NYT Midi Crossword Answers - Aug 16

Put a Tent on This Circus!

By Kareem Ayas

O
A
K
S
C
I
O
K
R
A
O
L
D
D
U
S
T
Y
R
O
O
H
O
T
A
N
E
W
E
G
O
S
K
I
L
N
S
H
O
N
K
S
L
O
C
K
O
B
I
T
S
A
Y
F
D
A
U
P
P
E
R
L
E
I
M
O
O
R
U
R
L
P
I
E

Across

  1. 1Tree that produces acornsOAK
  2. 4Bio or chem, e.g.SCI
  3. 7Gooey vegetable in bhindi masalaOKRA
  4. 8StaleOLD
  5. 9Like the tops of ceiling fan blades, oftenDUSTY
  6. 10Animal with a pouch, for shortROO
  7. 11Like fire ... or someone who is "on fire"HOT
  8. 12Once moreANEW
  9. 14Inflated senses of selfEGOS
  10. 16Pottery ovensKILNS
  11. 18Sounds from a 5-Down ... and from the noses inside a 5-DownHONKS
  12. 20Filing cabinet securerLOCK
  13. 21"In memoriam" storyOBIT
  14. 22DeclareSAY
  15. 23Rx regulatorFDA
  16. 24___ echelonUPPER
  17. 27Flowery necklaceLEI
  18. 28Tie to a dockMOOR
  19. 29Web address, for shortURL
  20. 30Dessert on the faces inside a 5-Down, maybePIE

Down

  1. 1ApprovalsOKS
  2. 2Making balloon animals or juggling, to someART
  3. 3Online travel company named after a boatKAYAK
  4. 4One with poor sportsmanshipSORELOSER
  5. 5What a pair of jokers might be found in the back of? ... and a hint to this puzzle's themeCLOWNCAR
  6. 6Words followed by a kissIDO
  7. 7Temporarily released from custody, perhapsOUTONBAIL
  8. 9Altruistic personDOGOODER
  9. 11"That's mildly funny"HEH
  10. 130, in soccer lingoNIL
  11. 15Glide down a snowy mountainSKI
  12. 17Blue expanseSKY
  13. 19Truncated trunkSTUMP
  14. 23___ shot (seasonal vaccination)FLU
  15. 25Hawaiian food that's a paste made from taro rootPOI
  16. 26"The Masque of the Red Death" authorPOE

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Tree that produces acorns — Answer: OAK. Hint: This sturdy tree is famous for producing acorns 🌳
  2. 4. Bio or chem, e.g. — Answer: SCI. Hint: A school subject such as biology or chemistry may use this abbreviation 🔬
  3. 7. Gooey vegetable in bhindi masala — Answer: OKRA. Hint: This green pod becomes pleasantly slippery in a spicy Indian dish 🌶️
  4. 8. Stale — Answer: OLD. Hint: No longer fresh or lively. 🥖
  5. 9. Like the tops of ceiling fan blades, often — Answer: DUSTY. Hint: They may need a good wipe after quietly collecting household grime. 🧹
  6. 10. Animal with a pouch, for short — Answer: ROO. Hint: This abbreviated marsupial is famous for hopping and carrying young. 🦘
  7. 11. Like fire ... or someone who is "on fire" — Answer: HOT. Hint: It describes intense flames and impressive performance alike. 🔥
  8. 12. Once more — Answer: ANEW. Hint: Think about a fresh start or doing something again! 🌱
  9. 14. Inflated senses of self — Answer: EGOS. Hint: These can grow much larger than the people who possess them. 😌
  10. 16. Pottery ovens — Answer: KILNS. Hint: These specialized ovens harden clay creations with intense heat. 🏺
  11. 18. Sounds from a 5-Down ... and from the noses inside a 5-Down — Answer: HONKS. Hint: These noises can come from vehicles and cartoonishly large noses. 🚗
  12. 20. Filing cabinet securer — Answer: LOCK. Hint: It keeps drawers from being opened by just anyone. 🔒
  13. 21. "In memoriam" story — Answer: OBIT. Hint: This newspaper notice remembers someone who has died. 📰
  14. 22. Declare — Answer: SAY. Hint: To express something aloud is to do this. 💬
  15. 23. Rx regulator — Answer: FDA. Hint: This U.S. agency oversees medicines and food safety. 🏥
  16. 24. ___ echelon — Answer: UPPER. Hint: It describes the higher level of a hierarchy. ⬆️
  17. 27. Flowery necklace — Answer: LEI. Hint: This garland is often draped around a visitor in Hawaii. 🌺
  18. 28. Tie to a dock — Answer: MOOR. Hint: Secure a boat at the pier with this nautical action. ⚓
  19. 29. Web address, for short — Answer: URL. Hint: Type this into a browser to visit a site. 🌐
  20. 30. Dessert on the faces inside a 5-Down, maybe — Answer: PIE. Hint: This sweet treat might leave a messy smile after dessert. 🥧

Down

  1. 1. Approvals — Answer: OKS. Hint: These brief affirmations signal that everything is acceptable. 👍
  2. 2. Making balloon animals or juggling, to some — Answer: ART. Hint: A creative skill can turn rubber into poodles or keep objects airborne. 🎈
  3. 3. Online travel company named after a boat — Answer: KAYAK. Hint: This travel-search brand shares its name with a narrow paddled vessel. 🛶
  4. 4. One with poor sportsmanship — Answer: SORELOSER. Hint: This competitor takes defeat badly instead of congratulating the winner. 🏆
  5. 5. What a pair of jokers might be found in the back of? ... and a hint to this puzzle's theme — Answer: CLOWNCAR. Hint: A tiny vehicle famously packed with far more performers than seems possible. 🤡
  6. 6. Words followed by a kiss — Answer: IDO. Hint: These words traditionally seal a wedding vow. 💍
  7. 7. Temporarily released from custody, perhaps — Answer: OUTONBAIL. Hint: A court may allow this freedom while a case continues. ⚖️
  8. 9. Altruistic person — Answer: DOGOODER. Hint: This person makes helping others a personal mission. 🤝
  9. 11. "That's mildly funny" — Answer: HEH. Hint: A tiny chuckle fits this understated reaction. 😏
  10. 13. 0, in soccer lingo — Answer: NIL. Hint: British sports commentary uses this for a scoreless side. ⚽
  11. 15. Glide down a snowy mountain — Answer: SKI. Hint: Choose this winter activity for a downhill adventure. 🎿
  12. 17. Blue expanse — Answer: SKY. Hint: The wide open place above us on a clear day 🌤️
  13. 19. Truncated trunk — Answer: STUMP. Hint: What remains after a tree is cut down? 🌳
  14. 23. ___ shot (seasonal vaccination) — Answer: FLU. Hint: This yearly injection helps ward off a common winter illness. 💉
  15. 25. Hawaiian food that's a paste made from taro root — Answer: POI. Hint: This traditional island staple is often served alongside savory dishes. 🌺
  16. 26. "The Masque of the Red Death" author — Answer: POE. Hint: This gothic American writer also created a famous detective. 📚

Recent NYT Midi Answers

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Here are the NYT Midi Crossword answers for Sunday, August 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 August 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 August 16, 2026

The full solution for the August 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 Sunday, August 16.

Full NYT Midi Crossword answer list for August 16, 2026

Every clue from the August 16 grid next to its solution — the same answers as the board above, in one plain list you can scan without tapping.

Across

#ClueAnswer
1Tree that produces acornsOAK
4Bio or chem, e.g.SCI
7Gooey vegetable in bhindi masalaOKRA
8StaleOLD
9Like the tops of ceiling fan blades, oftenDUSTY
10Animal with a pouch, for shortROO
11Like fire ... or someone who is "on fire"HOT
12Once moreANEW
14Inflated senses of selfEGOS
16Pottery ovensKILNS
18Sounds from a 5-Down ... and from the noses inside a 5-DownHONKS
20Filing cabinet securerLOCK
21"In memoriam" storyOBIT
22DeclareSAY
23Rx regulatorFDA
24___ echelonUPPER
27Flowery necklaceLEI
28Tie to a dockMOOR
29Web address, for shortURL
30Dessert on the faces inside a 5-Down, maybePIE

Down

#ClueAnswer
1ApprovalsOKS
2Making balloon animals or juggling, to someART
3Online travel company named after a boatKAYAK
4One with poor sportsmanshipSORELOSER
5What a pair of jokers might be found in the back of? ... and a hint to this puzzle's themeCLOWNCAR
6Words followed by a kissIDO
7Temporarily released from custody, perhapsOUTONBAIL
9Altruistic personDOGOODER
11"That's mildly funny"HEH
130, in soccer lingoNIL
15Glide down a snowy mountainSKI
17Blue expanseSKY
19Truncated trunkSTUMP
23___ shot (seasonal vaccination)FLU
25Hawaiian food that's a paste made from taro rootPOI
26"The Masque of the Red Death" authorPOE

Hints for the August 16 puzzle

Not ready for the full answer? Here are lighter, spoiler-free nudges for that day's grid, above the solutions. The August 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 Sunday. 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 August 16, 2026?

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

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