Like a ghost pepper

Editorially verified for the Sep 30, 2026

8 Down

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A red ghost pepper, also known as bhut jolokia.

Clue explained

A ghost pepper is famous for its intense spiciness, so it is described as hot. HOT is an adjective here, referring to heat on the tongue rather than temperature.

Clue type:
Definition

NYT Midi Crossword

This clue's Wednesday, September 30, 2026 appearance

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1School stat
  2. 4Gently apply
  3. 7Hawaiian neckwear
  4. 8Gardener's watering aid
  5. 9Screw up
  6. 10Like a tooth that's barely attached
  7. 11To the ___ degree
  8. 12"Baseball is 90% mental. The ___ half is physical" (quote attributed to Yogi Berra)
  9. 13Whiskey barrel material
  10. 15Org. with auditors
  11. 16To the point
  12. 19Signs, as an important document
  13. 20"Only playing with you!"
  14. 22Dessert slice that a Trivial Pursuit game token resembles
  15. 23Big name in jeans
  16. 24Muddy enclosure
  17. 25Observed

Down

  1. 1Powell of 2025's "The Running Man"
  2. 2Cheeky
  3. 3Tabletop game with a plastic puck
  4. 4Thingamajig
  5. 5Not shy about speaking one's mind
  6. 6Sudsy six-pack
  7. 8Like a ghost pepper
  8. 10Mischievous Norse god ... or a homophonic hint to the ends of 3- and 4-Down
  9. 14Cooling appliances: Abbr.
  10. 16Nurses, as some 6-Down
  11. 17Absolute ___ (slang term for an exceptionally muscular person)
  12. 18River in Egypt
  13. 21"Why ___ the chicken cross the road?"

The answer to “Like a ghost pepper” in the New York Times Midi crossword is HOT — a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on September 30, 2026 at 8-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.

“Like a ghost pepper” answer

HOT (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 HOT.

What does HOT mean?

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

(adjective)

  • having a high degree of heat or a high temperature
  • (of food) containing or consisting of pungent spices or peppers which produce a burning sensation when tasted
  • filled with passionate excitement, anger, or other strong emotion

When else has “Like a ghost pepper” 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.

September 30, 2026 (most recent) → HOT. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Like a ghost pepper”?

The answer is HOT, a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on September 30, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Like a ghost pepper”?

3 letters: HOT.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times Midi crossword on September 30, 2026, at 8-Down.

Can “Like a ghost pepper” 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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