Old flames

Latest answer — August 21, 2026

7 Down

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Clue explained

EXES is the plural noun for former romantic partners, or “old flames.” The spelling represents the spoken plural of “ex.”

Clue type:
Definition
Two former romantic partners meeting after a breakup.

NYT Midi Crossword

This clue's Friday, August 21, 2026 appearance

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

Across

  1. 1House hunter's bid
  2. 6Hardly any
  3. 92016 Disney film with Samoan song lyrics
  4. 10It may be on the chopping block
  5. 11Naomi Osaka's visor?
  6. 12"Told ya I was right"
  7. 13Pair of celebs
  8. 14Affliction for many a war vet, for short
  9. 15Mary Oliver's cloche?
  10. 17Car enthusiasts, informally
  11. 21Yiddish cries of dismay
  12. 22Eva Longoria's beret?
  13. 23Boat that journeyed to Ararat, in the Bible
  14. 24Justice Kagan
  15. 25"___ Misérables"
  16. 26Weather tracker's tool

Down

  1. 1Prefix with present or potent
  2. 20.3048 meters
  3. 3Things worn by umpires and some superheroes
  4. 4Infatuate
  5. 5Engage in a battle of words, perhaps?
  6. 6Quick and action-packed
  7. 7Old flames
  8. 8Unwanted garden growth
  9. 14Spanish rice dish
  10. 16Sport that involves tumbling, jumping and stunting
  11. 17"A ___ without a plan is just a wish" (quote attributed to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry)
  12. 18Jane in a Brontë novel
  13. 19Comedian Carvey
  14. 20Fight lightly

The answer to “Old flames” in the New York Times Midi crossword is EXES — a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on August 21, 2026 at 7-Down, and it has also run on 2 earlier dates 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.

“Old flames” answer

EXES (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 EXES.

What does EXES mean?

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

(noun)

  • a former husband, wife, or other partner in a relationship

When else has “Old flames” 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 “Old flames”?

The answer is EXES, a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on August 21, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Old flames”?

4 letters: EXES.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times Midi crossword on August 21, 2026, at 7-Down. Earlier appearances: July 9, 2026 → EXES; June 6, 2026 → EXES.

Can “Old flames” 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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