Flat-topped hills

Editorially verified for the Oct 5, 2026

21 Across

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Flat-topped mesas rise above a desert landscape.

Clue explained

Mesas are flat-topped hills with steep sides, like broad tables rising above the surrounding land. Many form when a harder layer of rock protects the top while softer rock around it erodes away. The result is an isolated remnant of a larger plateau, a familiar sight in the arid landscapes of the American Southwest. The name comes from the Spanish word for “table.”

Clue type:
Definition

NYT Midi Crossword

This clue's Monday, October 05, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1"Oh, my turn to bat!"
  2. 5Severely hurt
  3. 9Phrase similar to "All sales are final"
  4. 11A helluva good time
  5. 12Airport bag checkers, for short
  6. 13Georgia politician who was the first U.S. senator born in the 1980s
  7. 19Deep-dish pizza chain, informally
  8. 20Annoyingly fussy
  9. 21Flat-topped hills
  10. 23___Boost (Ford engine designed to improve fuel economy)
  11. 24Many an annoying internet ad
  12. 25Rowing tool
  13. 26"Sweet!"
  14. 27Big Pharma overseer, in brief
  15. 28___ Age music
  16. 29A.T.M. withdrawal add-on

Down

  1. 1QB's error: Abbr.
  2. 2Onomatopoeia on some milk cartons
  3. 3Ornate vessel
  4. 4Basil-based pasta topper
  5. 5Simba's dad in "The Lion King"
  6. 6Dog's yap
  7. 7Shiba ___ (Japanese dog breed)
  8. 8Yahoo! alternative
  9. 10Throw, as a cornhole bag
  10. 13Word before "scare," "ship" or "shot"
  11. 14Result of walking a leadoff batter ... as seen in 11- and 13-Across?
  12. 15Lack of bias
  13. 16Unrepeated event ... as seen in 11- and 13-Across?
  14. 17False front
  15. 18Counterpart of faunae
  16. 22Gush forth

The answer to “Flat-topped hills” in the New York Times Midi crossword is MESAS — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on October 5, 2026, a Monday puzzle, at 21-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 hills” answer

MESAS (5 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 MESAS.

What does MESAS mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of MESAS 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 hills” 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 5, 2026 (most recent) → MESAS. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Flat-topped hills”?

The answer is MESAS, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on October 5, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Flat-topped hills”?

5 letters: MESAS.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times Midi crossword on October 5, 2026 (a Monday puzzle), at 21-Across.

Can “Flat-topped hills” 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 5, 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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