Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Sunday's 9x9 grid leans into pop culture and wordplay with a satisfying mix of Barbie universe trivia, textspeak shorthand, and a few literary curveballs. 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: 26 (12 Across, 14 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 3D. "Online reservation service with the onetime tagline 'You don't need a reason, you need a restaurant'", a deep pull for restaurant booking trivia
Gimme Clue: 1A. "As I see it...," in textspeak, this is a three-letter gimme that gets the grid moving
Theme Spotted: "Act on a Hunch"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. "As I see it...," in textspeak
Hint: Internet shorthand for an opinion. Three letters, starts with I.
4. "OMG, please spare me the gory details!"
Hint: The acronym for too much information. Three letters.
7. Floor-wiping tool
Hint: What you push across a wet kitchen floor. Three letters, starts with M.
8. Sound from an owl
Hint: What owls say in cartoons. Four letters.
9. Poetic homage
Hint: A lyrical tribute. Three letters, starts with O.
10. Shapes, as clay
Hint: What a potter does to wet clay on a wheel. Five letters.
11. Male figures in the Barbie universe
Hint: Think beyond just Ken. Seven letters, two words.
13. Shipshape
Hint: Neat and orderly, like a sailor's quarters. Four letters.
14. Fictional Notre Dame resident
Hint: Victor Hugo's hunchback. Nine letters.
19. Some PC port types
Hint: Universal Serial Bus connectors. Four letters.
20. Wilson of "Wedding Crashers"
Hint: The actor who played John Beckwith. Four letters.
21. ___ of Skye
Hint: A Scottish island. Four letters.
22. Word shouted by a forgetful actor
Hint: What an actor calls for when they blank on stage. Four letters.
23. Very, in French
Hint: Très something. Four letters.
24. "You rang?"
Hint: A polite affirmative response. Three letters.
Down Hints
1. Reassuring call following a loud bang
Hint: "I am okay" in text form. Four letters.
2. Mean, median and ___
Hint: The third measure of central tendency in statistics. Four letters.
3. Online reservation service with the onetime tagline "You don't need a reason, you need a restaurant"
Hint: A dining booking platform. Nine letters.
4. Highway expense
Hint: What you pay at a booth on the turnpike. Four letters.
5. Online forum regulators, for short
Hint: The people who enforce subreddit rules. Four letters.
6. "___ my way or the highway!"
Hint: A possessive pronoun in an ultimatum. Three letters.
8. "Wowza!"
Hint: An exclamation of amazement. Seven letters, two words.
10. Prime minister of India beginning in 2014
Hint: Narendra ___ . Four letters.
12. Insults, informally
Hint: Slang for talking trash about someone. Five letters.
14. Throw in the towel
Hint: To give up or surrender. Four letters.
15. Country that spanned 11 time zones, for short
Hint: The former Soviet Union's abbreviation. Four letters.
16. Boo-boo
Hint: A minor injury, as a toddler might call it. Four letters.
17. TV rooms
Hint: Family rooms where you binge-watch. Four letters.
18. 10/10?
Hint: A perfect score reduced to a single digit. Three letters.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. "As I see it...," in textspeak
Answer: IMO
4. "OMG, please spare me the gory details!"
Answer: TMI
7. Floor-wiping tool
Answer: MOP
8. Sound from an owl
Answer: HOOT
9. Poetic homage
Answer: ODE
10. Shapes, as clay
Answer: MOLDS
11. Male figures in the Barbie universe
Answer: KENDOLLS
13. Shipshape
Answer: TIDY
14. Fictional Notre Dame resident
Answer: QUASIMODO
19. Some PC port types
Answer: USBS
20. Wilson of "Wedding Crashers"
Answer: OWEN
21. ___ of Skye
Answer: ISLE
22. Word shouted by a forgetful actor
Answer: LINE
23. Very, in French
Answer: TRES
24. "You rang?"
Answer: YES
Down Answers
1. Reassuring call following a loud bang
Answer: IMOK
2. Mean, median and ___
Answer: MODE
3. Online reservation service with the onetime tagline "You don't need a reason, you need a restaurant"
Answer: OPENTABLE
4. Highway expense
Answer: TOLL
5. Online forum regulators, for short
Answer: MODS
6. "___ my way or the highway!"
Answer: ITS
8. "Wowza!"
Answer: HOLYMOLY
10. Prime minister of India beginning in 2014
Answer: MODI
12. Insults, informally
Answer: DISSES
14. Throw in the towel
Answer: QUIT
15. Country that spanned 11 time zones, for short
Answer: USSR
16. Boo-boo
Answer: OWIE
17. TV rooms
Answer: DENS
18. 10/10?
Answer: ONE
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 11A. "Male figures in the Barbie universe" for KENDOLLS. The plural twist on Ken's name splits the difference between pop culture savvy and clever word construction. It's the kind of answer that rewards solvers who know their Mattel lore.
Wordplay Winner: 18D. "10/10?" for ONE. A perfect score reduced to its mathematical essence. The question mark signals wordplay, and the payoff is a clean three-letter answer that feels earned.
Quick Fill: 7A. "Floor-wiping tool" for MOP. Three letters, zero ambiguity. The kind of clue that gives your brain a rest between tougher intersections.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Start with the three-letter gimmes. IMO (1A), MOP (7A), ODE (9A), and YES (24A) form a solid anchor around the grid's edges. Filling those in early opens up the longer Across entries and gives you crossing letters for the Down column.
Watch for textspeak clusters. IMO, TMI, and IMOK all appear in the upper-left quadrant. When the constructor drops one internet acronym, scan for others nearby, they often travel in packs.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? The KENDOLLS-QUASIMODO stretch in the middle rewards pop culture and literary knowledge in equal measure. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
