Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Wednesday's 9x9 grid packs pop culture references (Pixar's "ELIO," Disney's "MOANA") alongside sharp trivia and a few head-scratchers. 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 a 9x9 grid with 16 Across and 14 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: 30 (16 Across, 14 Down)
Trickiest Clue: "Tabloid fodder after an eerie sighting, maybe" (10A). The two-word answer and "maybe" qualifier make this a tough read.
Gimme Clue: "2025 Pixar film about a boy who encounters aliens." A straightforward pop culture reference from just last year.
Theme Spotted: "Wine Pairing"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. Loops in on an email, for short
Hint: The abbreviation for carbon copy, used as a verb.
4. 2025 Pixar film about a boy who encounters aliens
Hint: Four letters, named after the main character.
8. Honolulu's island
Hint: Four letters, starts with O. One of the Hawaiian islands.
9. Centrum's "Complete From A to ___" multivitamin
Hint: A mineral, four letters. Think periodic table.
10. Tabloid fodder after an eerie sighting, maybe
Hint: Two words. Unidentified flying object plus a news report.
12. ___ center
Hint: Three letters. Short for recreation.
13. Barn topper with the letters N-S-E-W
Hint: Four letters. Tells you which way the wind blows.
14. Very bad movie rating
Hint: Two words, seven letters total. The lowest possible score from a critic.
17. Education grp. for moms and dads
Hint: Three letters. Parent-teacher association.
18. Cyber Monday event
Hint: Four letters. Discounts and deals.
19. Disney film set in ancient Polynesia
Hint: Five letters. Named after a Polynesian heroine.
21. 1990s-2000s soccer superstar Hamm
Hint: Three letters. First name of the U.S. women's soccer legend.
22. SAT study subject, informally
Hint: Five letters. Words and their meanings.
23. Airport info, for short
Hint: Three letters. Estimated time of departure.
24. Plain writing
Hint: Five letters. Opposite of poetry.
25. Bread for a Reuben sandwich
Hint: Three letters. Dark, caraway-seeded bread.
Down Hints
1. Casual eatery
Hint: Four letters. Coffee shop, bistro.
2. Shell-shaped ice cream treat with a rhyming name
Hint: Two words, nine letters total. Sounds like "choco" + "taco."
3. California's Big ___
Hint: Three letters. Famous coastal highway and surf spot.
4. Toll-paying timesaver
Hint: Six letters. Electronic pass for toll roads.
5. Big cat trainer at a classic circus
Hint: Two words, nine letters. Someone who works with lions.
6. As a matter of fact
Hint: Two words, nine letters. "In ___."
7. Month before Nov.
Hint: Three letters. October.
8. Your and my
Hint: Three letters. Possessive pronoun.
11. Biblical apple picker
Hint: Three letters. The Garden of Eden's first woman.
15. Grannies
Hint: Five letters. Grandmothers, informally.
16. Duane ___ (N.Y.C. pharmacy chain)
Hint: Five letters. Sounds like "reed."
17. Like a D, gradewise
Hint: Four letters. Below average, failing.
19. Matthew Stafford, for the 2025 N.F.L. season
Hint: Three letters. Most Valuable Player.
20. Pres. Lincoln
Hint: Three letters. Honest Abe.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. Loops in on an email, for short
Answer: CCS
4. 2025 Pixar film about a boy who encounters aliens
Answer: ELIO
8. Honolulu's island
Answer: OAHU
9. Centrum's "Complete From A to ___" multivitamin
Answer: ZINC
10. Tabloid fodder after an eerie sighting, maybe
Answer: UFO REPORT
12. ___ center
Answer: REC
13. Barn topper with the letters N-S-E-W
Answer: VANE
14. Very bad movie rating
Answer: ONE STAR
17. Education grp. for moms and dads
Answer: PTA
18. Cyber Monday event
Answer: SALE
19. Disney film set in ancient Polynesia
Answer: MOANA
21. 1990s-2000s soccer superstar Hamm
Answer: MIA
22. SAT study subject, informally
Answer: VOCAB
23. Airport info, for short
Answer: ETD
24. Plain writing
Answer: PROSE
25. Bread for a Reuben sandwich
Answer: RYE
Down Answers
1. Casual eatery
Answer: CAFE
2. Shell-shaped ice cream treat with a rhyming name
Answer: CHOCO TACO
3. California's Big ___
Answer: SUR
4. Toll-paying timesaver
Answer: EZPASS
5. Big cat trainer at a classic circus
Answer: LION TAMER
6. As a matter of fact
Answer: IN REALITY
7. Month before Nov.
Answer: OCT
8. Your and my
Answer: OUR
11. Biblical apple picker
Answer: EVE
15. Grannies
Answer: NANAS
16. Duane ___ (N.Y.C. pharmacy chain)
Answer: READE
17. Like a D, gradewise
Answer: POOR
19. Matthew Stafford, for the 2025 N.F.L. season
Answer: MVP
20. Pres. Lincoln
Answer: ABE
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: "Tabloid fodder after an eerie sighting, maybe" (10A) for UFO REPORT. The "maybe" does the heavy lifting here, signaling a speculative rather than definitive answer. Two-word answers in a compact grid are always a treat.
Wordplay Winner: "Shell-shaped ice cream treat with a rhyming name" (2D) for CHOCO TACO. The clue practically sings the answer with its built-in rhyme scheme. A clue that doubles as a jingle.
Quick Fill: "Month before Nov." (7D) for OCT. Three letters, basic calendar knowledge. Instant confidence builder.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Watch for abbreviation clues early. CCS (1A), REC (12A), PTA (17A), ETD (23A), and OCT (7D) all use abbreviations or acronyms. Spot the period or "for short" in a clue, and you know you're hunting for shortened forms. Fill those in first to unlock crossings.
Pop culture from different decades gives you anchor points. 2025's ELIO and MIA (1990s soccer) bookend a wide timeline. If one era's reference stumps you, the crossing answers from another decade will get you unstuck.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? Between the UFO REPORT sprawl, the CHOCO TACO wordplay, and the Lincoln-to-Stafford trivia range, this 9x9 covered a lot of ground. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
