Like a leaky pen

Editorially verified for the Aug 18, 2026

5 Across

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A pen leaking dark ink onto paper

Clue explained

INKY is an adjective meaning covered with or leaking ink, as a pen might be when its ink escapes onto the page.

Clue type:
Definition

NYT Midi Crossword

This clue's Tuesday, August 18, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 19x9 crossword
  2. 5Like a leaky pen
  3. 9Dry, as the desert
  4. 10"___ shalt not steal": Exodus
  5. 11Receipt
  6. 13Roadside assistance org.
  7. 14"Achoo" response
  8. 19Kind of cable used in a car, for short
  9. 20Big piles
  10. 22Class taught on the bunny slopes
  11. 24Headwear for angel costumes
  12. 25Suffix with Filip-
  13. 26"The Second ___" (groundbreaking feminist book by Simone de Beauvoir)
  14. 27Make a running stitch, say

Down

  1. 1More, in Spanish
  2. 2"This American Life" creator Glass
  3. 3___ Pickles, punnily named "Rugrats" baby
  4. 4Products of a brainstorm session
  5. 5"Thumbs-up from us!"
  6. 6Stanley Cup org.
  7. 7Fish in Japanese water gardens
  8. 8"Sounds good to me!"
  9. 12Accessories for some graduates
  10. 14Huge party
  11. 15___ Gage, "The White Lotus" actor
  12. 16Banishment
  13. 17Desert watering hole
  14. 18Winning by a little
  15. 21Cold pack?
  16. 23Classic bagel topping

The answer to “Like a leaky pen” in the New York Times Midi crossword is INKY — a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on August 18, 2026 at 5-Across, and it has also run on 1 earlier date with the same answer. 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 leaky pen” answer

INKY (4 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 INKY.

What does INKY mean?

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

(adjective)

  • as dark as ink
  • stained with ink

When else has “Like a leaky pen” 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.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Like a leaky pen”?

The answer is INKY, a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on August 18, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Like a leaky pen”?

4 letters: INKY.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times Midi crossword on August 18, 2026, at 5-Across. Earlier appearances: May 22, 2026 → INKY.

Can “Like a leaky pen” 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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