Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Tuesday's grid brings a palindrome-themed workout with vehicles that read the same both ways. RACECAR, KAYAK, and a clever BUS/SUB reversal pair anchor the puzzle, giving solvers a satisfying midweek mental stretch.
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: 37 (14 Across, 23 Down)
Trickiest Clue: "Michael of 'S.N.L.'" If you blank on the name, the crossing letters are your best friend.
Gimme Clue: "Pig's home" Three letters, no tricks.
Theme Spotted: "Put It in Reverse"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. Vehicle that is spelled the same in reverse
Hint: A fast car that shares its name with a palindrome. 7 letters.
8. Unseats, as a champion
Hint: To remove from a throne. 9 letters.
10. Farthest from the middle
Hint: Think extremes. The most exterior. 9 letters.
11. Bag-checking org.
Hint: You encounter them at airport security. 3 letters.
12. Heroine of "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker"
Hint: A scavenger turned Jedi. 3 letters.
13. ___-conscious
Hint: Environmentally aware. 3 letters.
15. "Welcome" thing on a porch
Hint: You wipe your feet on it. 3 letters.
16. Vehicle that is spelled the same in reverse
Hint: A small boat you paddle. 5 letters.
18. "Now wait just a ___!"
Hint: A very short unit of time. 3 letters.
19. Was up in the air, in a way
Hint: Floating, magically. 9 letters.
25. Devices at a rock concert
Hint: They make the guitars loud. 4 letters.
26. Broad
Hint: The opposite of narrow. 4 letters.
27. Vehicle that is 28-Across in reverse
Hint: A large passenger vehicle. 3 letters.
28. Vehicle that is 27-Across in reverse
Hint: A vessel that goes underwater. 3 letters.
Down Hints
1. Find a new function for
Hint: Repurpose or recycle. 5 letters.
2. Break down an opponent's defense, in soccer
Hint: What you do on offense. 6 letters.
3. Michael of "S.N.L."
Hint: Weekend Update co-anchor. 3 letters.
4. "To ___ is human ..."
Hint: The thing everyone does sometimes. 3 letters.
5. See 8-Down
Hint: Paired with DOT. 3 letters.
6. Pullover jacket with a kangaroo pocket
Hint: A hoodie's cousin. 6 letters.
7. Go back to square one, say
Hint: Start over. 5 letters.
8. With 5-Down, common URL ending
Hint: The dot in dot-com. 3 letters.
9. Pig's home
Hint: A messy place. 3 letters.
14. Welcome sight in a desert
Hint: A water source. 5 letters.
15. Colorful parrot
Hint: A tropical bird with a loud squawk. 5 letters.
17. Cheeky response to "This is the worst day of my life!"
Hint: "Not ___!" 3 letters.
19. Word after chocolate, crime or chemistry
Hint: A place for experiments. 3 letters.
20. Ostrich relative
Hint: A large flightless bird. 3 letters.
21. Second-in-command politicians, in brief
Hint: Veeps. 3 letters.
22. "___ the season!"
Hint: A holiday greeting starter. 3 letters.
23. End of a university URL
Hint: Three letters that mean education. 3 letters.
24. Former secretary of the interior Haaland
Hint: First Native American cabinet secretary. 3 letters.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. Vehicle that is spelled the same in reverse
Answer: RACECAR
8. Unseats, as a champion
Answer: DETHRONES
10. Farthest from the middle
Answer: OUTERMOST
11. Bag-checking org.
Answer: TSA
12. Heroine of "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker"
Answer: REY
13. ___-conscious
Answer: ECO
15. "Welcome" thing on a porch
Answer: MAT
16. Vehicle that is spelled the same in reverse
Answer: KAYAK
18. "Now wait just a ___!"
Answer: SEC
19. Was up in the air, in a way
Answer: LEVITATED
25. Devices at a rock concert
Answer: AMPS
26. Broad
Answer: WIDE
27. Vehicle that is 28-Across in reverse
Answer: BUS
28. Vehicle that is 28-Across in reverse
Answer: SUB
Down Answers
1. Find a new function for
Answer: REUSE
2. Break down an opponent's defense, in soccer
Answer: ATTACK
3. Michael of "S.N.L."
Answer: CHE
4. "To ___ is human ..."
Answer: ERR
5. See 8-Down
Answer: COM
6. Pullover jacket with a kangaroo pocket
Answer: ANORAK
7. Go back to square one, say
Answer: RESET
8. With 5-Down, common URL ending
Answer: DOT
9. Pig's home
Answer: STY
14. Welcome sight in a desert
Answer: OASIS
15. Colorful parrot
Answer: MACAW
17. Cheeky response to "This is the worst day of my life!"
Answer: YET
19. Word after chocolate, crime or chemistry
Answer: LAB
20. Ostrich relative
Answer: EMU
21. Second-in-command politicians, in brief
Answer: VPS
22. "___ the season!"
Answer: TIS
23. End of a university URL
Answer: EDU
24. Former secretary of the interior Haaland
Answer: DEB
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: "Vehicle that is 28-Across in reverse" for BUS, paired with "Vehicle that is 27-Across in reverse" for SUB. The constructor threaded a double palindrome trick through the grid's final corner, making BUS and SUB each other's mirror images. That's clever construction.
Wordplay Winner: "Cheeky response to 'This is the worst day of my life!'" for YET. The clue leans on the implied "Not YET!" punchline, turning a three-letter answer into a comedic beat. Short, sharp, and satisfying.
Quick Fill: "Pig's home" for STY. Three letters, one syllable, no ambiguity. The kind of gimme that keeps your solving momentum alive.
Speed Solver Tips
Palindrome-themed puzzles reward pattern recognition. Spotting RACECAR and KAYAK early gives you a read on the constructor's gimmick, making the BUS/SUB reversal at 27- and 28-Across predictable rather than puzzling. Train your brain to flag mirror-image clues.
Tuesday puzzles often pack short fill-in-the-blank and abbreviation clues (TSA, SEC, ECO, TIS, EDU). When you hit a 3-letter clue with a familiar pattern, fill it immediately. Those quick wins create crossing letters that crack the longer answers.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's palindrome grid treat you? Between the RACECAR/KAYAK symmetry and the BUS/SUB switcheroo, Tuesday served a puzzle that rewards lateral thinking. Every solve sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
