Close But No Cigar

By Rena Cohen

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

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

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Stethoscope wearers, in brief — Answer: DRS. Hint: Think of the medical professionals who listen to your heartbeat for a living. 🩺
  2. 4. Paper : pencil :: ___ : stylus — Answer: IPAD. Hint: Think of the sleek tablet that pairs naturally with a stylus for writing and drawing. ✍️
  3. 8. Tear — Answer: RIP. Hint: What you might do to a sheet of paper in frustration 📄
  4. 9. Still in bed — Answer: NOTUP. Hint: Describes someone who hasn’t risen for the day yet 😴
  5. 11. Some psychedelic experiences — Answer: ACIDTRIPS. Hint: These mind-bending journeys are often associated with LSD. 🌀
  6. 13. Horror or history — Answer: GENRE. Hint: Think of the broad category that can include both a scary tale and a factual account 📚
  7. 14. Gossip, in slang — Answer: TEA. Hint: This slangy term is what you spill when sharing juicy rumors ☕
  8. 15. Big name in health insurance — Answer: CIGNA. Hint: This major insurer’s name appears on many medical ID cards. 🩺
  9. 17. Ask for too many details — Answer: PRY. Hint: Probe where curiosity should probably stop 🕵️
  10. 19. No longer following orders — Answer: ROGUE. Hint: Think of someone who has gone off-script and stopped obeying authority. 🏴
  11. 22. 2017 Lil Pump hit whose name includes a fashion brand — Answer: GUCCIGANG. Hint: Think of Lil Pump’s breakout 2017 anthem built around a repeated luxury-label name. 🎵
  12. 24. Apportion — Answer: ALLOT. Hint: To distribute something among several people or groups is to do this. ⚖️
  13. 25. Women's suffragist ___ B. Wells — Answer: IDA. Hint: Think of the suffragist’s short first name, also borne by a famous Mount Ida. 🏔️
  14. 26. Start of a counting-out rhyme — Answer: EENY. Hint: Think of the playful rhyme children use to choose who’s “it” in a game 🎲
  15. 27. Silent assent — Answer: NOD. Hint: A wordless sign of agreement can speak volumes. 👍

Down

  1. 1. Performance art form featuring "queens" — Answer: DRAG. Hint: Think of a flamboyant stage tradition where performers transform through costume, makeup, and character. 🎭
  2. 2. Grain in a poke bowl — Answer: RICE. Hint: This fluffy staple is often the base beneath your poke toppings. 🍚
  3. 3. Water-extracting washing machine setting — Answer: SPINCYCLE. Hint: Choose this setting to whirl clothes around and fling out extra water before drying. 🌀
  4. 4. Good moral behavior — Answer: INTEGRITY. Hint: Doing the right thing, even when no one is watching, reflects this quality. 🌟
  5. 5. ___ ejemplo (Spanish "for example") — Answer: POR. Hint: This tiny Spanish phrase introduces an illustration or sample. 🇪🇸
  6. 6. Back to doing something — Answer: ATITAGAIN. Hint: Returning to a familiar activity after a pause? 🔁
  7. 7. Deceive — Answer: DUPE. Hint: To trick someone is to pull the wool over their eyes. 😉
  8. 10. "This is your brain on drugs," e.g., for short — Answer: PSA. Hint: It’s a brief public message meant to raise awareness about an issue 📢
  9. 12. ___-FIT attire (Nike sweat-wicking fabric) — Answer: DRI. Hint: Think of Nike’s moisture-wicking workout gear, designed to keep you comfortable during exercise. 👟
  10. 16. Festive drink topped with nutmeg — Answer: NOG. Hint: This creamy holiday favorite is often served in a punch bowl and dusted with spice. 🎄
  11. 17. Grp. with drivers, but not parkers — Answer: PGA. Hint: Think of the professional golf organization whose members use clubs, not parking spaces. 🏌️
  12. 18. Game player's guideline — Answer: RULE. Hint: It’s the simple instruction that tells a player what’s allowed and what isn’t. 🎮
  13. 20. Reverse — Answer: UNDO. Hint: Think of the command that takes back your last action. ↩️
  14. 21. Old-fashioned "My word!" — Answer: EGAD. Hint: An antique exclamation of surprise or alarm, fit for a period drama! 😮
  15. 23. Scam — Answer: CON. Hint: A dishonest trick designed to steal your money or trust. 🎭

Next NYT Midi update in

--Hours
--Minutes
--Seconds

A new puzzle unlocks at 10 p.m. Eastern on weekdays and 6 p.m. Eastern on weekends (Thu, Aug 6, 2:00 AM UTC).

Looking for today's NYT Midi Crossword answers? Every across and down solution for today's puzzle — dated August 5, 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

#ClueAnswer
1Stethoscope wearers, in briefDRS
4Paper : pencil :: ___ : stylusIPAD
8TearRIP
9Still in bedNOTUP
11Some psychedelic experiencesACIDTRIPS
13Horror or historyGENRE
14Gossip, in slangTEA
15Big name in health insuranceCIGNA
17Ask for too many detailsPRY
19No longer following ordersROGUE
222017 Lil Pump hit whose name includes a fashion brandGUCCIGANG
24ApportionALLOT
25Women's suffragist ___ B. WellsIDA
26Start of a counting-out rhymeEENY
27Silent assentNOD

Down

#ClueAnswer
1Performance art form featuring "queens"DRAG
2Grain in a poke bowlRICE
3Water-extracting washing machine settingSPINCYCLE
4Good moral behaviorINTEGRITY
5___ ejemplo (Spanish "for example")POR
6Back to doing somethingATITAGAIN
7DeceiveDUPE
10"This is your brain on drugs," e.g., for shortPSA
12___-FIT attire (Nike sweat-wicking fabric)DRI
16Festive drink topped with nutmegNOG
17Grp. with drivers, but not parkersPGA
18Game player's guidelineRULE
20ReverseUNDO
21Old-fashioned "My word!"EGAD
23ScamCON

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:

MiniMidiFull NYT
Grid size5×5Mid-size15×15 (21×21 Sun)
Solve timeUnder a minuteA few minutes5–40+ minutes
DifficultyGentleModerateRamps to hard
Best forA quick hitA coffee-break solveA 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 (August 5, 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.