NYT Midi Crossword Answers Today
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By Ian Livengood
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Crossword clues, hints, and answers
Across
- 1. Your response (hopefully) to the question "Who knows the answer to 1-Across?" — Answer: IDO. Hint: What you say when you’re the one who can help, hopefully 😅
- 4. Dalai ___ — Answer: LAMA. Hint: This spiritual leader is often associated with Tibet and wisdom. 🧘♂️
- 8. Undeserving object of worship — Answer: FALSEIDOL. Hint: Something admired way more than it deserves, like a bogus icon 😇
- 11. Conchiglie + Pastime = Sleight-of-hand trick — Answer: SHELLGAME. Hint: A clever hustle where something is hidden in plain sight under little shells 🎲
- 12. Campfire residue — Answer: ASH. Hint: What’s left after the flames have done their part 🔥
- 13. Rigatoni + Lid = Stretchy, strapless garment — Answer: TUBETOP. Hint: A stretchy top that stays up on its own, like a tube-shaped outfit piece 👗
- 17. Pet hair — Answer: FUR. Hint: The fluffy coat on a cat or dog can leave it everywhere 🐾
- 18. Journalist/podcaster Klein — Answer: EZRA. Hint: A familiar media voice with a compact first name 📣
- 20. Macaroni + Hotel offering = Space to move around — Answer: ELBOWROOM. Hint: A comfy bit of personal space when the room gets a little packed 👋
- 23. Carne ___ — Answer: ASADA. Hint: A beloved Mexican grilled beef dish that’s perfect for tacos 🌮
- 24. "Full Metal Jacket" setting, informally — Answer: NAM. Hint: Where a lot of soldiers got deployed in Vietnam, casually 🇻🇳
- 25. ___ Jackson, longtime judge on "American Idol" — Answer: RANDY. Hint: A laid-back music judge who kept things friendly on TV 🎤
- 26. Music genre rooted in hardcore punk — Answer: EMO. Hint: Punk’s emotional, confessional cousin that leans harder on feeling than volume 🎸
Down
- 1. Hypotheticals — Answer: IFS. Hint: Consider conditions that might change the outcome! 🤔
- 2. "Well, lah-di-___" — Answer: DAH. Hint: A playful way to finish a bit of mock sophistication 😏
- 3. Fútbol shout — Answer: OLE. Hint: A lively cheer you’d hear after a flashy play on the pitch 🎉
- 4. A Bic that may be flicked or clicked — Answer: LIGHTER. Hint: A pocket-sized flame-maker that gets sparked with a flick or a click 🔥
- 5. Org. on toothpaste tubes — Answer: ADA. Hint: The group behind those cavity-fighting seal of approval vibes 😄
- 6. Oft-repeated word from a child to a parent — Answer: MOM. Hint: The word a little kid keeps calling out for help, hugs, or snacks. 👩
- 7. Tavern order — Answer: ALE. Hint: A simple pint choice at the pub 🍺
- 9. Thick chunk — Answer: SLAB. Hint: A hefty flat piece, like a stone from a wall 🪨
- 10. "You're something ___!" — Answer: ELSE. Hint: A friendly way to say someone is remarkably different from the rest 😊
- 13. Oklahoma city on the Arkansas River — Answer: TULSA. Hint: A major oil-town stop along the Arkansas River in northeastern Oklahoma 😊
- 14. City-related — Answer: URBAN. Hint: Think big, bustling, and full of buildings rather than barns 🏙️
- 15. Atmosphere layer that absorbs UV rays — Answer: OZONE. Hint: A protective sky shield that soaks up the sun’s harsh rays ☀️
- 16. Charity golf event — Answer: PROAM. Hint: Golf outing where amateurs team up with the pros for a good cause ⛳
- 17. Terror — Answer: FEAR. Hint: A gut-level reaction to a spooky movie 🎃
- 19. Water balloons, for a water balloon fight — Answer: AMMO. Hint: They’re the supplies you throw in the heat of battle 💦
- 21. Like five of the first six digits of pi — Answer: ODD. Hint: Not even a little bit, just the kind of pattern that keeps showing up in the early digits of pi 🤓
- 22. Route — Answer: WAY. Hint: A path or means of getting somewhere, often the simplest option. 🛣️
Next NYT Midi update in
A new puzzle unlocks at 10 p.m. Eastern on weekdays and 6 p.m. Eastern on weekends (Wed, Jul 29, 2:00 AM UTC).
Looking for today's NYT Midi Crossword answers? Every across and down solution for today's puzzle — dated July 28, 2026 — is at the top of this page, updated the moment the new grid goes live. The Midi sits between the quick Mini and the full New York Times crossword: bigger than a one-minute solve, smaller than the daily 15×15, and a nice middle-ground challenge. Whether you're checking a finished grid or breaking a deadlock, the full answers are below.
Full NYT Midi Crossword answer list for today
Every clue from today's grid next to its solution — the same answers as the board above, in one plain list you can scan without tapping.
Across
| # | Clue | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Your response (hopefully) to the question "Who knows the answer to 1-Across?" | IDO |
| 4 | Dalai ___ | LAMA |
| 8 | Undeserving object of worship | FALSEIDOL |
| 11 | Conchiglie + Pastime = Sleight-of-hand trick | SHELLGAME |
| 12 | Campfire residue | ASH |
| 13 | Rigatoni + Lid = Stretchy, strapless garment | TUBETOP |
| 17 | Pet hair | FUR |
| 18 | Journalist/podcaster Klein | EZRA |
| 20 | Macaroni + Hotel offering = Space to move around | ELBOWROOM |
| 23 | Carne ___ | ASADA |
| 24 | "Full Metal Jacket" setting, informally | NAM |
| 25 | ___ Jackson, longtime judge on "American Idol" | RANDY |
| 26 | Music genre rooted in hardcore punk | EMO |
Down
| # | Clue | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hypotheticals | IFS |
| 2 | "Well, lah-di-___" | DAH |
| 3 | Fútbol shout | OLE |
| 4 | A Bic that may be flicked or clicked | LIGHTER |
| 5 | Org. on toothpaste tubes | ADA |
| 6 | Oft-repeated word from a child to a parent | MOM |
| 7 | Tavern order | ALE |
| 9 | Thick chunk | SLAB |
| 10 | "You're something ___!" | ELSE |
| 13 | Oklahoma city on the Arkansas River | TULSA |
| 14 | City-related | URBAN |
| 15 | Atmosphere layer that absorbs UV rays | OZONE |
| 16 | Charity golf event | PROAM |
| 17 | Terror | FEAR |
| 19 | Water balloons, for a water balloon fight | AMMO |
| 21 | Like five of the first six digits of pi | ODD |
| 22 | Route | WAY |
Today's NYT Midi answers
Today's solution appears above, split into Across and Down exactly as the puzzle numbers them. Each answer is listed separately, so if you only need one word you can reveal the clue that's blocking you and keep solving the rest. The grid is confirmed and refreshed daily as soon as it's published.
What is the NYT Midi Crossword?
The Midi is the New York Times' mid-size crossword — larger than the 5×5 Mini but smaller than the full weekday 15×15. It's designed as a step up from the Mini's one-minute solve: enough clues to give you a proper puzzle, without the time commitment of the main grid. The cluing keeps the Times' trademark polish and light wordplay, so it's a satisfying solve for anyone who finds the Mini too short but the full crossword too much for a quick break.
Midi vs. Mini vs. the full NYT Crossword
Where the Midi fits among the Times' three grids:
| Mini | Midi | Full NYT | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grid size | 5×5 | Mid-size | 15×15 (21×21 Sun) |
| Solve time | Under a minute | A few minutes | 5–40+ minutes |
| Difficulty | Gentle | Moderate | Ramps to hard |
| Best for | A quick hit | A coffee-break solve | A full challenge |
If the Mini leaves you wanting more but you don't have time for the whole puzzle, the Midi is the Goldilocks option.
Browse past NYT Midi answers
Every previous Midi is archived on this page by date, with its full across and down solutions — handy for checking yesterday's grid or one you set aside. The archive updates automatically each day, so it stays complete without spoiling the current day. Stuck on a single clue in the meantime, use our crossword solver to reveal just that answer.
Browse more puzzles on the crossword solver, or use it to crack any clue from any publication.
Frequently asked questions
What are today's NYT Midi Crossword answers?
Every across and down answer for today's Midi (July 28, 2026) is listed at the top of this page, updated as soon as it's released.
How is the Midi different from the Mini?
The Midi is a larger, mid-size grid — a few minutes to solve rather than under a minute — while keeping the Times' clean, playful cluing.
Where can I find past NYT Midi answers?
Every previous Midi is in the archive on this page, listed by date with full solutions, updated automatically each day.