Tipping the Scales

By Natan Last

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Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Michelangelo sculpture in the Vatican — Answer: PIETA. Hint: Think of Michelangelo’s moving depiction of Mary cradling Jesus in St. Peter’s Basilica. 🕊️
  2. 6. Winged nocturnal animal — Answer: OWL. Hint: This silent night hunter sees remarkably well in the dark. 🦉
  3. 9. Milk source on a dairy cow — Answer: UDDER. Hint: It’s the cow’s built-in milk dispenser. 🐄
  4. 10. ___ de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) — Answer: DIA. Hint: The Spanish word for “day” completes this festive Mexican holiday name. 🎉
  5. 11. What covers the eyes of 8-Down/17-Across — Answer: BLINDFOLD. Hint: Think of the covering used when someone must rely on touch instead of sight. 🙈
  6. 13. Rep.'s counterpart in Congress — Answer: SEN. Hint: Think of the abbreviated title for a member of the Senate 🏛️
  7. 14. Ahead of schedule — Answer: EARLY. Hint: The opposite of running late, when something happens before the expected time. ⏰
  8. 15. Check point? — Answer: BANK. Hint: It’s a place to check your balance, not your luggage. 🏦
  9. 17. See 8-Down — Answer: JUSTICE. Hint: Check 8-Down for the clue that unlocks this entry 🔎
  10. 20. "Pulled" barbecue meat — Answer: PORK. Hint: Think of tender meat slow-cooked until it shreds easily. 🍖
  11. 21. Affirmative head motions — Answer: NODS. Hint: These gestures signal agreement without saying a word. 🙂
  12. 23. Jelly bean-filled plastic holiday toys — Answer: EGGS. Hint: These colorful seasonal containers hide a sweet surprise inside. 🐣
  13. 24. "Abracadabra" singer Lady ___ — Answer: GAGA. Hint: Think of the pop superstar behind this spellbinding hit. 🎤
  14. 25. Remnant of a cigar — Answer: ASH. Hint: What’s left behind after a cigar has finished burning? 🔥
  15. 26. Superman enemy ___ Luthor — Answer: LEX. Hint: Think of the bald genius who regularly schemes against the Man of Steel. 🦹

Down

  1. 1. British taverns — Answer: PUBS. Hint: Think of the cozy British spots where locals gather for a pint and conversation 🍺
  2. 2. Doing nothing — Answer: IDLE. Hint: Sometimes it's nice to just kick back and relax without any plans! 😌
  3. 3. City that's home to the National Museum of Scotland — Answer: EDINBURGH. Hint: Think of Scotland’s historic capital, famous for its castle and annual arts festival 🏰
  4. 4. Cube root of 1,000 — Answer: TEN. Hint: Think of the whole number that, multiplied by itself three times, equals 1,000. 🧊
  5. 5. Passionate — Answer: ARDENT. Hint: Think of someone burning with intense enthusiasm or devotion 🔥
  6. 6. Smell from a garbage truck — Answer: ODOR. Hint: A garbage truck can leave this unpleasant scent behind. 🤢
  7. 7. Document that says "I hereby bequeath ..." — Answer: WILL. Hint: A formal paper laying out who gets your belongings after you’re gone. 📜
  8. 8. With 17-Across, paragon of fairness — Answer: LADY. Hint: Picture the title paired with Justice, the blindfolded symbol of impartial law. ⚖️
  9. 12. Putting on an act — Answer: FAKING. Hint: Pretending to be something you’re not could be described this way 🎭
  10. 16. Inquires (about) — Answer: ASKS. Hint: Poses questions to learn more about something. 🤔
  11. 17. Runs at an easy pace — Answer: JOGS. Hint: Moves along casually rather than sprinting 🏃
  12. 18. What Santa gives naughty children — Answer: COAL. Hint: A lump of this fuel might appear in a naughty child’s stocking instead of a toy. 🪨
  13. 19. Sharp part of a sword — Answer: EDGE. Hint: It’s the cutting side that makes a blade dangerous ⚔️
  14. 20. Little green vegetable — Answer: PEA. Hint: Think of a small, round garden veggie commonly tucked inside a pod. 🥗
  15. 22. Instrument that might be used as the "J" in a "Jazz Club" sign — Answer: SAX. Hint: Think of the jazzy woodwind often heard wailing in a late-night combo 🎷

Recent NYT Midi Answers

The last 7 days of solutions

Here are the NYT Midi Crossword answers for Friday, August 7, 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 August 7?” 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 August 7, 2026

The full solution for the August 7 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 Friday, August 7.

Full NYT Midi Crossword answer list for August 7, 2026

Every clue from the August 7 grid next to its solution — the same answers as the board above, in one plain list you can scan without tapping.

Across

#ClueAnswer
1Michelangelo sculpture in the VaticanPIETA
6Winged nocturnal animalOWL
9Milk source on a dairy cowUDDER
10___ de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)DIA
11What covers the eyes of 8-Down/17-AcrossBLINDFOLD
13Rep.'s counterpart in CongressSEN
14Ahead of scheduleEARLY
15Check point?BANK
17See 8-DownJUSTICE
20"Pulled" barbecue meatPORK
21Affirmative head motionsNODS
23Jelly bean-filled plastic holiday toysEGGS
24"Abracadabra" singer Lady ___GAGA
25Remnant of a cigarASH
26Superman enemy ___ LuthorLEX

Down

#ClueAnswer
1British tavernsPUBS
2Doing nothingIDLE
3City that's home to the National Museum of ScotlandEDINBURGH
4Cube root of 1,000TEN
5PassionateARDENT
6Smell from a garbage truckODOR
7Document that says "I hereby bequeath ..."WILL
8With 17-Across, paragon of fairnessLADY
12Putting on an actFAKING
16Inquires (about)ASKS
17Runs at an easy paceJOGS
18What Santa gives naughty childrenCOAL
19Sharp part of a swordEDGE
20Little green vegetablePEA
22Instrument that might be used as the "J" in a "Jazz Club" signSAX

Hints for the August 7 puzzle

Not ready for the full answer? Here are lighter, spoiler-free nudges for that day's grid, above the solutions. The August 7 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 Friday. 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 August 7, 2026?

Every answer for the Friday, August 7, 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.