Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Sunday's grid brings a Noah's Ark theme with visual 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: 9x10
Total Clues: 38 (19 Across, 19 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 15A: "How the animals entered Noah's Ark ... or a description of this puzzle's circled letters?"
Gimme Clue: 8A: "Crowded grocery store annoyance"
Theme Spotted: "Squaring Off"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Energy bar brand with a rock climber on the wrapper
Hint: Popular hiking snack, four letters, starts with C
5A. ___ to differ
Hint: Polite disagreement phrase, three letters
8A. Crowded grocery store annoyance
Hint: What you wait in, four letters
9A. Frighten
Hint: Make someone jump, five letters
11A. Just
Hint: Only, four letters
12A. "White or ___ bread?"
Hint: Whole grain alternative, five letters
13A. What might cause someone to say, "Get a room!," for short
Hint: Public display of affection abbreviation, three letters
14A. Org. to call for a tire change
Hint: Roadside assistance triple-A, three letters
15A. How the animals entered Noah's Ark ... or a description of this puzzle's circled letters?
Hint: Biblical pairing pattern, eight letters with "BY" in the middle
19A. Father figures
Hint: French for dads, three letters
20A. One of eight on an octopus
Hint: Tentacle alternative, three letters
22A. What a "You won $10,000" pop-up message probably isn't
Hint: Opposite of fake, five letters
25A. Be a passenger
Hint: Travel in a car without driving, four letters
26A. Make amends
Hint: Repent or apologize, five letters
27A. More than
Hint: Exceeding, four letters
28A. Expressed, as farewell
Hint: Said goodbye, four letters
29A. "Now ___ talking!"
Hint: You're getting somewhere phrase, four letters
Down Hints
1D. When repeated, an onomatopoeia for hoofbeats
Hint: Horse sound, four letters
2D. Chocolate brand selling spherical truffles
Hint: Swiss chocolate maker, five letters
3D. Relative via marriage
Hint: Not blood relative, five letters
4D. Tina of "Only Murders in the Building"
Hint: Comedian and actress, three letters
5D. Romantic partner, casually
Hint: Slang for boyfriend/girlfriend, three letters
6D. An All-Star pitcher has a low one, in brief
Hint: Baseball statistic abbreviation, three letters
7D. Obtain
Hint: Acquire or receive, three letters
9D. Influences
Hint: Affects or persuades, four letters
10D. Informal conversation
Hint: Casual talk, four letters
14D. Lessen
Hint: Reduce or diminish, five letters
16D. Offer one's thoughts
Hint: Express an opinion, five letters
17D. Make no longer required, say
Hint: Excuse or exempt, five letters
18D. Request, or command
Hint: Tell someone to do something, five letters
21D. ___ mortal
Hint: Mere, four letters
22D. Shortened name for a type of dog ... or a science class
Hint: Labrador or laboratory, three letters
23D. Datum on an airport screen: Abbr.
Hint: Expected time of arrival abbreviation, three letters
24D. Loki or Osiris
Hint: Mythological figure, three letters
25D. Propel a boat forward
Hint: Use oars, three letters
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Energy bar brand with a rock climber on the wrapper
Answer: CLIF
5A. ___ to differ
Answer: BEG
8A. Crowded grocery store annoyance
Answer: LINE
9A. Frighten
Answer: SCARE
11A. Just
Answer: ONLY
12A. "White or ___ bread?"
Answer: WHEAT
13A. What might cause someone to say, "Get a room!," for short
Answer: PDA
14A. Org. to call for a tire change
Answer: AAA
15A. How the animals entered Noah's Ark ... or a description of this puzzle's circled letters?
Answer: TWOBYTWO
19A. Father figures
Answer: PAS
20A. One of eight on an octopus
Answer: ARM
22A. What a "You won $10,000" pop-up message probably isn't
Answer: LEGIT
25A. Be a passenger
Answer: RIDE
26A. Make amends
Answer: ATONE
27A. More than
Answer: OVER
28A. Expressed, as farewell
Answer: BADE
29A. "Now ___ talking!"
Answer: WERE
Down Answers
1D. When repeated, an onomatopoeia for hoofbeats
Answer: CLOP
2D. Chocolate brand selling spherical truffles
Answer: LINDT
3D. Relative via marriage
Answer: INLAW
4D. Tina of "Only Murders in the Building"
Answer: FEY
5D. Romantic partner, casually
Answer: BAE
6D. An All-Star pitcher has a low one, in brief
Answer: ERA
7D. Obtain
Answer: GET
9D. Influences
Answer: SWAY
10D. Informal conversation
Answer: CHAT
14D. Lessen
Answer: ABATE
16D. Offer one's thoughts
Answer: OPINE
17D. Make no longer required, say
Answer: WAIVE
18D. Request, or command
Answer: ORDER
21D. ___ mortal
Answer: MERE
22D. Shortened name for a type of dog ... or a science class
Answer: LAB
23D. Datum on an airport screen: Abbr.
Answer: ETA
24D. Loki or Osiris
Answer: GOD
25D. Propel a boat forward
Answer: ROW
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 15A for TWOBYTWO. The clue works on two levels: describing Noah's Ark animal pairs while hinting at a visual pattern in the grid's circled letters.
Wordplay Winner: 22D for LAB. Clever double meaning linking dog breeds (Labrador) and science education (laboratory) in just three letters.
Quick Fill: 8A for LINE. Straightforward clue about a common shopping experience that most solvers will get instantly.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Watch for theme clues that reference grid patterns. The "circled letters" hint in 15A signals a visual element beyond standard wordplay.
Three-letter answers often anchor the grid. Today's puzzle uses GET, ERA, BAE, and LAB as building blocks for longer entries.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you?
The Noah's Ark theme with TWOBYTWO pattern recognition tested both biblical knowledge and visual puzzle-solving skills. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
