Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Sunday's grid brings a state-themed romp through geography, pop culture, and clever wordplay that rewards trivia buffs without punishing casual solvers. 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: 10x9
Total Clues: 56 (30 Across, 26 Down)
Trickiest Clue: "Director of 'Spaceballs' and 'Robin Hood: Men in Tights.' Requires knowing the comedy legend's filmography beyond "Blazing Saddles" and "Young Frankenstein."
Gimme Clue: "Cash dispensers, for short." A four-letter fill that any solver will spot instantly.
Theme Spotted: "Born in the U.S.A"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. Cash dispensers, for short
Hint: Found at banks. Four letters, starts with A.
5. Started
Hint: Began. Think about what you do at the starting line.
10. What one eats
Hint: Four letters. What a nutritionist tracks.
11. What "L" might stand for in L.L.Bean
Hint: Think clothing sizes. The name of the founder was Leon Leonwood Bean.
12. "DE" liver?
Hint: Someone from the First State. Eleven letters, starts with D.
14. Raisin ___ (cereal)
Hint: A breakfast staple. Four letters, starts with B.
15. Many a north-south street in Manhattan: Abbr.
Hint: Three letters. Fifth, Park, Madison all count.
16. French for "sea"
Hint: Three letters. Sounds like a body of water in English too.
18. Ice rink rentals
Hint: Six letters. You lace them up.
20. Thick blob, as of cream
Hint: Four letters. What happens when dairy sits too long.
22. 90° turn
Hint: Three letters. Think architecture, think pipes.
23. Ones in a "Flo" state?
Hint: People from the Sunshine State. Ten letters, starts with F.
27. Double-tapped, as a photo on Instagram
Hint: Five letters. The heart button action.
28. Smartphone case type
Hint: Four letters. Thin, wraps around the back.
29. Positive R.S.V.P.s
Hint: Five letters. "I'll be there!" in plural form.
30. Spill the beans
Hint: Four letters. Reveal the secret.
Down Hints
1. Sum up
Hint: Three letters. Basic arithmetic.
2. Impossible outcome of a Super Bowl
Hint: Three letters. Football doesn't end this way.
3. Director of "Spaceballs" and "Robin Hood: Men in Tights"
Hint: Mel something. Nine letters, two words.
4. Symbol on some Sneetches' bellies, in a Dr. Seuss story
Hint: Four letters. A shape, starts with S.
5. Totally forgot
Hint: Seven letters. Drew a complete mental ___.
6. Body part found in the middle of the heart?
Hint: Three letters. Read the clue literally. Where in the word "heart" do you find this?
7. Michigan or Ontario
Hint: Nine letters, two words. Think geography, think fresh water.
8. Source of tequila or a cocktail syrup
Hint: Five letters. A desert plant, starts with A.
9. Babies, in Spanish
Hint: Five letters. Starts with N, ends with S.
13. Used to be
Hint: Three letters. Past tense of "is."
16. Marty ___, protagonist in the "Back to the Future" movies
Hint: Five letters. His last name, starts with M.
17. Singer Goulding
Hint: Five letters. British pop star, first name.
19. Who's who in Hollywood
Hint: Five letters, hyphenated. The top tier.
21. Disc golf obstacle
Hint: Four letters. A wooden object found on the course.
24. "Real" ones are now required to fly
Hint: Three letters. Identification.
25. Nothin'
Hint: Three letters. Zero, zip, zilch.
26. "Weekend Update" show, for short
Hint: Three letters. Saturday night TV staple.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. Cash dispensers, for short
Answer: ATMS
5. Started
Answer: BEGAN
10. What one eats
Answer: DIET
11. What "L" might stand for in L.L.Bean
Answer: LARGE
12. "DE" liver?
Answer: DELAWAREAN
14. Raisin ___ (cereal)
Answer: BRAN
15. Many a north-south street in Manhattan: Abbr.
Answer: AVE
16. French for "sea"
Answer: MER
18. Ice rink rentals
Answer: SKATES
20. Thick blob, as of cream
Answer: CLOT
22. 90° turn
Answer: ELL
23. Ones in a "Flo" state?
Answer: FLORIDIANS
27. Double-tapped, as a photo on Instagram
Answer: LIKED
28. Smartphone case type
Answer: SKIN
29. Positive R.S.V.P.s
Answer: YESES
30. Spill the beans
Answer: TELL
Down Answers
1. Sum up
Answer: ADD
2. Impossible outcome of a Super Bowl
Answer: TIE
3. Director of "Spaceballs" and "Robin Hood: Men in Tights"
Answer: MEL BROOKS
4. Symbol on some Sneetches' bellies, in a Dr. Seuss story
Answer: STAR
5. Totally forgot
Answer: BLANKED
6. Body part found in the middle of the heart?
Answer: EAR
7. Michigan or Ontario
Answer: GREAT LAKE
8. Source of tequila or a cocktail syrup
Answer: AGAVE
9. Babies, in Spanish
Answer: NENES
13. Used to be
Answer: WAS
16. Marty ___, protagonist in the "Back to the Future" movies
Answer: MCFLY
17. Singer Goulding
Answer: ELLIE
19. Who's who in Hollywood
Answer: A-LIST
21. Disc golf obstacle
Answer: TREE
24. "Real" ones are now required to fly
Answer: IDS
25. Nothin'
Answer: NIL
26. "Weekend Update" show, for short
Answer: SNL
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: "Body part found in the middle of the heart?" for EAR. The clue is a gem of crossword misdirection. Read "heart" literally, and the letters E-A-R sit right in the middle of the word. It's the kind of clue that makes you smack your forehead when it clicks.
Wordplay Winner: "DE liver?" for DELAWAREAN. A phonetic trick that sounds like "deliver" but points to someone from Delaware. The question mark signals wordplay is afoot, and the payoff is satisfying.
Quick Fill: "90° turn" for ELL. Three letters, a construction term, and a crossword staple. If you've solved more than a handful of puzzles, this one's instant.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
State-resident clues (DELAWAREAN, FLORIDIANS) follow predictable patterns. Learn the suffixes: -AN, -IAN, -ITE, and -ER cover most U.S. demonyms. When a state name appears in a clue, your brain should immediately cycle through those endings.
Short fill words like ELL, AVE, and MER are crossword vocabulary gold. They show up constantly in NYT puzzles. If you're stuck on a crossing letter, these three-letter staples are often the key that unlocks the whole grid.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? Between the state-resident wordplay, the Mel Brooks filmography test, and that clever EAR clue, there was something for every solver. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
