Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Wednesday's grid delivers a 10x10 puzzle with a subtle April Fools' Day theme.
The grid features three appearances of "déjà vu" across different clues, creating a playful echo effect for solvers.
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: 10x10
Total Clues: 52 (31 Across, 21 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 3D "Symbol texted between besties" requires specific emoji knowledge
Gimme Clue: 1A "Keep your voice down!" is an immediate solve
Theme Spotted: "Again & Again & Again"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. "Keep your voice down!"
Hint: Two-letter sound for silence
4. 2021 Olivia Rodrigo hit with the lyrics "She thinks it's special / But it's all reused"
Hint: French phrase meaning "already seen"
10. Bend the truth
Hint: Three-letter falsehood
11. Inspirational and influential
Hint: Six letters, describes cultural touchstones
12. "Origin" director DuVernay
Hint: Three-letter female director's first name
13. "Please stay!"
Hint: Six-letter plea, two words combined
14. Capital of Germany
Hint: Six-letter European capital
16. John David Washington, to Denzel Washington
Hint: Three-letter family relationship
17. Tater ___
Hint: Three-letter fried potato piece
18. Stuck between two options
Hint: Four-letter word for indecision
19. Witch's curse
Hint: Three-letter magical spell
20. Did a 5K, e.g.
Hint: Three-letter past tense of run
21. Fluffy lap dog popularized by Queen Victoria, informally
Hint: Three-letter dog breed abbreviation
22. French for "already seen"
Hint: Six-letter phrase, same as 4A
25. ___ FireBall (red-hot candy)
Hint: Six-letter word meaning extremely small or explosive
27. Makeup category that includes gloss and stain
Hint: Three-letter body part product
28. Eerily familiar feeling
Hint: Six-letter psychological phenomenon
29. Like news that's already been heard
Hint: Three-letter opposite of new
30. Mini burger
Hint: Six-letter small sandwich
31. ___Guessr, map-based online game
Hint: Three-letter prefix meaning earth
Down Hints
1. Hunk of meat or marble
Hint: Four-letter thick piece
2. ___ mind (concept of a shared consciousness)
Hint: Four-letter insect collective
3. Symbol texted between besties
Hint: Eleven-letter emoji combination
4. "Ta-da!"
Hint: Five-letter accomplishment declaration
5. Subj. that teaches supply and demand
Hint: Four-letter economics abbreviation
6. Comedian Stewart who proposed to his wife with a personalized crossword puzzle
Hint: Three-letter first name of Daily Show host
7. Snack with celery, raisins and peanut butter
Hint: Nine-letter visual pun snack
8. Gusto
Hint: Five-letter word for energy
9. Women's basketball powerhouse, for short
Hint: Five-letter university abbreviation
15. Bagel-and-schmear topper
Hint: Three-letter smoked salmon
18. ___ Mahal
Hint: Three-letter Indian monument prefix
19. Spot to order room service
Hint: Five-letter accommodation
20. Keep happening
Hint: Five-letter word for repeat
21. Kotex products with wings
Hint: Four-letter feminine hygiene product
22. Unpretentious neighborhood bar
Hint: Four-letter casual drinking spot
23. Odious
Hint: Four-letter word for disgusting
24. Off-the-neck hairstyle
Hint: Four-letter updo style
26. Ticked off
Hint: Three-letter angry
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
---
---
---
---
---
Across Answers
1. "Keep your voice down!"
Answer: SHH
4. 2021 Olivia Rodrigo hit with the lyrics "She thinks it's special / But it's all reused"
Answer: DEJAVU
10. Bend the truth
Answer: LIE
11. Inspirational and influential
Answer: ICONIC
12. "Origin" director DuVernay
Answer: AVA
13. "Please stay!"
Answer: DONTGO
14. Capital of Germany
Answer: BERLIN
16. John David Washington, to Denzel Washington
Answer: SON
17. Tater ___
Answer: TOT
18. Stuck between two options
Answer: TORN
19. Witch's curse
Answer: HEX
20. Did a 5K, e.g.
Answer: RAN
21. Fluffy lap dog popularized by Queen Victoria, informally
Answer: POM
22. French for "already seen"
Answer: DEJAVU
25. ___ FireBall (red-hot candy)
Answer: ATOMIC
27. Makeup category that includes gloss and stain
Answer: LIP
28. Eerily familiar feeling
Answer: DEJAVU
29. Like news that's already been heard
Answer: OLD
30. Mini burger
Answer: SLIDER
31. ___Guessr, map-based online game
Answer: GEO
Down Answers
1. Hunk of meat or marble
Answer: SLAB
2. ___ mind (concept of a shared consciousness)
Answer: HIVE
3. Symbol texted between besties
Answer: HEARTEMOJI
4. "Ta-da!"
Answer: DIDIT
5. Subj. that teaches supply and demand
Answer: ECON
6. Comedian Stewart who proposed to his wife with a personalized crossword puzzle
Answer: JON
7. Snack with celery, raisins and peanut butter
Answer: ANTSONALOG
8. Gusto
Answer: VIGOR
9. Women's basketball powerhouse, for short
Answer: UCONN
15. Bagel-and-schmear topper
Answer: LOX
18. ___ Mahal
Answer: TAJ
19. Spot to order room service
Answer: HOTEL
20. Keep happening
Answer: RECUR
21. Kotex products with wings
Answer: PADS
22. Unpretentious neighborhood bar
Answer: DIVE
23. Odious
Answer: VILE
24. Off-the-neck hairstyle
Answer: UPDO
26. Ticked off
Answer: MAD
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 3D "Symbol texted between besties" for HEARTEMOJI. This clue requires specific knowledge of how emojis are commonly combined in text conversations, making it challenging for solvers who don't use that particular shorthand.
Wordplay Winner: 7D "Snack with celery, raisins and peanut butter" for ANTSONALOG. The clue creates a visual pun where raisins represent ants crawling on a celery log, demonstrating classic crossword wordplay.
Quick Fill: 20A "Did a 5K, e.g." for RAN. This three-letter verb is immediately obvious to anyone familiar with running events, providing an easy entry point to the grid.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Watch for repeated answers. The triple appearance of DEJAVU creates pattern recognition opportunities. Once you solve the first instance, the others become automatic fills.
Identify the theme early. The April Fools' Day connection through repeated "déjà vu" clues helps predict related answers and speeds up solving.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? The triple DEJAVU theme created a memorable April Fools' Day puzzle with clever repetition.
Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one. See you at the next grid.
