Appropriate missing letters in RET_ _EMENT PL_N

Editorially verified for the Aug 15, 2026

23 Down

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An educational word puzzle showing the missing letters in “RET__EMENT PL_N” highlighted to form IRA.

Clue explained

The missing letters complete RET__EMENT PL_N as RETIREMENT PLAN: IR fills the first blank and A fills the second. Those inserted letters, in order, spell IRA.

Clue type:
Pun or wordplay

NYT Midi Crossword

This clue's Saturday, August 15, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1What a spare key is often hidden under
  2. 4Little ___ (kid's nickname)
  3. 9Continent with lions and hyenas: Abbr.
  4. 10Sour green fruits
  5. 11Accusatory cry
  6. 12Not up to the job
  7. 13Obama's predecessor
  8. 15In the past
  9. 16Musician who co-composed the song from "The Lion King" suggested in this puzzle
  10. 19See 21-Down
  11. 20Two dots above a vowel, as in Brontë and naïve
  12. 25Org. defending individual rights
  13. 26Land of Lima (and llamas)
  14. 27App with restaurant reviews
  15. 28"The Lion King" villain

Down

  1. 1Parent's response that sometimes means "I'm stalling, but no"
  2. 2Run ___ of (clash with)
  3. 3Corporate team-building exercise
  4. 4Winter bug
  5. 5German "a"
  6. 6Texter's "That's hilarious!"
  7. 7Vivien ___, Oscar winner for "Gone With the Wind"
  8. 8___ Martin (sports car)
  9. 14Take shelter in a safe place
  10. 17Neither's partner
  11. 18Wrangler and Grand Wagoneer
  12. 20The "15" of 8/15/26, e.g.
  13. 21With 19-Across, floating chunk in the Arctic Ocean
  14. 22Triple ___ (margarita ingredient)
  15. 23Appropriate missing letters in RET_ _EMENT PL_N
  16. 24Spanish for "south"

The answer to “Appropriate missing letters in RET_ _EMENT PL_N” in the New York Times Midi crossword is IRA — a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on August 15, 2026 at 23-Down. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Appropriate missing letters in RET_ _EMENT PL_N” answer

IRA (3 letters)

Use the reveal tiles above to uncover the solution one letter at a time if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Prefer the full answer straight away? It's IRA.

When else has “Appropriate missing letters in RET_ _EMENT PL_N” appeared?

New York Times Midi reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

August 15, 2026 (most recent) → IRA. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Appropriate missing letters in RET_ _EMENT PL_N”?

The answer is IRA, a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on August 15, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Appropriate missing letters in RET_ _EMENT PL_N”?

3 letters: IRA.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times Midi crossword on August 15, 2026, at 23-Down.

Can “Appropriate missing letters in RET_ _EMENT PL_N” have a different answer?

Yes — New York Times Midi sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of today's NYT Midi answers?

Every clue and answer from that day's puzzle is linked above, and the full grid is on the NYT Midi answers page.

New York Times Midi Crossword is published by The New York Times; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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