Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Thursday's grid brings a clever unit-of-measurement theme hidden in plain sight.
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: 56 (30 Across, 26 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 22A: "Murder mysteries ... or, when parsed differently, what the answers to the starred clues are"
Gimme Clue: 5A: "Fireplace residue"
Theme Spotted: "It's a Real Mystery"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. *J.J. , three-time N.F.L. Defensive Player of the Year in the 2010s
Hint: Last name of a dominant defensive end, also a unit of power
5A. Fireplace residue
Hint: What's left after wood burns
8A. Pacific or Indian
Hint: Vast body of water
10A. One of two surfaces all Winter Olympics sports are played on, along with snow
Hint: Frozen water surface
11A. *"You're not making an ___ of sense" ("That's completely illogical")
Hint: Small weight unit, completes the phrase
12A. Knight's title
Hint: Formal address for a British knight
13A. Got up from a chair
Hint: Opposite of sat
14A. Spot to park
Hint: Parking ___
15A. She/ pronouns
Hint: Possessive form of she
16A. Luxury car brand, familiarly
Hint: Mercedes-___
17A. Wise
Hint: Knowledgeable person, or an herb
20A. *Small drink of whiskey
Hint: Small liquid measure
22A. Murder mysteries ... or, when parsed differently, what the answers to the starred clues are
Hint: Genre of detective stories, but read it differently
27A. Burr in a famous duel
Hint: Alexander Hamilton's opponent
28A. Pope elected in 2025
Hint: Current pope's name
29A. Lean to one side
Hint: Tilt or angle
30A. Poorly hidden item under a welcome mat, perhaps
Hint: What you might use to unlock a door
Down Hints
1D. Sound when you click Send on an email
Hint: Whooshing sound
2D. Less than 90°
Hint: Type of angle
3D. High male voices
Hint: Opera singers with high range
4D. Alternative to a fajita or quesadilla
Hint: Mexican food in a shell
5D. Preferred seating option for tall airline passengers, maybe
Hint: Seat with more legroom
6D. Descendant
Hint: Heir or offspring
7D. *Avis rival
Hint: Car rental company, also a unit of frequency
9D. Homer's cheery neighbor on "The Simpsons"
Hint: Flanders
16D. Garbanzo or pinto
Hint: Types of ___
18D. Extra feature
Hint: Optional addition
19D. Lowly soldier
Hint: Infantry soldier
21D. 1% or 2%
Hint: Types of ___
22D. "What ___ I just saying?"
Hint: Past tense of "am"
23D. Evil computer in "2001: A Space Odyssey"
Hint: HAL 9000
24D. "Anywhere" singer Rita ___
Hint: British singer
25D. Makeshift ball marker on a putting surface
Hint: Golf item
26D. Ingredient in tofu
Hint: Soy___
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. *J.J. , three-time N.F.L. Defensive Player of the Year in the 2010s
Answer: WATT
5A. Fireplace residue
Answer: ASH
8A. Pacific or Indian
Answer: OCEAN
10A. One of two surfaces all Winter Olympics sports are played on, along with snow
Answer: ICE
11A. *"You're not making an ___ of sense" ("That's completely illogical")
Answer: OUNCE
12A. Knight's title
Answer: SIR
13A. Got up from a chair
Answer: STOOD
14A. Spot to park
Answer: LOT
15A. She/ pronouns
Answer: HER
16A. Luxury car brand, familiarly
Answer: BENZ
17A. Wise
Answer: SAGE
20A. *Small drink of whiskey
Answer: DRAM
22A. Murder mysteries ... or, when parsed differently, what the answers to the starred clues are
Answer: WHODUNITS
27A. Burr in a famous duel
Answer: AARON
28A. Pope elected in 2025
Answer: LEO
29A. Lean to one side
Answer: SLANT
30A. Poorly hidden item under a welcome mat, perhaps
Answer: KEY
Down Answers
1D. Sound when you click Send on an email
Answer: WOOSH
2D. Less than 90°
Answer: ACUTE
3D. High male voices
Answer: TENORS
4D. Alternative to a fajita or quesadilla
Answer: TACO
5D. Preferred seating option for tall airline passengers, maybe
Answer: AISLE
6D. Descendant
Answer: SCION
7D. *Avis rival
Answer: HERTZ
9D. Homer's cheery neighbor on "The Simpsons"
Answer: NED
16D. Garbanzo or pinto
Answer: BEAN
18D. Extra feature
Answer: ADDON
19D. Lowly soldier
Answer: GRUNT
21D. 1% or 2%
Answer: MILK
22D. "What ___ I just saying?"
Answer: WAS
23D. Evil computer in "2001: A Space Odyssey"
Answer: HAL
24D. "Anywhere" singer Rita ___
Answer: ORA
25D. Makeshift ball marker on a putting surface
Answer: TEE
26D. Ingredient in tofu
Answer: SOY
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 22A for WHODUNITS. The clue works on two levels: it's literally a genre of mystery stories, but when parsed as "who dun its" (who did it's), it reveals that the starred clues are all units of measurement.
Wordplay Winner: 11A for OUNCE. The clue uses the phrase "not making an ounce of sense" while OUNCE itself is a unit of measurement, fitting the theme.
Quick Fill: 5A for ASH. Fireplace residue is straightforward, and the three-letter answer crosses with several other clues for easy entry points.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Spot the starred clues first. Today's four starred clues (1A, 11A, 20A, 7D) all answer to units of measurement: WATT (power), OUNCE (weight), DRAM (volume), and HERTZ (frequency).
Watch for contemporary references. 28A's clue about the "Pope elected in 2025" requires knowledge of current events, while 1A references recent NFL history.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's unit-of-measurement theme treat you?
The clever WHODUNITS reveal at 22A shows how Midi puzzles can pack sophisticated wordplay into a compact grid. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
