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NYT’s The Midi Crossword Answers and Hints
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The clue "Family nickname" refers to a casual or affectionate term used within families. "SIS" is a common, informal nickname for "sister," fitting the clue perfectly as it represents a familial relationship in a nickname form.
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The clue "Pub game with a bull's-eye" directly points to DARTS, as it is a popular bar or pub game where players aim at a circular target, attempting to hit specific sections, including the bull's-eye, which is the center. The connection to pubs and the bull's-eye makes DARTS the answer.
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An "ode" is a type of lyrical poem that expresses admiration or praise for someone or something. The clue, "Poem of praise," directly describes this literary form, making ODE the perfect fit as the answer.
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The clue "Big pileup in a work inbox during vacation" hints at something that accumulates in your absence. The answer is EMAIL because emails naturally accumulate in a work inbox when you're away, creating a "pileup" of messages to address upon returning.
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The clue "Cost of an add-on" refers to an extra charge or payment required for something additional. A "FEE" is a standard term for such a cost or payment, making it the correct answer. It succinctly matches the definition of an associated expense for an add-on.
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The exclamation "Ooh-la-la!" expresses admiration or delight, often associated with something elegant, extravagant, or luxurious. "FANCY" aligns perfectly, as it describes something stylish, sophisticated, or elaborate—matching the tone and essence of the phrase. It's a playful, fitting synonym.
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A “conversational offshoot” is a TANGENT. Split into TAN + GENT, it becomes a color (tan) plus a synonym (gent = CHAP). This hints that 17-Down (CHAP) appears on a tan-colored background, tying wordplay to the puzzle’s color theme.
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The phrase "___ in a draw" refers to how a game or competition can conclude in a tie — a match that has no definitive winner. The word "END" fits perfectly, as it signifies the conclusion or final stage of an event, like a draw in a match.
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“Censors” defines REDACTS. Split into RED + ACTS, it points to a color (red) and a synonym (acts = DEEDS). This hints that 25-Across (DEEDS) is placed on a red-colored background, continuing the puzzle’s color-coded theme.
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The answer "SHAKE" refers to a milkshake, a popular ice cream-based drink. It typically consists of ice cream blended with milk and flavorings, making it a perfect fit for the clue "Ice cream drink." The singular form matches the clue’s phrasing.
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The clue "Personal provider of shade" uses wordplay, hinting at something that blocks sunlight for an individual. A HAT provides shade directly to the wearer by shielding their face and head from sunlight, making HAT the perfect answer.
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The clue "Exterior" refers to something on the outside or the outer surface of something. "OUTER" directly means external or outside, perfectly matching the definition of "Exterior" without wordplay or additional nuance. It's a straightforward synonym.
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The answer "ALE" fits the clue "Brewpub order" because ale is a type of beer frequently served in brewpubs. Brewpubs specialize in brewing and serving craft beers, and ale is one of the most common styles of beer ordered, making it a fitting and straightforward solution.
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“Acts” is a straightforward synonym clue. DEEDS means actions or things done, especially notable or intentional ones, making it a direct match for “acts.” In the puzzle, it also ties into the theme, since DEEDS is the synonym pointed to by “ACTS” in REDACTS.
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The answer is PEW because it is the specific term for the long bench or seating typically found in churches. These benches are often arranged in rows to accommodate congregants during services. The straightforward clue “Church bench” directly describes this seating, making PEW the correct solution.
Down
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The answer "SOFT" fits the clue "Like pillows and marshmallows" because both items are known for their soft, squishy, and cushiony texture. This descriptive trait directly aligns with the word "soft," making it the perfect solution.
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The solution "IDEA" fits because a brainstorming session typically involves generating innovative thoughts or concepts. The "product" of this creative process is often a new or useful "idea," aligning perfectly with the clue's intent. This straightforward clue points directly to the essence of brainstorming.
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The clue "Witnessed" directly corresponds to the past-tense verb "SEEN," meaning to have observed or been a witness to something. Both the clue and the answer relate to the act of perceiving an event, making "SEEN" the fitting solution.
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The answer "DEFENDERS" fits the clue "Players whose goal is to stop goals" because in sports like soccer or hockey, defenders are specific players tasked with preventing the opposing team from scoring goals, aligning perfectly with the clue's description.
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The answer is AMANDA because Amanda Seyfried is the actress who portrayed Elizabeth Holmes in the TV series The Dropout. The clue directly references both her name and her role in that series, making AMANDA the correct solution.
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The clue "Go on a tirade" refers to speaking or shouting angrily at length, which directly aligns with the definition of the word "rant." To "rant" means to express a tirade or complain passionately, making it the perfect fit for this clue.
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The answer is TIC because "___-tac-toe" refers to the popular game "Tic-Tac-Toe," where players alternate marking spaces with Xs and Os on a 3x3 grid. The three parts of the name are "Tic," "Tac," and "Toe," and the blank fits naturally with TIC as the first part.
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The clue "Crafty" suggests someone clever or cunning, often with a sneaky or devious connotation. "SLY" perfectly fits as it describes a person skilled in deceit or subtle tricks, aligning with the synonymic wordplay of the clue.
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The phrase "geeked out" describes getting extremely excited or passionate, often about something nerdy or specific. "GEEKED" fits as it represents the act of showing enthusiastic interest, paired with "out," commonly used in this context. It perfectly captures the clue's essence.
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The clue "Give a score out of ten, say" asks for a word meaning to assign a score or evaluate something. "Rate" fits as it means to assess or assign a value, such as a rating out of ten. The "say" indicates this is an example of rating.
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The clue "Gent" refers to a synonym for a man or gentleman. "Chap" is a British English term for a man, aligning perfectly with "Gent" as both casually describe a male individual. This simple vocabulary connection makes CHAP the correct answer.
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The clue "Tall" story uses wordplay. A "tall tale" is a term for an exaggerated or unbelievable story, often called simply a "tall story." Therefore, the answer TALE fits as it refers to a story, aligning with the pun in the clue.
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The answer is STEW because a stew is a hearty, comforting meal often made by slow-cooking ingredients like meat, vegetables, and broth together in a single pot. The clue’s direct wording points to this classic one-pot dish, matching the description perfectly.
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The clue "Landscaper's green roll" refers to a roll of grass often used by landscapers to cover ground quickly. This roll of grass, with soil attached beneath, is called SOD. It’s green because of the grass and comes in rolls for easy installation, making SOD the correct answer.
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The clue "Red or tan" refers to colors or shades. "Hue" is a term used to describe a color or shade, making it the correct answer. Red and tan are both specific hues within the color spectrum, fitting the clue perfectly.
Today’s Game Difficulty
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Stuck on today’s Midi? Uncover the puzzle at your own pace: reveal letters one by one, check full answers, or explore clear explanations with “See why.” Whether you’re learning, confirming a hunch, or finishing strong, it’s your companion for a smarter, educational solve.
Today’s NYT Midi Highlights
Sid Sivakumar’s “Color Codes” offers a clean, satisfying theme built on a clever dual-meaning trick. The standout idea is how certain entries can be split into two words, where one becomes a color indicator and the other points to a synonym placed elsewhere in the grid. For example, TANGENT splits into TAN (a color) and GENT (CHAP), while REDACTS becomes RED (a color) and ACTS (DEEDS). This interplay between language and visual color cues creates an extra “aha” layer beyond standard fill.
What makes the puzzle especially enjoyable is its accessibility: the fill is smooth and familiar, with lively entries like GEEKED, DEFENDERS, and AMANDA balancing shorter gluey words. The revealer isn’t explicit, but HUE nicely ties everything together. It’s a compact, elegant construction that rewards solvers who spot the color-word split, making the theme feel both playful and neatly executed.
Today's Tricky Wordplay
Here's what caught our attention today:
- Conversational offshoot ... or, when parsed as two words, a hint to 17-Down
- Censors, as a classified document ... or, when parsed as two words, a hint to 25-Across
About The Midi
The Midi is a daily crossword puzzle designed to sit between the quick satisfaction of The Mini and the depth of the full Daily Crossword. It offers a compact but more layered solving experience, giving players a new step in the New York Times Games lineup.
While officially launched as a daily puzzle in February 2026, the concept was tested earlier through special puzzle packs and more recently in newsletter editions. Those experiments helped shape what is now a permanent daily feature available exclusively online through the New York Times Games app and website.
Format and Structure
Most Midi puzzles use a 9×9 grid (larger than The Mini but smaller than the traditional crossword), allowing for richer wordplay and themed construction without requiring a long solving session. Toward the end of the week, grids may expand up to 11×11, and occasionally the puzzle appears in non-square formats, with different numbers of rows and columns.
Unlike The Mini, every Midi includes a title, offering a subtle hint at the puzzle’s theme or solving trick. These titles add an extra layer of discovery while keeping the experience approachable.
A Digital-First Puzzle
The Midi is built specifically for digital play. It does not appear in print, and it is available through the New York Times app and website only for subscribers.
Designing the puzzle for screens allows for occasional visual effects and interactive moments that enhance the solving experience in ways print cannot. Even with these innovations, the philosophy remains consistent: puzzles are still handcrafted by human constructors and editors, preserving the editorial voice and thoughtful construction that define New York Times Games.
Editorial Approach
The Midi is edited by Ian Livengood, who also oversees Pips. He creates about three Midi puzzles each week while collaborating with a rotating group of approximately fifteen contributors whose submissions are carefully edited before publication.
This editorial model mirrors the structure used across The New York Times crosswords, where dedicated editors maintain quality and style (like Will Shortz for The Daily and Joel Fagliano for The Mini).
New Rules and Creative Flexibility
The Midi introduces several notable changes to traditional crossword conventions, like:
- Each puzzle features a title. Before, only Sunday NYT puzzles had a title. In Midi, this is meant to give a clue about the theme without needing a distinct clue to play the role of a theme revealer.
- Grids may occasionally break from square symmetry, which is something also happening in the Mini, especially those made by Sam Ezersky.
- Two-letter answers are allowed - this is a feature borrowed from cryptic puzzles, allowing Scrabble (and NYT Crossplay) fans to bank on their skills.
Daily Availability
Puzzles are accessible the evening before the publish date. Weekday and Saturday puzzles: 10 p.m. EST the previous day. Sunday puzzles: 6 p.m. EST on Saturday.
Today's NYT Puzzle Guides by LadyPuzzle Pro
- NYT The Mini Crossword Answers
- Today's Wordle
- Connections Hint Today
- NYT Pips Today - Hints & Solutions
- NYT Crossword Answers Today
- Strands Answers Today
- Spelling Bee Hints
- Connections Sports Edition (The Athletic)
NYT Daily Crosswords Comparison
| Feature | The Mini | The Midi | The Crossword |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical Grid Size | 5×5 grid (7×7 on Saturdays) | Usually 9×9, (up to 11×11 at the end of the week) | 15×15 daily (21×21 on Sundays) |
| Themed Puzzle | Rarely themed | Themed every day | Themed Monday–Friday and Sunday |
| Puzzle Title | No title | Title included daily | Titles appear on Sundays only |
| Where You Can Play | Print and online | Online only | Print and online |
| Difficulty Progression | No difficulty progression over the week, bigger puzzles on Saturdays | No weekly progression, weekends featuring bigger puzzles | Difficulty increases from Monday to Saturday with Sunday being the biggest puzzle not the hardest |
| Visual / Interactive Effects | Occasional | Featured about once a week | Occasional |
| Two-Letter Answers Allowed | No | Yes | No |
| Editorial Structure | Lead editor with contributing constructors | Lead editor with contributing constructors | Lead editor with contributing constructors |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is NYT The Midi?
The Midi is a daily crossword puzzle introduced by The New York Times on February 25, 2026. Available exclusively online for subscribers, it is designed to sit between The Mini and the full Daily Crossword in both size and solving time. Most puzzles range from 9×9 to 11×11 grids, offering a compact yet more layered challenge.
How long does it take to solve a Midi puzzle?
Solving time varies depending on experience and familiarity with crosswords, but most players can expect a Midi puzzle to take between three and ten minutes. It’s designed to be longer than The Mini while still fitting comfortably into a short daily break.
Does the Midi get harder throughout the week?
No. Unlike the Daily Crossword, the Midi does not follow a weekly difficulty progression. Instead, puzzles may become slightly larger toward the weekend, when solvers typically have more time to play, while maintaining a consistent overall difficulty level.
Are Midi puzzles themed?
Yes. Every Midi includes a title that hints at the puzzle’s theme, adding an extra layer of discovery to the experience.