Sturdy shade tree

Latest answer — September 08, 2026

22 Down

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Clue explained

An OAK is a sturdy, broad-canopied tree that commonly provides shade. The answer is a singular tree name.

Clue type:
Definition
A mature oak tree with a broad canopy casting shade.

NYT Midi Crossword

This clue's Tuesday, September 08, 2026 appearance

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

Across

  1. 1Ending with half or hard
  2. 4Hem and ___ (be indecisive)
  3. 7Airport code for the City of Brotherly Love
  4. 8Military higher-ups, collectively
  5. 11Experimental model
  6. 13Sport whose competitors are known as rikishi
  7. 14Cat's quiet call
  8. 15"Please, have at it!"
  9. 18Sheepish mother?
  10. 19N.B.A. rarities, for short ... or what 11- and 15-Across contain
  11. 25___ loss (hit to one's coolness, in Gen Z slang)
  12. 26Penny, Kenny or Jenny
  13. 27Default search engine for Microsoft Edge
  14. 28Variety show bit

Down

  1. 1Home screen array
  2. 2[No clue]
  3. 3What some action film scenes and sports replays are shown in
  4. 4"Curb Your Enthusiasm" airer
  5. 5The "A" of MoMA
  6. 6Robotaxi company based in Silicon Valley
  7. 9Shoot, as lava from a volcano
  8. 10Stitched
  9. 12Common trade show freebie
  10. 16Woodsy ___, mascot who says "Give a hoot! Don't pollute!"
  11. 17Stereotypically angsty individuals
  12. 19Dollop
  13. 20French assent
  14. 21Coffee container
  15. 22Sturdy shade tree
  16. 23"OMG, I do NOT need to know that!"
  17. 24Tennis match division

The answer to “Sturdy shade tree” in the New York Times Midi crossword is OAK — a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on September 8, 2026 at 22-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.

“Sturdy shade tree” answer

OAK (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 OAK.

What does OAK mean?

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

(noun)

  • a large tree which bears acorns and typically has lobed deciduous leaves. Oaks are dominant in many north temperate forests and are an important source of durable timber used in building, furniture, and (formerly) ships
  • an annual flat horse race for three-year-old fillies run on Epsom Downs, over the same course as the Derby. It was first run in 1779

When else has “Sturdy shade tree” 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 8, 2026 (most recent) → OAK. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Sturdy shade tree”?

The answer is OAK, a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on September 8, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Sturdy shade tree”?

3 letters: OAK.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times Midi crossword on September 8, 2026, at 22-Down.

Can “Sturdy shade tree” 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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