Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Tuesday's grid brings a 9x9 puzzle with clever meta-wordplay connecting two center clues.
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: 44 (25 Across, 19 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 15A. Center of a target ... or a phonetic hint to a letter in 12-Across?
Gimme Clue: 1D. Eve's biblical counterpart
Theme Spotted: Heart of the Matter
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Feeling while watching a fireworks display, perhaps
Hint: Three-letter word for wonder or amazement
4A. Vietnamese noodles-and-broth dish
Hint: Three-letter soup, popular street food
7A. Cameron who voiced Fiona in "Shrek"
Hint: Actress with four-letter last name
9A. Follow closely
Hint: Four-letter word meaning to pay attention
10A. Onetime hairstyle for Colin Kaepernick or Julius Erving
Hint: Four-letter hairstyle, starts with A
11A. Lake that borders Cleveland
Hint: One of the Great Lakes, four letters
12A. Center of a mythical maze
Hint: Eight-letter creature from Greek mythology
14A. Mediocre, in modern lingo
Hint: Three-letter slang for average
15A. Center of a target ... or a phonetic hint to a letter in 12-Across?
Hint: Nine-letter word for perfect shot, contains "bull"
20A. Oscar winner Malek
Hint: Four-letter first name, won for "Bohemian Rhapsody"
21A. Dalai ___
Hint: Four-letter title, Tibetan spiritual leader
22A. "Monday Night Football" channel
Hint: Four-letter sports network
23A. Paths traced by tennis balls
Hint: Four-letter word for curved trajectories
24A. Bit of classroom furniture
Hint: Four-letter word for student workspace
25A. Action represented by a right-facing triangle
Hint: Four-letter word, opposite of pause
Down Hints
1D. Eve's biblical counterpart
Hint: Four-letter name, first man
2D. Hotel amenity that requires a password, sometimes
Hint: Four-letter wireless internet
3D. Work hard for
Hint: Four-letter word meaning to deserve
4D. Lima's land
Hint: Four-letter South American country
5D. Next in line to the throne
Hint: Four-letter word for royal successor
6D. Poem with a dedicatee
Hint: Three-letter poetic form
8D. URL shared before a virtual meeting
Hint: Eight-letter compound word, video conferencing link
9D. Gesture meaning "I can't believe I just did that!"
Hint: Eight-letter compound word, forehead slap
13D. Shop ___ you drop
Hint: Three-letter word meaning until
15D. ___ coat (nail polish layer applied first)
Hint: Four-letter word meaning foundation
16D. Officials working on a diamond
Hint: Four-letter word for baseball referees
17D. Noble title
Hint: Four-letter British peerage rank
18D. Org. with gym and pool memberships
Hint: Four-letter community organization acronym
19D. Not difficult
Hint: Four-letter word meaning simple
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Feeling while watching a fireworks display, perhaps
Answer: AWE
4A. Vietnamese noodles-and-broth dish
Answer: PHO
7A. Cameron who voiced Fiona in "Shrek"
Answer: DIAZ
9A. Follow closely
Answer: HEED
10A. Onetime hairstyle for Colin Kaepernick or Julius Erving
Answer: AFRO
11A. Lake that borders Cleveland
Answer: ERIE
12A. Center of a mythical maze
Answer: MINOTAUR
14A. Mediocre, in modern lingo
Answer: MID
15A. Center of a target ... or a phonetic hint to a letter in 12-Across?
Answer: BULLSEYE
20A. Oscar winner Malek
Answer: RAMI
21A. Dalai ___
Answer: LAMA
22A. "Monday Night Football" channel
Answer: ESPN
23A. Paths traced by tennis balls
Answer: ARCS
24A. Bit of classroom furniture
Answer: DESK
25A. Action represented by a right-facing triangle
Answer: PLAY
Down Answers
1D. Eve's biblical counterpart
Answer: ADAM
2D. Hotel amenity that requires a password, sometimes
Answer: WIFI
3D. Work hard for
Answer: EARN
4D. Lima's land
Answer: PERU
5D. Next in line to the throne
Answer: HEIR
6D. Poem with a dedicatee
Answer: ODE
8D. URL shared before a virtual meeting
Answer: ZOOMLINK
9D. Gesture meaning "I can't believe I just did that!"
Answer: HEADSLAP
13D. Shop ___ you drop
Answer: TIL
15D. ___ coat (nail polish layer applied first)
Answer: BASE
16D. Officials working on a diamond
Answer: UMPS
17D. Noble title
Answer: EARL
18D. Org. with gym and pool memberships
Answer: YMCA
19D. Not difficult
Answer: EASY
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 15A for BULLSEYE. The clue works on two levels: literally the center of a target, and phonetically as "bull's eye" which hints at the "bull" in MINOTAUR from 12A.
Wordplay Winner: 15A for BULLSEYE. The meta-connection to 12A's MINOTAUR (which contains "bull") creates a clever puzzle-within-a-puzzle element that rewards solvers who make the connection.
Quick Fill: 1D for ADAM. Biblical knowledge is common crossword fare, and this straightforward clue provides an easy entry point to start filling the grid.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Watch for meta-connections between clues. When a clue references another answer (like 15A's hint to 12A), solve the referenced clue first to unlock the wordplay.
Fill three-letter corners early. Short answers like AWE (1A), PHO (4A), and MID (14A) create anchor points that help solve longer intersecting words.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you?
The clever BULLSEYE/MINOTAUR connection shows how crosswords can create layered puzzles within the grid. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
