Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Thursday's grid brings a compact 9x9 challenge with sharp wordplay and a mix of tech references, geography, and everyday vocabulary. 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: 28 (14 Across, 14 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 13A "Legumes used to make tofu, in British English," an uncommon spelling variant that trips up American solvers.
Gimme Clue: 22A "___-friendly design," the answer practically appears the moment you read it.
Theme Spotted: "Time to Get Up"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Alternative to Google Meet or Microsoft Teams
Hint: The video call platform that became a verb during the pandemic. Four letters.
5A. Creepy-crawlies
Hint: What entomologists study. Four letters.
9A. Bit of land in the sea
Hint: Think small, surrounded by water. Four letters, starts with I.
10A. Unit of farmland
Hint: A standard land measurement, not metric. Four letters.
11A. Home ___ (batting location)
Hint: In baseball, this is where the batter stands. Four letters.
12A. Online magazine that's also a shade of gray
Hint: A digital publication with a color name. Four letters.
13A. Legumes used to make tofu, in British English
Hint: Think beans, but with a British spelling twist. Nine letters.
15A. Kilmer who co-starred in "Top Gun: Maverick"
Hint: He played Iceman. Three letters, a first name.
16A. One waking up at 10 or 11 a.m., perhaps
Hint: Opposite of an early riser. Nine letters.
22A. ___-friendly design
Hint: The word that describes making things easy for people. Four letters.
23A. Award-winning PBS science series
Hint: A space and science documentary show. Four letters.
24A. Opposite of hit
Hint: What you do when you don't hit the target. Four letters.
25A. Make some corrections to an article, say
Hint: What a journalist does before publication. Four letters.
26A. Fancy party spread
Hint: A French word for a smooth, seasoned meat paste. Four letters.
27A. "25% off everything!" event
Hint: Retailers love these. Four letters.
Down Hints
1D. Closes, as a suitcase or coat
Hint: Fastening mechanism. Four letters.
2D. Capital of Norway
Hint: Scandinavian capital, four letters.
3D. Big name in skin care
Hint: A major beauty brand. Four letters.
4D. Virtual reality world
Hint: The buzzword for immersive digital spaces. Nine letters.
5D. Certain tennis court boundaries
Hint: The lines at the back of a tennis court. Nine letters.
6D. State sch. near Hollywood
Hint: A well-known California university. Four letters.
7D. ___ Turismo
Hint: A popular racing video game series. Four letters.
8D. Film locations
Hint: Where movies are shot. Four letters.
14D. Place to schmooze with booze
Hint: A social spot with a drink menu. Three letters.
16D. Unit of coal or sugar
Hint: A small, shapeless piece. Four letters.
17D. Home to all seven countries whose names end in "-stan"
Hint: The largest continent. Four letters.
18D. Word repeated when checking a microphone
Hint: Sound check staple. Four letters.
19D. Coke or Crush
Hint: Fizzy drink category. Four letters.
20D. Wicked
Hint: The opposite of good. Four letters.
21D. The "R" in A.P.R. financing
Hint: What you pay on a loan. Four letters.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Alternative to Google Meet or Microsoft Teams
Answer: ZOOM
5A. Creepy-crawlies
Answer: BUGS
9A. Bit of land in the sea
Answer: ISLE
10A. Unit of farmland
Answer: ACRE
11A. Home ___ (batting location)
Answer: PLAT
12A. Online magazine that's also a shade of gray
Answer: SLAT
13A. Legumes used to make tofu, in British English
Answer: SOYABEANS
15A. Kilmer who co-starred in "Top Gun: Maverick"
Answer: VAL
16A. One waking up at 10 or 11 a.m., perhaps
Answer: LATERISER
22A. ___-friendly design
Answer: USER
23A. Award-winning PBS science series
Answer: NOVA
24A. Opposite of hit
Answer: MISS
25A. Make some corrections to an article, say
Answer: EDIT
26A. Fancy party spread
Answer: PATE
27A. "25% off everything!" event
Answer: SALE
Down Answers
1D. Closes, as a suitcase or coat
Answer: ZIPS
2D. Capital of Norway
Answer: OSLO
3D. Big name in skin care
Answer: OLAY
4D. Virtual reality world
Answer: METAVERSE
5D. Certain tennis court boundaries
Answer: BASELINES
6D. State sch. near Hollywood
Answer: UCLA
7D. ___ Turismo
Answer: GRAN
8D. Film locations
Answer: SETS
14D. Place to schmooze with booze
Answer: BAR
16D. Unit of coal or sugar
Answer: LUMP
17D. Home to all seven countries whose names end in "-stan"
Answer: ASIA
18D. Word repeated when checking a microphone
Answer: TEST
19D. Coke or Crush
Answer: SODA
20D. Wicked
Answer: EVIL
21D. The "R" in A.P.R. financing
Answer: RATE
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 13A "Legumes used to make tofu, in British English" for SOYABEANS. The British spelling (three syllables instead of two) is a classic constructors' trick that rewards UK English knowledge. Most American solvers will pause here.
Wordplay Winner: 12A "Online magazine that's also a shade of gray" for SLAT. The double meaning is elegant, Slate is both a digital publication and a gray rock color, but the clue nudges toward the paint swatch interpretation first.
Quick Fill: 22A "___-friendly design" for USER. A four-letter gimme that anchors the bottom-left corner and unlocks 18D (TEST), 19D (SODA), and 20D (EVIL) in quick succession.
Speed Solver Tips
Today's puzzle rewards pattern recognition over trivia. The short Across entries (ZOOM, BUGS, ISLE, ACRE) all interlock with longer Down answers (METAVERSE, BASELINES), so filling the four-letter gimmes early opens up the grid fast.
Watch for the British English clue at 13A. When you see parenthetical qualifiers like "in British English," the constructor is flagging a spelling difference. SOYABEANS crosses with BASELINES (5D) and LATERISER (16A), making that intersection the puzzle's toughest section, and the most satisfying to crack.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? The British spelling at 13A and the SLAT double meaning were the highlights of a tight, well-constructed Thursday puzzle. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
