Flat-topped hill common in the Southwest

Editorially verified for the Oct 1, 2026

18 Across

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A flat-topped mesa rising above the surrounding landscape in the American Southwest.

Clue explained

A mesa is a flat-topped hill with steep sides, a landform especially common in the American Southwest. MESA is a noun.

Clue type:
Definition

NYT Midi Crossword

This clue's Thursday, October 01, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 124-hour source of $$$
  2. 4Undergarment purchase
  3. 719th-century German composer Robert ___
  4. 9Quick nibble
  5. 10Good bud
  6. 11Size larger than small: Abbr.
  7. 12On top of
  8. 14Shade of light brown, from the French
  9. 18Flat-topped hill common in the Southwest
  10. 19With 20-Across, feature of many a sci-fi film ... and a hint to this puzzle's shaded squares
  11. 20See 19-Across
  12. 22Health insurance giant
  13. 25Luau necklace of flowers
  14. 26Helps with a crime
  15. 27South Bend's state: Abbr.
  16. 28Basic unit of heredity
  17. 29Muddy home for pigs

Down

  1. 1Perform in a play
  2. 2Party planning committee's concern
  3. 3TV remote button
  4. 4Sweetheart, slangily
  5. 5Molecule involved in protein synthesis
  6. 6Dracula ___, insect known to drink the blood of its own larvae
  7. 7Grain towers
  8. 8Car that was "large enough for the family but small enough for the individual," per Henry Ford
  9. 9Yankee great Ruth
  10. 10Cooking spray brand
  11. 13Move out
  12. 15Alternative to Viagra
  13. 16Newish
  14. 17In need of cleaning up
  15. 19Actress de Armas
  16. 21Carry-___ (unchecked bags)
  17. 22Witch
  18. 23Purple yam used in Filipino cuisine
  19. 24Chess pieces

The answer to “Flat-topped hill common in the Southwest” in the New York Times Midi crossword is MESA — a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on October 1, 2026, a Thursday puzzle, at 18-Across. 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.

“Flat-topped hill common in the Southwest” answer

MESA (4 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is MESA.

What does MESA mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of MESA is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(noun)

  • an isolated flat-topped hill with steep sides, as found in arid and semi-arid areas of the US

When else has “Flat-topped hill common in the Southwest” 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.

October 1, 2026 (most recent) → MESA. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Flat-topped hill common in the Southwest”?

The answer is MESA, a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on October 1, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Flat-topped hill common in the Southwest”?

4 letters: MESA.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times Midi crossword on October 1, 2026 (a Thursday puzzle), at 18-Across.

Can “Flat-topped hill common in the Southwest” 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 this day's NYT Midi answers?

The full grid for October 1, 2026 is on the NYT Midi answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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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