Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Thursday's grid brings a cleverly constructed puzzle that rewards solvers who spot the hidden instruction. A 9x9 layout with 29 clues, today's Midi packs pop culture references, wordplay, and a themed clue pair that tells you exactly how to approach the shaded squares.
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: 29 (14 Across, 15 Down)
Trickiest Clue: "Mass-produced metal starting around 1200 B.C." Requires historical knowledge of the Iron Age timeline.
Gimme Clue: "Big name in minimalist furniture," One of the most recognizable brand names in the grid.
Theme Spotted: "Creeping Along"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. Shape of a poker chip or tiddlywink
Hint: Flat and round, think records or hockey pucks. Four letters, starts with D.
5. Feminine family nickname
Hint: What you might call your older sibling. Three letters, starts with S.
8. Folk singer Guthrie
Hint: The son of Woody Guthrie, known for "City of New Orleans." Four letters, starts with A.
9. "I ___ What You Did Last Summer" (2025 film)
Hint: The reboot of the '90s horror franchise. Four letters, starts with K.
10. State whose official cuisine is gumbo
Hint: The Bayou State. Eight letters, starts with L.
12. Liverpool's land: Abbr.
Hint: The country that contains the city of The Beatles. Three letters.
13. Surprising plot development
Hint: M. Night Shyamalan specializes in these. Five letters, starts with T.
14. Swing one's limbs around erratically
Hint: What a panicked swimmer might do in deep water. Five letters, starts with F.
16. "Nice one!"
Hint: Casual approval, like "sick" or "dope." Five letters, starts with S.
18. Mediocre, in Gen Z slang
Hint: The opposite of "GOAT." Three letters.
21. Saxophone-playing daughter on "The Simpsons"
Hint: Bart's jazz-loving sibling. Four letters, starts with L.
22. Fast-swimming shark
Hint: A sleek predator clocked at 45+ mph. Four letters, starts with M.
23. Chooses (to)
Hint: Decides in favor of something. Four letters, starts with O.
24. "A Room With a ___"
Hint: The E.M. Forster novel adapted into a 1985 film. Four letters, starts with V.
25. Toward sunset
Hint: The direction the sun sets. Four letters, starts with W.
26. Blueprint
Hint: A detailed scheme or design. Four letters, starts with P.
Down Hints
1. Racer ___ Earnhardt Jr.
Hint: NASCAR royalty, shares a name with a famous "Step by Step" actor. Four letters, starts with D.
2. Mass-produced metal starting around 1200 B.C.
Hint: The Iron Age changed warfare and agriculture. Four letters.
3. Intense, high-scoring baseball games
Hint: These games feature a lot of home runs. Nine letters, starts with S.
4. Fish in a Japanese pond
Hint: Colorful carp often found in garden ponds. Three letters.
5. Postal delivery, colloquially
Hint: The opposite of email, in physical form. Eight letters, starts with S.
6. Charged particles
Hint: Atoms that have gained or lost electrons. Four letters.
7. Whack, as a fly
Hint: Use a rolled-up newspaper. Four letters, starts with S.
9. Fuzzy fruit
Hint: Brown skin, green flesh, sweet and tart. Four letters, starts with K.
11. Nurse's "On the double!"
Hint: Medical shorthand for urgent. Four letters.
15. Most's opposite
Hint: The minimum amount. Four letters, starts with L.
16. With 20-Down, "Don't go so fast!" ... or how you might describe the shaded squares?
Hint: This answer and 20-Down form a common phrase. Four letters, starts with S.
17. Towel (off)
Hint: Dry yourself after a shower. Four letters, starts with W.
19. Big name in minimalist furniture
Hint: Swedish flat-pack giant. Four letters.
20. See 16-Down
Hint: The second word of the phrase "SLOW ___." Four letters, starts with D.
22. Award for Giannis Antetokounmpo in '19 and '20
Hint: The NBA's top player honor. Three letters.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. Shape of a poker chip or tiddlywink
Answer: DISK
5. Feminine family nickname
Answer: SIS
8. Folk singer Guthrie
Answer: ARLO
9. "I ___ What You Did Last Summer" (2025 film)
Answer: KNOW
10. State whose official cuisine is gumbo
Answer: LOUISIANA
12. Liverpool's land: Abbr.
Answer: ENG
13. Surprising plot development
Answer: TWIST
14. Swing one's limbs around erratically
Answer: FLAIL
16. "Nice one!"
Answer: SWEET
18. Mediocre, in Gen Z slang
Answer: MID
21. Saxophone-playing daughter on "The Simpsons"
Answer: LISA
22. Fast-swimming shark
Answer: MAKO
23. Chooses (to)
Answer: OPTS
24. "A Room With a ___"
Answer: VIEW
25. Toward sunset
Answer: WEST
26. Blueprint
Answer: PLAN
Down Answers
1. Racer ___ Earnhardt Jr.
Answer: DALE
2. Mass-produced metal starting around 1200 B.C.
Answer: IRON
3. Intense, high-scoring baseball games
Answer: SLUGFESTS
4. Fish in a Japanese pond
Answer: KOI
5. Postal delivery, colloquially
Answer: SNAILMAIL
6. Charged particles
Answer: IONS
7. Whack, as a fly
Answer: SWAT
9. Fuzzy fruit
Answer: KIWI
11. Nurse's "On the double!"
Answer: STAT
15. Most's opposite
Answer: LEAST
16. With 20-Down, "Don't go so fast!" ... or how you might describe the shaded squares?
Answer: SLOW
17. Towel (off)
Answer: WIPE
19. Big name in minimalist furniture
Answer: IKEA
20. See 16-Down
Answer: DOWN
22. Award for Giannis Antetokounmpo in '19 and '20
Answer: MVP
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: "Mass-produced metal starting around 1200 B.C." for IRON. This clue demands knowledge of when the Iron Age began, a historical fact that separates casual solvers from experienced ones. It's a four-letter answer that could've been BRONZE (which started earlier, around 3000 B.C.) if you misremembered your ancient history.
Wordplay Winner: 16-Down and 20-Down pairing for SLOW DOWN. The clue explicitly tells you this describes the shaded squares, making it a meta-puzzle within the puzzle. Solvers who spot this early gain a satisfying "aha" moment that unlocks the constructor's intent.
Quick Fill: "Big name in minimalist furniture" for IKEA. If you've ever assembled a bookshelf with nothing but an Allen wrench, this one is instant.
Speed Solver Tips
Today's puzzle rewards pop culture fluency. LISA (Simpsons), ARLO (Guthrie), and the 2025 film KNOW all sit in high-traffic intersections. If you know these, you unlock large sections of the grid quickly.
Watch for cross-referencing clues. The 16-Down and 20-Down pairing is a flag that the constructor built a theme around those squares. When you see "See __-Down" or "With __-Down," always solve the paired clues together for the full payoff.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? Whether SLOW DOWN was your solving strategy or you raced through at full speed, every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
