What Mark Twain called the "saddest evidence of intellectual poverty"

Latest answer — August 30, 2026

25 Across

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Clue explained

A PUN is a play on words, and Mark Twain famously called it the “saddest evidence of intellectual poverty.” The clue quotes that characterization rather than giving a neutral definition.

Clue type:
Definition
A playful illustration representing a double-meaning joke

NYT Midi Crossword

This clue's Sunday, August 30, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Back talk
  2. 4Talks and talks and talks
  3. 8Promise of repayment
  4. 9Like throwback fashion
  5. 10Helpful guide for sightseers
  6. 12Ankle-related
  7. 13"Hot Shots!" or "Shaun of the Dead"
  8. 16Post-marathon pain, perhaps
  9. 19Petrified ___
  10. 21Machu Picchu and Chichén Itzá
  11. 23Hospital test in a tube, for short
  12. 24Birthplace of Muhammad
  13. 25What Mark Twain called the "saddest evidence of intellectual poverty"
  14. 26Distort, as polling data
  15. 27Network of medical providers, for short

Down

  1. 1Something checked twice by Santa
  2. 2Teeny tiny bit
  3. 3Sound from a content feline
  4. 42003 hit for Lil Jon and the East Side Boyz
  5. 510s and 20s dispenser
  6. 6Supportive top
  7. 7Soak (up)
  8. 9"You ___ what you sow"
  9. 11Intrinsic nature
  10. 14Extra pep
  11. 15Online discussion site
  12. 16Funny bone's place
  13. 17Actors' prompts
  14. 18Cletus Spuckler on "The Simpsons," e.g.
  15. 20___ nuggets (food shaped like prehistoric creatures)
  16. 22Tool with sharp teeth

The answer to “What Mark Twain called the "saddest evidence of intellectual poverty"” in the New York Times Midi crossword is PUN — a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on August 30, 2026 at 25-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.

“What Mark Twain called the "saddest evidence of intellectual poverty"” answer

PUN (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 PUN.

What does PUN mean?

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

(noun)

  • a joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words which sound alike but have different meanings

When else has “What Mark Twain called the "saddest evidence of intellectual poverty"” 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.

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

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “What Mark Twain called the "saddest evidence of intellectual poverty"”?

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

How many letters is the answer to “What Mark Twain called the "saddest evidence of intellectual poverty"”?

3 letters: PUN.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times Midi crossword on August 30, 2026, at 25-Across.

Can “What Mark Twain called the "saddest evidence of intellectual poverty"” 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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