NYT Midi Crossword Clues & Answers - May 18

Power Couples

By Adrianne Baik

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NYT Midi Crossword Clues

Across

  1. 1"___ ! ... I Did It Again" (Britney Spears hit)
  2. 5Strike zone assessors
  3. 9Study for the SAT, say
  4. 10Brand of party cups used in flip cup
  5. 11Stayed chill
  6. 13Tattoo removal option
  7. 14Go blond, perhaps
  8. 15Flow barrier
  9. 17Enjoyed an 18-Down, say
  10. 20What two fingers up might symbolize
  11. 24Concept that's above criticism, metaphorically
  12. 26Potential post-exercise symptom
  13. 27Not busy
  14. 28[Just like that ... it's gone!]
  15. 29Makes a scene?

Down

  1. 1October birthstone
  2. 2Shamu, for one
  3. 3Nonhuman family members
  4. 4Go 90 in a 65, say
  5. 5L.A. school with a Cinematic Arts department
  6. 6Aura
  7. 7Scheme
  8. 8Part of a shoe that gets worn down
  9. 12Arrange, as a shawl
  10. 16___ training (P.R. work for celebrities)
  11. 17"Right away!"
  12. 18Item topped with salsa and guacamole, maybe
  13. 19Audio issue on Zoom call
  14. 21"Highway to Hell" band ... or a hint to the "power couples" inside 11- and 24-Across
  15. 22N.F.L. athlete whose helmet features a horseshoe
  16. 23Female sheep
  17. 25One making calls

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. "___ ! ... I Did It Again" (Britney Spears hit) — Answer: OOPS
  2. 5. Strike zone assessors — Answer: UMPS
  3. 9. Study for the SAT, say — Answer: PREP
  4. 10. Brand of party cups used in flip cup — Answer: SOLO
  5. 11. Stayed chill — Answer: ACTEDCOOL
  6. 13. Tattoo removal option — Answer: LASER
  7. 14. Go blond, perhaps — Answer: DYE
  8. 15. Flow barrier — Answer: DAM
  9. 17. Enjoyed an 18-Down, say — Answer: ATE
  10. 20. What two fingers up might symbolize — Answer: PEACE
  11. 24. Concept that's above criticism, metaphorically — Answer: SACREDCOW
  12. 26. Potential post-exercise symptom — Answer: ACHE
  13. 27. Not busy — Answer: IDLE
  14. 28. [Just like that ... it's gone!] — Answer: POOF
  15. 29. Makes a scene? — Answer: ACTS

Down

  1. 1. October birthstone — Answer: OPAL
  2. 2. Shamu, for one — Answer: ORCA
  3. 3. Nonhuman family members — Answer: PETS
  4. 4. Go 90 in a 65, say — Answer: SPEED
  5. 5. L.A. school with a Cinematic Arts department — Answer: USC
  6. 6. Aura — Answer: MOOD
  7. 7. Scheme — Answer: PLOY
  8. 8. Part of a shoe that gets worn down — Answer: SOLE
  9. 12. Arrange, as a shawl — Answer: DRAPE
  10. 16. ___ training (P.R. work for celebrities) — Answer: MEDIA
  11. 17. "Right away!" — Answer: ASAP
  12. 18. Item topped with salsa and guacamole, maybe — Answer: TACO
  13. 19. Audio issue on Zoom call — Answer: ECHO
  14. 21. "Highway to Hell" band ... or a hint to the "power couples" inside 11- and 24-Across — Answer: ACDC
  15. 22. N.F.L. athlete whose helmet features a horseshoe — Answer: COLT
  16. 23. Female sheep — Answer: EWES
  17. 25. One making calls — Answer: REF

Here are the NYT Midi Crossword answers for Monday, May 18, 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 18?” 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 18, 2026

The full solution for the May 18 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 Monday, May 18.

Hints for the May 18 puzzle

Not ready for the full answer? Here are lighter, spoiler-free nudges for that day's grid, above the solutions. The May 18 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 Monday. 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.

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Frequently asked questions

What were the NYT Midi Crossword answers on May 18, 2026?

Every answer for the Monday, May 18, 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.

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