Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Sunday's 9x9 grid serves up a dessert-themed treat with a "Is It Cake?" meta-twist baked into the shaded squares. 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: 25 (13 Across, 12 Down)
Trickiest Clue: "Documentary filmmaker Burns" requires knowing Ken Burns by surname only, or relying on cross letters.
Gimme Clue: "Understand" is as straightforward as crosswords get.
Theme Spotted: "Sweet Deceit"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Volleyball pass
Hint: The ball hits your forearms, not your hands. Four letters.
5A. In the manner of
Hint: Think French-inspired phrasing, like "___ carte" or "___ mode."
8A. Actor ___ Sy of TV's "Lupin"
Hint: French actor, four letters, starts with O. He plays Assane Diop.
9A. Big gulp
Hint: Not the 7-Eleven cup. Think drinking a beer fast.
10A. Leaf-gathering tool ... [No!]
Hint: The "[No!]" signals misdirection. You use this in the yard, and it rhymes with "take."
11A. Opposite of give ... [No!]
Hint: Another "[No!]" trick. You do this with what's offered.
12A. Most common rock subgenre in the New York Times crossword
Hint: It's a three-letter genre. Think eyeliner, black clothes, and sad lyrics.
13A. Messed (with)
Hint: Not "messed" in the angry sense. Think "fiddled" or "tinkered." Five letters.
14A. Examines in detail, as a frog in bio class
Hint: Scalpel. Tray. Biology lab. Nine letters, starts with D.
16A. It may be upside-down ... [Yes!]
Hint: The "[Yes!]" confirms this is a real clue, not a trick. It's dessert. You flip it out of a pan.
17A. Popular baking game show ... and what one might ask about the shaded squares?
Hint: Netflix show where bakers make cakes that look like everyday objects. Eight letters.
21A. Company leader, for short
Hint: Three letters. The boss. Top of the org chart.
22A. Home to Iowa State University
Hint: College town in central Iowa. Four letters, starts with A.
23A. Documentary filmmaker Burns
Hint: First name. Think "The Civil War," "Baseball," "Jazz." Three letters.
24A. Reply to a party invite
Hint: Four letters. Acronym. You send this to confirm attendance.
Down Hints
1D. "I'm ___ out of my mind!"
Hint: Five letters. Means "extremely" and also "drilled." Think "stark raving ___."
2D. Taste that's not sweet, sour, salty or bitter
Hint: The fifth taste. Savory. Found in mushrooms, soy sauce, Parmesan.
3D. Dangerous sharks
Hint: Five letters. Shortfin ___ . Fast swimmers. Also a car.
4D. ___-K (four-year-old's class)
Hint: Three letters. The year before kindergarten.
5D. Visiting clubs at sports games
Hint: Nine letters. Two words, one word in the grid. The opposite of home teams.
6D. Social media metrics
Hint: Five letters. Hearts, thumbs-up, double-taps.
7D. Like some cheese
Hint: Four letters. Cheddar. Parmesan. Gouda. Time makes it sharper.
9D. One doing laps around a track
Hint: Not a runner. Eight letters. Think NASCAR, Formula 1.
13D. Animal milk source
Hint: Four letters. Cows have four of these. Also a slang word for crying.
15D. Roy sibling in HBO's "Succession," e.g.
Hint: Five letters. An heir. A child of a wealthy family. Starts with S.
17D. "Gross!"
Hint: Three letters. The sound of disgust. Also a hockey infraction.
18D. Understand
Hint: Three letters. "I ___ what you mean." Very common crossword word.
19D. "Home Alone" boy, familiarly
Hint: Three letters. Macaulay Culkin's character. Starts with K.
20D. Psychic's power, for short
Hint: Three letters. Mind reading. Spoon bending. Initialism.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Volleyball pass
Answer: BUMP
5A. In the manner of
Answer: ALA
8A. Actor ___ Sy of TV's "Lupin"
Answer: OMAR
9A. Big gulp
Answer: SWIG
10A. Leaf-gathering tool ... [No!]
Answer: RAKE
11A. Opposite of give ... [No!]
Answer: TAKE
12A. Most common rock subgenre in the New York Times crossword
Answer: EMO
13A. Messed (with)
Answer: TOYED
14A. Examines in detail, as a frog in bio class
Answer: DISSECTS
16A. It may be upside-down ... [Yes!]
Answer: CAKE
17A. Popular baking game show ... and what one might ask about the shaded squares?
Answer: ISITCAKE
21A. Company leader, for short
Answer: CEO
22A. Home to Iowa State University
Answer: AMES
23A. Documentary filmmaker Burns
Answer: KEN
24A. Reply to a party invite
Answer: RSVP
Down Answers
1D. "I'm ___ out of my mind!"
Answer: BORED
2D. Taste that's not sweet, sour, salty or bitter
Answer: UMAMI
3D. Dangerous sharks
Answer: MAKOS
4D. ___-K (four-year-old's class)
Answer: PRE
5D. Visiting clubs at sports games
Answer: AWAYTEAMS
6D. Social media metrics
Answer: LIKES
7D. Like some cheese
Answer: AGED
9D. One doing laps around a track
Answer: STOCKCAR
13D. Animal milk source
Answer: TEAT
15D. Roy sibling in HBO's "Succession," e.g.
Answer: SCION
17D. "Gross!"
Answer: ICK
18D. Understand
Answer: SEE
19D. "Home Alone" boy, familiarly
Answer: KEV
20D. Psychic's power, for short
Answer: ESP
Grid Breakdown
Standout Clue: 12A "Most common rock subgenre in the New York Times crossword" for EMO. It's a meta-commentary on crossword construction itself, constructors lean on EMO as a reliable three-letter fill, and this clue winks at that habit.
Wordplay Winner: 10A and 11A deserve a pair shoutout. Both include "[No!]" tags acknowledging they're leading solvers toward obvious answers (RAKE/TAKE) that happen to be correct anyway. It's a playful layer of self-awareness.
Quick Fill: 18D "Understand" for SEE. Three letters, definitional, zero ambiguity. These are the gifts that keep your solve time under control.
Speed Solver Tips
Watch for the "[No!]" and "[Yes!]" markers. The constructor is talking directly to you, "[No!]" means the clue is teasing a decoy answer that's actually correct, while "[Yes!]" confirms the obvious reading. Recognizing these signals saves seconds.
Sunday grids often lean pop culture. Today's pulls from Netflix ("Lupin," "Is It Cake?"), HBO ("Succession"), and a classic Christmas movie ("Home Alone"). If you're stuck on a clue, scan the cultural references first, they're usually the constructor's favorite entries.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? The CAKE/ISITCAKE pairing gave this Sunday puzzle a playful dessert disguise theme, and the self-referential "[No!]" clues added personality. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
