy spot specifically for your feline friend. Six letters, two words.
30. "That was silly of me!"
Hint: Homer Simpson's go-to exclamation of frustration. Three letters.
31. College bigwigs
Hint: University administrators. Five letters.
Down Hints
1. TV character's development path
Hint: The story journey a character takes over a season. Three letters.
2. Miles ___ hour
Hint: The preposition that completes the speed measurement. Three letters.
3. In the past
Hint: Before now. Three letters.
4. Places to eat oysters
Hint: Seafood establishments that serve shellfish on ice. Seven letters, two words.
5. Phenomena caused by the moon
Hint: Ocean movements influenced by lunar gravity. Five letters.
6. Esophagus
Hint: The tube connecting mouth to stomach. Six letters.
7. Primps
Hint: Grooms oneself meticulously. Six letters.
8. Internal turmoil
Hint: A feeling of deep anxiety or dread. Five letters.
10. Secretive government org.
Hint: Three-letter agency known for surveillance.
15. Blend smoothly, as from one color to another
Hint: The artistic term for a gradual color transition. Seven letters.
16. Locate on the radio
Hint: Adjust the dial to find a station. Six letters, two words.
17. Alternative weapon to the candlestick, knife, lead pipe, revolver or rope, in Clue
Hint: The sixth weapon in the classic board game Clue. Six letters.
19. Foreshadowed (either favorably or ominously)
Hint: Past tense of a word meaning to portend. Five letters.
20. Stitched
Hint: Used a needle and thread. Five letters.
22. Mind-reading ability, for short
Hint: Three-letter abbreviation for extrasensory perception.
25. Org. for Hawks and Hornets
Hint: The professional basketball league. Three letters.
26. Ryan Gosling's role in "Barbie"
Hint: The character is literally just the male version of the toy. Three letters.
27. Football field units: Abbr.
Hint: The three-letter abbreviation for a unit of distance in football.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. Not together
Answer: APART
6. Transcript stat
Answer: GPA
9. Get back, as an advantage
Answer: REGAIN
11. Coffee vessel with a spigot
Answer: URN
12. Hordes of people
Answer: CROWDS
13. One of eight on a scorpion
Answer: LEG
14. Long-eared pooches
Answer: BEAGLES
16. "... the night before Christmas ..."
Answer: TWAS
18. 1996 Tony-winning musical set in New York's Alphabet City
Answer: RENT
19. "Aaron ___, Sir" (song in "Hamilton")
Answer: BURR
20. Exams with scores ranging from 400 to 1600
Answer: SATS
21. March Madness favorite
Answer: ONESEED
23. Animal house?
Answer: DEN
24. Stylish and expensive
Answer: SWANKY
28. "And so on"
Answer: ETC
29. Place where cats nap, perhaps
Answer: PETBED
30. "That was silly of me!"
Answer: DOH
31. College bigwigs
Answer: DEANS
Down Answers
1. TV character's development path
Answer: ARC
2. Miles ___ hour
Answer: PER
3. In the past
Answer: AGO
4. Places to eat oysters
Answer: RAWBARS
5. Phenomena caused by the moon
Answer: TIDES
6. Esophagus
Answer: GULLET
7. Primps
Answer: PREENS
8. Internal turmoil
Answer: ANGST
10. Secretive government org.
Answer: NSA
15. Blend smoothly, as from one color to another
Answer: GRADATE
16. Locate on the radio
Answer: TUNETO
17. Alternative weapon to the candlestick, knife, lead pipe, revolver or rope, in Clue
Answer: WRENCH
19. Foreshadowed (either favorably or ominously)
Answer: BODED
20. Stitched
Answer: SEWED
22. Mind-reading ability, for short
Answer: ESP
25. Org. for Hawks and Hornets
Answer: NBA
26. Ryan Gosling's role in "Barbie"
Answer: KEN
27. Football field units: Abbr.
Answer: YDS
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 17D, "Alternative weapon to the candlestick, knife, lead pipe, revolver or rope, in Clue" for WRENCH. This clue demands familiarity with the classic board game's weapon roster. Even seasoned solvers might pause to mentally run through the Clue inventory before landing on the wrench.
Wordplay Winner: 1A, "Not together" for APART. A clean, classic crossword construction where the clue's negation maps directly to the prefix-laden answer. Simple but satisfying.
Quick Fill: 30A, "That was silly of me!" for DOH. Homer Simpson's catchphrase is about as free as Monday clues get. Three letters, instantly recognizable, zero ambiguity.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Pop culture knowledge pays off fast. BURR (Hamilton), RENT (Broadway), KEN (Barbie), and DOH (The Simpsons) form a quadrant of freebies if you stay current with entertainment. When you spot a cultural reference in the clue, lock it in early, these answers rarely have alternative interpretations.
Three-letter fillers are your entry points. GPA, URN, LEG, DEN, ETC, DOH, ARC, PER, AGO, NSA, ESP, KEN, YDS, nearly a third of this grid is three-letter answers. Identify them first to build scaffolding for the longer entries crossing them.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? The Clue board game reference at 17D was Monday's curveball, but the rest of the puzzle rewards solvers who keep up with pop culture and trust their three-letter instincts. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
