Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Sunday's 11x11 grid delivers a balanced mix of pop culture nostalgia and sharp 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: 11x11
Total Clues: 44 (23 Across, 21 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 1A "Skipped over in speech, as letters of a word" The linguistic term rarely appears in everyday conversation.
Gimme Clue: 28A "Network that aired 'Room Raiders' and 'Cribs'" Anyone who remembers early-2000s reality TV will fill this in instantly.
Theme Spotted: "Corner Stores"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. Skipped over in speech, as letters of a word
Hint: Think of how some words lose a syllable when spoken fast. Six letters, starts with E.
7. Credit alternative
Hint: The opposite of plastic. Four letters.
11. Dance move performed at a hoedown
Hint: Square dancers know this one. Two words, six letters total.
12. Kind of sax or clarinet
Hint: The middle voice in a woodwind section. Four letters, starts with A.
13. "The plan is on!"
Hint: Five-letter phrase of confirmation. Starts with I.
14. "___ on truckin'!"
Hint: A classic slogan from the 1970s. Four letters.
15. Fantasy football transaction
Hint: You swap one player for another. Five letters.
16. Flood preventer
Hint: You'll find these along riverbanks. Five letters, starts with L.
17. Got away
Hint: Past tense of what a prisoner does. Seven letters.
19. Paper purchase
Hint: Office supply stores sell these by the case. Four letters.
22. Commotion
Hint: A fuss or a stir. Three letters.
23. Burnt ___
Hint: What's left of a match or a cigarette. Four letters.
24. Route created to avoid city traffic
Hint: A highway that skirts the congestion. Six letters.
28. Network that aired "Room Raiders" and "Cribs"
Hint: Three letters. The music channel that made reality TV a thing.
29. Prompt, as one's memory
Hint: What a jog does, but for your brain. Three letters.
30. .
Hint: A period, a decimal point, or a web address separator. Three letters.
31. Place to see an indoor concert
Hint: Big venue with seats and a stage. Five letters, starts with A.
33. Bakery enticement
Hint: The scent that pulls you through the door. Five letters.
35. Continue, as a subscription
Hint: What you do before your Netflix runs out. Five letters.
36. Expectant parents' tote
Hint: Hospital-ready bag with baby essentials. Five letters.
37. Kind of low-carb, high-fat diet
Hint: Four letters. The diet that made bacon a health food.
38. "Humble" home
Hint: A dwelling, modestly described. Five letters, starts with A.
Down Hints
1. Find and fix typos
Hint: What copy editors and proofreaders do. Four letters.
2. Long Tolkien saga, for short
Hint: Four letters. One ring to rule them all.
3. Actress Rae of "Barbie"
Hint: Four letters. She played President Barbie.
4. Bejeweled crowns
Hint: Royal headwear, fancy version. Seven letters.
5. Cubes have twelve of them
Hint: Where two faces meet on a shape. Five letters.
6. Scooby-___
Hint: The mystery-solving Great Dane's partner. Three letters.
7. Birthday party treat served on a stick
Hint: A cupcake on a popsicle stick. Seven letters.
8. Motrin competitor
Hint: Pain reliever brand. Five letters, starts with A.
9. Knight's ride
Hint: A horse, in medieval terms. Five letters.
10. Optimistic feeling
Hint: The opposite of despair. Four letters.
16. Singer/actress who won a Golden Globe, Grammy and Oscar for her work in "A Star Is Born"
Hint: Seven letters. One name, all caps.
18. Vacation destination in Mexico, familiarly
Hint: Four letters. Beach resort at the tip of Baja.
19. Comment
Hint: A spoken observation. Six letters.
20. French appetizer ... or American main course
Hint: The word means "entry" in French. Six letters.
21. ___ calendar
Hint: The season of chocolate calendars and wreaths. Six letters.
25. Popular dish in the Philippines
Hint: A savory stew with meat and vinegar. Five letters.
26. Super angry
Hint: Beyond furious. Five letters, starts with S.
27. Put on, as a play
Hint: What a theater company does with a production. Five letters.
29. Body part that drops in surprise
Hint: Your mouth goes slack. Three letters.
32. Keanu's role in "The Matrix"
Hint: Three letters. He dodges bullets in slow motion.
34. Steal from
Hint: To take what isn't yours. Three letters.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. Skipped over in speech, as letters of a word
Answer: ELIDED
7. Credit alternative
Answer: CASH
11. Dance move performed at a hoedown
Answer: DOSIDO
12. Kind of sax or clarinet
Answer: ALTO
13. "The plan is on!"
Answer: ITSAGO
14. "___ on truckin'!"
Answer: KEEP
15. Fantasy football transaction
Answer: TRADE
16. Flood preventer
Answer: LEVEE
17. Got away
Answer: ESCAPED
19. Paper purchase
Answer: REAM
22. Commotion
Answer: ADO
23. Burnt ___
Answer: ENDS
24. Route created to avoid city traffic
Answer: BYPASS
28. Network that aired "Room Raiders" and "Cribs"
Answer: MTV
29. Prompt, as one's memory
Answer: JOG
30. .
Answer: DOT
31. Place to see an indoor concert
Answer: ARENA
33. Bakery enticement
Answer: AROMA
35. Continue, as a subscription
Answer: RENEW
36. Expectant parents' tote
Answer: GOBAG
37. Kind of low-carb, high-fat diet
Answer: KETO
38. "Humble" home
Answer: ABODE
Down Answers
1. Find and fix typos
Answer: EDIT
2. Long Tolkien saga, for short
Answer: LOTR
3. Actress Rae of "Barbie"
Answer: ISSA
4. Bejeweled crowns
Answer: DIADEMS
5. Cubes have twelve of them
Answer: EDGES
6. Scooby-___
Answer: DOO
7. Birthday party treat served on a stick
Answer: CAKEPOP
8. Motrin competitor
Answer: ALEVE
9. Knight's ride
Answer: STEED
10. Optimistic feeling
Answer: HOPE
16. Singer/actress who won a Golden Globe, Grammy and Oscar for her work in "A Star Is Born"
Answer: LADYGAGA
18. Vacation destination in Mexico, familiarly
Answer: CABO
19. Comment
Answer: REMARK
20. French appetizer ... or American main course
Answer: ENTREE
21. ___ calendar
Answer: ADVENT
25. Popular dish in the Philippines
Answer: ADOBO
26. Super angry
Answer: SOMAD
27. Put on, as a play
Answer: STAGE
29. Body part that drops in surprise
Answer: JAW
32. Keanu's role in "The Matrix"
Answer: NEO
34. Steal from
Answer: ROB
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 1A "Skipped over in speech, as letters of a word" for ELIDED. This is the rare crossword answer that teaches you something. Elision is a linguistic phenomenon most people recognize intuitively but can't name. It's a satisfying brain-teaser to lead the grid.
Wordplay Winner: 20D "French appetizer ... or American main course" for ENTREE. The same word means opposite things depending on which side of the Atlantic you're eating. That's the kind of bilingual trick that makes crosswords fun.
Quick Fill: 28A "Network that aired 'Room Raiders' and 'Cribs'" for MTV. Three letters, peak 2000s nostalgia, and it unlocks a solid chunk of the southeast quadrant.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Short Across entries like ADO, DOT, and JOG are your entry points. Fill those in first to expose letters for the longer Down answers. 22A ADO and 30A DOT cross multiple Down clues, making them high-value targets for breaking open the grid.
Watch for pop culture clusters. LADYGAGA (16D), NEO (32D), ISSA (3D), and MTV (28A) all sit in a tight zone. If you recognize one, the others fall quickly. The puzzle's constructor grouped these intentionally, so trust that connection.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? Between the linguistic curveball at 1A and the pop culture run in the lower half, this Sunday puzzle rewarded solvers who could toggle between wordplay and trivia. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
