NYT Midi Crossword Clues & Answers - May 16

Sign of the Times

By Jeremy Newton

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NYT Midi Crossword Clues

Across

  1. 1Joke around in good fun
  2. 5Owns
  3. 8Nebraska's biggest city
  4. 10Antlered forest animal
  5. 11Deodorant target x Hospital area = Ring master?
  6. 12Noon on a sundial
  7. 13When some doughnut shops open
  8. 15Org. for doctors
  9. 17Some marketing between TV shows
  10. 18Keep one's mouth shut
  11. 20Salmon topping for a bagel
  12. 21p x Chicago train = TV spot?
  13. 25Poke bowl fish
  14. 26Last-second bid on eBay
  15. 27Sweet potato lookalike
  16. 28Annoying winged insect

Down

  1. 1"Don't quit your day ___!"
  2. 2Angsty rock subgenre
  3. 3J-shaped jazz instrument, for short
  4. 4One's relatives, casually
  5. 5That man x Singer Sheeran = Was a bad speller?
  6. 6Another name to go by
  7. 7Read over quickly
  8. 9The M.L.B.'s Diamondbacks, on sports tickers
  9. 14Smoking an e-cig
  10. 15Hawaiian hello
  11. 16Mother x Online chat = Ain't it the truth?
  12. 18Sculptor's material
  13. 19FedEx alternative
  14. 22Mark, as a square on a ballot
  15. 23U.S. org. that monitors air quality
  16. 24Allow

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Joke around in good fun — Answer: JEST
  2. 5. Owns — Answer: HAS
  3. 8. Nebraska's biggest city — Answer: OMAHA
  4. 10. Antlered forest animal — Answer: ELK
  5. 11. Deodorant target x Hospital area = Ring master? — Answer: BOXER
  6. 12. Noon on a sundial — Answer: XII
  7. 13. When some doughnut shops open — Answer: FIVEAM
  8. 15. Org. for doctors — Answer: AMA
  9. 17. Some marketing between TV shows — Answer: ADS
  10. 18. Keep one's mouth shut — Answer: CLAMUP
  11. 20. Salmon topping for a bagel — Answer: LOX
  12. 21. p x Chicago train = TV spot? — Answer: PIXEL
  13. 25. Poke bowl fish — Answer: AHI
  14. 26. Last-second bid on eBay — Answer: SNIPE
  15. 27. Sweet potato lookalike — Answer: YAM
  16. 28. Annoying winged insect — Answer: GNAT

Down

  1. 1. "Don't quit your day ___!" — Answer: JOB
  2. 2. Angsty rock subgenre — Answer: EMO
  3. 3. J-shaped jazz instrument, for short — Answer: SAX
  4. 4. One's relatives, casually — Answer: THEFAM
  5. 5. That man x Singer Sheeran = Was a bad speller? — Answer: HEXED
  6. 6. Another name to go by — Answer: ALIAS
  7. 7. Read over quickly — Answer: SKIM
  8. 9. The M.L.B.'s Diamondbacks, on sports tickers — Answer: ARI
  9. 14. Smoking an e-cig — Answer: VAPING
  10. 15. Hawaiian hello — Answer: ALOHA
  11. 16. Mother x Online chat = Ain't it the truth? — Answer: MAXIM
  12. 18. Sculptor's material — Answer: CLAY
  13. 19. FedEx alternative — Answer: UPS
  14. 22. Mark, as a square on a ballot — Answer: XIN
  15. 23. U.S. org. that monitors air quality — Answer: EPA
  16. 24. Allow — Answer: LET

Here are the NYT Midi Crossword answers for Saturday, May 16, 2026 — every solution for that day's mid-size puzzle, listed at the top of this page. Whether you're catching up on a puzzle you missed, settling a “what was the answer on May 16?” question, or checking a grid you finished that day, the complete clue-by-clue solution is right here. Looking for today's puzzle instead? Head to our live NYT Midi Crossword answers page.

NYT Midi Crossword answers for May 16, 2026

The full solution for the May 16 NYT Midi is shown above, laid out clue by clue — every Across answer followed by every Down answer, exactly as that day's grid read. Each answer is listed separately, so you can check just the clue you were stuck on and leave the rest. This is the confirmed grid as published on Saturday, May 16.

Hints for the May 16 puzzle

Not ready for the full answer? Here are lighter, spoiler-free nudges for that day's grid, above the solutions. The May 16 Midi is the mid-size New York Times grid — bigger than the one-minute Mini, smaller than the full weekday crossword — so it sat somewhere between a quick hit and a proper sit-down solve that Saturday. It keeps the Times' clean, playful cluing, so the answers below read like a lighter version of the main puzzle rather than a Saturday-level challenge. Use the hints for the trickiest clues, then reveal the answers above only if you need them.

Looking for a different day?

Prefer to solve rather than peek? The play button opens the puzzle so you can try that day's grid yourself, then come back to check your answers. Stuck on a single clue from any puzzle, our crossword solver reveals just that answer from your known letters.

Frequently asked questions

What were the NYT Midi Crossword answers on May 16, 2026?

Every answer for the Saturday, May 16, 2026 NYT Midi is listed at the top of this page — the confirmed grid as published that day.

Where can I find today's NYT Midi answers?

Today's live puzzle is on our NYT Midi Crossword answers today page, updated the moment each new grid goes live.

How do I look up a different date?

Use the previous/next links above to step day by day, or open the today page to browse the full dated archive.

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