Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Wednesday's 11x11 grid leans heavy on pop culture callbacks and layered wordplay. MAGICMIKE, MAMMAMIA, and MADMAX anchor the long fills while shorter clues reward solvers who spot the puns. 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: 38 (20 Across, 18 Down)
Trickiest Clue: "Cool time from long ago"
Gimme Clue: "Jump"
Theme Spotted: "Movie Marathon"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. Spelling competition
Hint: Think the final round of a spelling bee.
4. Sonny ___
Hint: Cher's on-screen partner in the 1980s.
10. "Back in Black" band
Hint: Rock band initials, four letters.
12. Opposite of wide
Hint: A tight hallway, six letters.
13. Something to shoot at
Hint: Soccer players aim for this. Four letters.
14. Mesmerized state
Hint: Like a hypnotized person. Six letters.
15. 2012 comedy-drama about a male stripper
Hint: Channing Tatum's breakout role. Two words, nine letters total.
17. Holy ___
Hint: King Arthur's quest object. Five letters.
19. Annoyance
Hint: A persistent little nuisance. Four letters.
20. 2008 musical featuring Abba songs
Hint: "Dancing Queen" meets wedding drama. Two words, eight letters.
23. Have an unpaid Venmo request, say
Hint: You're on the hook for payment.
24. Place for salt on a margarita glass
Hint: The edge of your glass. Three letters.
25. Case study?
Hint: Harvard students read these. Three letters.
28. Jump
Hint: A frog does this. Four letters.
29. Palindromic woman's name
Hint: Same forward and backward. Three letters, starts with A.
30. Implore
Hint: Beg pleadingly. Four letters.
33. 2015 sci-fi reboot set in the desert, familiarly
Hint: Fury Road. Six letters.
35. Candy enjoyed at the movies, perhaps
Hint: Chocolate pieces in a box. Four letters.
36. Cool time from long ago
Hint: Prehistoric frozen period. Six letters.
37. Preschool recital?
Hint: The alphabet song, essentially. Four letters.
38. In need of a nap
Hint: Exhausted. Five letters.
Down Hints
1. Birkin, for one
Hint: A very expensive handbag. Three letters.
2. Green prefix
Hint: Environmentally friendly. Three letters.
3. Green appetizer at a sushi restaurant
Hint: Soybeans in their pods. Seven letters.
4. Opposite of pro-
Hint: Against. Four letters.
5. Snitch (on), informally
Hint: Rat someone out. Four letters.
6. Dad's dad, colloquially
Hint: A casual name for grandfather.
7. Orange TV character who lives at 123 Sesame Street
Hint: Big Bird's furry orange friend. Five letters.
8. Basic security devices
Hint: What you lock your door with. Five letters.
9. "Awesome!"
Hint: Slang for great. Five letters.
11. Baggage ___
Hint: Airport pickup spot. Five letters.
16. What a lens hood reduces for a photographer
Hint: Unwanted light reflection. Five letters.
17. Non-___
Hint: Antibiotic-free food label. Three letters.
18. Like much sashimi
Hint: Uncooked. Three letters.
21. Where Dolphins and Marlins play professionally
Hint: Florida city. Five letters.
22. Collision
Hint: Car crash. Six letters.
25. Pulitzer-winning rapper Kendrick
Hint: DAMN. album artist. Five letters.
26. "The early bird gets the worm," e.g.
Hint: A proverb. Five letters.
27. Groomed, as eyebrows
Hint: Hair removal treatment. Five letters.
28. Opposite of more
Hint: Smaller amount. Four letters.
30. Actress Thurman
Hint: Kill Bill star. Three letters.
31. Music genre for SZA and Steve Lacy
Hint: Rhythm and Blues, abbreviated.
32. Maker of the Acadia S.U.V.
Hint: American car company. Three letters.
34. Opus ___
Hint: A great work, Latin phrase. Three letters.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
---
---
---
---
---
Across Answers
1. Spelling competition
Answer: BEE
4. Sonny ___
Answer: ANGELS
10. "Back in Black" band
Answer: ACDC
12. Opposite of wide
Answer: NARROW
13. Something to shoot at
Answer: GOAL
14. Mesmerized state
Answer: TRANCE
15. 2012 comedy-drama about a male stripper
Answer: MAGICMIKE
17. Holy ___
Answer: GRAIL
19. Annoyance
Answer: PEST
20. 2008 musical featuring Abba songs
Answer: MAMMAMIA
23. Have an unpaid Venmo request, say
Answer: OWE
24. Place for salt on a margarita glass
Answer: RIM
25. Case study?
Answer: LAW
28. Jump
Answer: LEAP
29. Palindromic woman's name
Answer: ADA
30. Implore
Answer: URGE
33. 2015 sci-fi reboot set in the desert, familiarly
Answer: MADMAX
35. Candy enjoyed at the movies, perhaps
Answer: MNMS
36. Cool time from long ago
Answer: ICEAGE
37. Preschool recital?
Answer: ABCS
38. In need of a nap
Answer: TIRED
Down Answers
1. Birkin, for one
Answer: BAG
2. Green prefix
Answer: ECO
3. Green appetizer at a sushi restaurant
Answer: EDAMAME
4. Opposite of pro-
Answer: ANTI
5. Snitch (on), informally
Answer: NARC
6. Dad's dad, colloquially
Answer: GRAMPA
7. Orange TV character who lives at 123 Sesame Street
Answer: ERNIE
8. Basic security devices
Answer: LOCKS
9. "Awesome!"
Answer: SWEET
11. Baggage ___
Answer: CLAIM
16. What a lens hood reduces for a photographer
Answer: GLARE
17. Non-___
Answer: GMO
18. Like much sashimi
Answer: RAW
21. Where Dolphins and Marlins play professionally
Answer: MIAMI
22. Collision
Answer: IMPACT
25. Pulitzer-winning rapper Kendrick
Answer: LAMAR
26. "The early bird gets the worm," e.g.
Answer: ADAGE
27. Groomed, as eyebrows
Answer: WAXED
28. Opposite of more
Answer: LESS
30. Actress Thurman
Answer: UMA
31. Music genre for SZA and Steve Lacy
Answer: RNB
32. Maker of the Acadia S.U.V.
Answer: GMC
34. Opus ___
Answer: DEI
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: "Case study?" for LAW. The question mark signals wordplay, and this one delivers: a case study is what law students do. It's the kind of misdirection that makes crossword cluing an art form.
Wordplay Winner: "Cool time from long ago" for ICEAGE. "Cool" works as both temperature descriptor and slang for awesome, while "time from long ago" points to a geological period. Two meanings, one tight clue.
Quick Fill: "Awesome!" for SWEET. A straightforward synonym with no tricks. Five letters, zero ambiguity, instant solve.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Question marks in clues signal wordplay, not literal definitions. "Case study?" and "Preschool recital?" (ABCS) both use this trick. If you spot a ?, expect a pun or double meaning.
Pop culture long fills like MAGICMIKE, MAMMAMIA, and MADMAX act as anchors. Lock in these nine-to-six-letter answers first, and the shorter crossing words fill themselves in.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? Between the Hollywood triple feature, the Ice Age freeze, and the law school wordplay, Wednesday's puzzle packed more variety than the 11x11 form suggests. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
