Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Wednesday's 11x11 grid packs pop culture references, literary nods, and a few botanical curveballs into a midweek workout. 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: 11x11
Total Clues: 42 (19 Across, 23 Down)
Trickiest Clue: "Light blue bloom also known as 'scorpion grass'" This is a botanical trivia that demands an eight-letter compound word.
Gimme Clue: "Film archaeologist who wears a fedora, familiarly" If you know the hat, you know the name.
Theme Spotted: "Meet Me in the Middle"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. "The Fault in ___ Stars" (2012 book)
Hint: Three-letter possessive pronoun. John Green fans have this one cold.
4. Relied on
Hint: Seven letters. Past tense of a verb meaning "had faith in."
11. "Eureka!"
Hint: Three letters. What Archimedes shouted in the bath.
12. Specialized end-of-life care program
Hint: Seven letters. Focuses on comfort, not cure. Starts with H.
13. Light blue bloom also known as "scorpion grass"
Hint: Ten letters. A compound word. Think "don't forget" plus a small plant.
15. Bundle of papers
Hint: Five letters. Rhymes with "leaf."
16. "Rolling in the Deep" singer
Hint: Five letters. British soul star, first name only.
17. Used to be
Hint: Three letters. Past tense of "is."
19. Title for a knight
Hint: Three letters. What you call a knighted man.
20. Midafternoon coffee after a big lunch, say
Hint: Seven letters. Compound word. It "picks you up."
25. "And now, without further ___ ..."
Hint: Three letters. A fuss or ceremony. Shakespeare used it often.
26. Sign up for the armed services
Hint: Six letters. Starts with E. Volunteer to serve.
30. Fictional plumber who says "It's-a-me!"
Hint: Five letters. Nintendo's most famous mustache.
33. Flood preventer
Hint: Five letters. A wall that holds back water. Starts with L.
34. T-shirt from an older sibling, perhaps
Hint: Nine letters. Compound word. Something passed down through the family.
36. Nostalgic songs
Hint: Six letters. Radio stations play these "golden" hits.
37. 2012 Taylor Swift album whose name is a color
Hint: Three letters. The color of love, anger, and Swift's early era.
38. Hankerings
Hint: Four letters. Intense cravings. Starts with Y.
39. Golf course measure: Abbr.
Hint: Three letters. Abbreviation for yards. Starts with Y.
Down Hints
1. Galoots
Hint: Four letters. Clumsy, foolish people. Starts with O.
2. "That's not good"
Hint: Four letters. Two syllables, both expressions of dismay.
3. Uncommon
Hint: Four letters. The opposite of well-done steak? Also means scarce.
4. One's relatives, slangily
Hint: Six letters. "The ___", casual way to say your family.
5. Decay
Hint: Three letters. What happens to forgotten fruit. Starts with R.
6. West Point, in brief
Hint: Four letters. Acronym for the United States Military Academy.
7. Zoomed along
Hint: Four letters. Past tense of "speed."
8. Pointy parts of forks
Hint: Five letters. The prongs. Starts with T.
9. Food-poisoning bacteria
Hint: Five letters. Often linked to undercooked meat. Starts with E.
10. Discourage
Hint: Five letters. To dissuade someone from doing something. Starts with D.
14. Stare
Hint: Four letters. An open-mouthed, rudely curious look. Starts with G.
18. "You understand?"
Hint: Three letters. "___? I told you so."
20. Receptionist on "The Office"
Hint: Three letters. Jim's wife, Dwight's nemesis. First name only.
21. Top potato-producing state in the U.S.
Hint: Five letters. Famous for potatoes and a panhandle.
22. Hard thing to find underwater?
Hint: Five letters. A pun, physically hard marine structure, also rare to spot.
23. "Except maybe ..."
Hint: Six letters. A conditional word. "___ you have a better idea."
24. Begged
Hint: Five letters. Past tense of "plead." Alternative spelling.
27. Off-white color
Hint: Five letters. Think piano keys or wedding dresses.
28. Used a needle and thread
Hint: Five letters. Past tense of "sew."
29. Is disposed (to)
Hint: Five letters. Has a tendency. Starts with T.
31. Film archaeologist who wears a fedora, familiarly
Hint: Four letters. Harrison Ford's whip-cracking alter ego.
32. Garfield's canine frenemy
Hint: Four letters. The dumb but lovable dog in the comic strip.
35. "12 Angry ___" (1957 film)
Hint: Three letters. The jury in the classic courtroom drama.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. "The Fault in ___ Stars" (2012 book)
Answer: OUR
4. Relied on
Answer: TRUSTED
11. "Eureka!"
Answer: AHA
12. Specialized end-of-life care program
Answer: HOSPICE
13. Light blue bloom also known as "scorpion grass"
Answer: FORGETMENOT
15. Bundle of papers
Answer: SHEAF
16. "Rolling in the Deep" singer
Answer: ADELE
17. Used to be
Answer: WAS
19. Title for a knight
Answer: SIR
20. Midafternoon coffee after a big lunch, say
Answer: PICKMEUP
25. "And now, without further ___ ..."
Answer: ADO
26. Sign up for the armed services
Answer: ENLIST
30. Fictional plumber who says "It's-a-me!"
Answer: MARIO
33. Flood preventer
Answer: LEVEE
34. T-shirt from an older sibling, perhaps
Answer: HANDMEDOWN
36. Nostalgic songs
Answer: OLDIES
37. 2012 Taylor Swift album whose name is a color
Answer: RED
38. Hankerings
Answer: YENS
39. Golf course measure: Abbr.
Answer: YDS
Down Answers
1. Galoots
Answer: OAFS
2. "That's not good"
Answer: UHOH
3. Uncommon
Answer: RARE
4. One's relatives, slangily
Answer: THEFAM
5. Decay
Answer: ROT
6. West Point, in brief
Answer: USMA
7. Zoomed along
Answer: SPED
8. Pointy parts of forks
Answer: TINES
9. Food-poisoning bacteria
Answer: ECOLI
10. Discourage
Answer: DETER
14. Stare
Answer: GAWK
18. "You understand?"
Answer: SEE
20. Receptionist on "The Office"
Answer: PAM
21. Top potato-producing state in the U.S.
Answer: IDAHO
22. Hard thing to find underwater?
Answer: CORAL
23. "Except maybe ..."
Answer: UNLESS
24. Begged
Answer: PLEDS
27. Off-white color
Answer: IVORY
28. Used a needle and thread
Answer: SEWED
29. Is disposed (to)
Answer: TENDS
31. Film archaeologist who wears a fedora, familiarly
Answer: INDY
32. Garfield's canine frenemy
Answer: ODIE
35. "12 Angry ___" (1957 film)
Answer: MEN
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: "T-shirt from an older sibling, perhaps" for HANDMEDOWN. The clue plays on the literal passing down of clothes while suggesting a family connection, a clean piece of misdirection that rewards lateral thinking.
Wordplay Winner: "Hard thing to find underwater?" for CORAL. The double meaning is tight: coral is physically hard (a calcium carbonate structure) and genuinely difficult to locate while diving. The question mark tips off the wordplay.
Quick Fill: "Fictional plumber who says 'It's-a-me!'" for MARIO. Five letters, zero ambiguity. If you've touched a video game in the last 40 years, this one fills itself.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Compound words appear four times in this grid (FORGETMENOT, PICKMEUP, HANDMEDOWN, THEFAM). When a clue feels like it needs multiple words to answer, think compound. The longer answer is often the intended one.
Pop culture clues (ADELE, MARIO, PAM, INDY, ODIE) are short, three to five letters each. Fill these in early to unlock crossings for the tougher trivia entries like FORGETMENOT and HOSPICE.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? Between the botanical deep cut of FORGETMENOT and the pun work on CORAL, this Wednesday puzzle rewarded solvers who think laterally. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
