Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Sunday's 10x10 grid bridges digital culture with classic crossword fare.
The puzzle mixes internet-era references like social media buttons with traditional geographic and pop culture trivia.
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: 50 (29 Across, 21 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 14A. "Things sticking up in Like buttons" - requires connecting social media interface design to the literal meaning
Gimme Clue: 1A. "Meat in a hamburger, typically"- straightforward common knowledge
Theme Spotted: "Day by Day"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Meat in a hamburger, typically
Hint: Common ground meat, four letters
5A. To date
Hint: Two-word phrase meaning "up to now"
10A. Ailment known as the "kissing disease"
Hint: Infectious mononucleosis, four letters
11A. [Oh my gosh, what a dreamboat!]
Hint: React with romantic excitement, five letters
12A. "This Is How ___ It" (1990s R&B hit)
Hint: Montell Jordan song, two words
13A. Talk trash to
Hint: Provoke or mock, five letters
14A. Things sticking up in Like buttons
Hint: Body parts represented in social media icons, six letters
16A. "We're moving to extra innings!"
Hint: Three-word baseball announcement
18A. Michelangelo's David, e.g.
Hint: Artwork carved from stone, six letters
19A. One ___ million
Hint: Common phrase for rarity, two words
22A. Sing door-to-door around Christmas
Hint: Holiday musical tradition, five letters
23A. Scheme
Hint: Plan or conspiracy, four letters
24A. One of the four main vocal ranges
Hint: Between soprano and tenor, four letters
25A. "Twilight" protagonist
Hint: Bella Swan's first name, five letters
26A. Type in some digits
Hint: Use a telephone, four letters
27A. ___ Tuck, one of Robin Hood's Merry Men
Hint: Religious title, five letters
28A. Without
Hint: French-derived preposition, four letters
29A. Largest branch of Islam
Hint: Major Islamic denomination, five letters
Down Hints
1D. Automaker with the slogan "The Ultimate Driving Machine"
Hint: German luxury car brand, three letters
2D. Inits. in a fair-hiring job posting
Hint: Equal Opportunity Employer abbreviation, three letters
3D. The ___ of an era
Hint: Conclusion or termination, three letters
4D. Ottomans, e.g.
Hint: Furniture for resting feet, ten letters
5D. Very perceptive
Hint: Keenly observant, six letters
6D. All-knowing Hindu teacher
Hint: Spiritual guide, five letters
7D. 1986 hit song from Run-D.M.C.
Hint: "You Be Illin'" - three words with apostrophe
8D. Ages and ages
Hint: Geological time periods, four letters
9D. Explosive purchase for Wile E. Coyote
Hint: Acme Corporation product, three letters
15D. Cargo in a big rig
Hint: Truckload of goods, four letters
16D. Home to Napoli and Roma
Hint: European country, five letters
17D. Plaid Highlands pattern
Hint: Scottish fabric design, six letters
18D. A whole bunch
Hint: Large quantity, five letters
20D. Christopher who directed "Dunkirk"
Hint: Famous film director, five letters
21D. Pioneering arcade game company
Hint: Early video game manufacturer, five letters
23D. South American nation that's home to about 80% of the world's alpacas
Hint: Andean country, four letters
25D. Some significant others, for short
Hint: Boyfriends abbreviation, three letters
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Meat in a hamburger, typically
Answer: BEEF
5A. To date
Answer: AS YET
10A. Ailment known as the "kissing disease"
Answer: MONO
11A. [Oh my gosh, what a dreamboat!]
Answer: SWOON
12A. "This Is How ___ It" (1990s R&B hit)
Answer: WE DO
13A. Talk trash to
Answer: TAUNT
14A. Things sticking up in Like buttons
Answer: THUMBS
16A. "We're moving to extra innings!"
Answer: IT'S A TIE
18A. Michelangelo's David, e.g.
Answer: STATUE
19A. One ___ million
Answer: IN A
22A. Sing door-to-door around Christmas
Answer: CAROL
23A. Scheme
Answer: PLOT
24A. One of the four main vocal ranges
Answer: ALTO
25A. "Twilight" protagonist
Answer: BELLA
26A. Type in some digits
Answer: DIAL
27A. ___ Tuck, one of Robin Hood's Merry Men
Answer: FRIAR
28A. Without
Answer: SANS
29A. Largest branch of Islam
Answer: SUNNI
Down Answers
1D. Automaker with the slogan "The Ultimate Driving Machine"
Answer: BMW
2D. Inits. in a fair-hiring job posting
Answer: EOE
3D. The ___ of an era
Answer: END
4D. Ottomans, e.g.
Answer: FOOTSTOOLS
5D. Very perceptive
Answer: ASTUTE
6D. All-knowing Hindu teacher
Answer: SWAMI
7D. 1986 hit song from Run-D.M.C.
Answer: YOU BE ILLIN'
8D. Ages and ages
Answer: EONS
9D. Explosive purchase for Wile E. Coyote
Answer: TNT
15D. Cargo in a big rig
Answer: HAUL
16D. Home to Napoli and Roma
Answer: ITALY
17D. Plaid Highlands pattern
Answer: TARTAN
18D. A whole bunch
Answer: SCADS
20D. Christopher who directed "Dunkirk"
Answer: NOLAN
21D. Pioneering arcade game company
Answer: ATARI
23D. South American nation that's home to about 80% of the world's alpacas
Answer: PERU
25D. Some significant others, for short
Answer: BFS
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 14A "Things sticking up in Like buttons" for THUMBS. The clue cleverly connects modern social media interface design with literal body parts, requiring solvers to think visually about digital culture.
Wordplay Winner: 7D "1986 hit song from Run-D.M.C." for YOU BE ILLIN'. The answer preserves the apostrophe and casual spelling from the original song title, maintaining the hip-hop group's distinctive style within crossword constraints.
Quick Fill: 1A "Meat in a hamburger, typically" for BEEF. This straightforward clue provides an easy entry point with common culinary knowledge that most solvers will recognize immediately.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Watch for modern cultural references mixed with traditional crossword fare. Today's grid includes social media buttons (THUMBS), 1990s R&B (WE DO), and video game history (ATARI) alongside classic geographic and religious clues.
Use pop culture knowledge strategically. Recognizing Montell Jordan's "This Is How We Do It," Run-D.M.C.'s "You Be Illin'," and Christopher Nolan's filmography provides quick entries that intersect with more challenging clues.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? The blend of digital-era references with traditional crossword content reflects how language and culture continue evolving.
Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
