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NYT Midi Crossword · The New York Times

Midi Crossword Clues, Hints & Answers for October 8, 2026

Thursday, October 8, 2026

By Last updated How we make hints

This archive page covers the Midi Crossword from Thursday, October 8, 2026. The Midi is a mid-sized daily crossword that sits between the quick Mini and the full daily puzzle. It takes longer than a coffee break but less than a lunch hour. Hints come first and the solution stays hidden until you ask for it.

29 clues · jump to Across or Down. Tap a tile for one letter, or Answer for the whole word.

Across clues & answers

  1. 10

Down clues & answers

  1. 7

    Lubricate

  2. 19

Know someone stuck on this one? The link opens on the hints, not the answer.

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Previous Midi Crossword answer

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

across

  • 1. Up to, informally: TIL
  • 4. Surfaces on which tabletop games are often played: BOARDS
  • 10. "That's gonna be ___ from me, dawg" (much-memed Randy Jackson catchphrase from "American Idol"): ANO
  • 11. Not hip in the slightest: UNCOOL
  • 12. Engine failure or low tire pressure: CARTROUBLE
  • 14. Broadcasting live: ONAIR
  • 15. Angry, with "off": TEED
  • 16. Topic for many Cosmo or Maxim stories: SEXLIFE
  • 18. Letter that comes between (and rhymes with) zeta and theta: ETA
  • 19. Drenched: WET
  • 22. "Please accept my apology!": IAMSOSORRY
  • 26. DVD player predecessor: VCR
  • 27. 365 days in a row solving Wordle, e.g.: STREAK
  • 28. "Absolutely!": YES
  • 29. Taste or touch: SENSE

down

  • 1. Mexican food in hard shells: TACOS
  • 2. Nonsensical: INANE
  • 3. "I speak for the trees" Dr. Seuss character: LORAX
  • 4. Mexican food in soft shells: BURRITOS
  • 5. Peace activist Yoko: ONO
  • 6. Less than 90°: ACUTE
  • 7. Judge's garment: ROBE
  • 8. Big name in pineapples: DOLE
  • 9. Iditarod vehicle: SLED
  • 13. Mahjong pieces: TILES
  • 17. Refrains from eating: FASTS
  • 19. Little brown songbird: WREN
  • 20. The ___ Tour (Taylor Swift concert series): ERAS
  • 21. Little one that rides (and rhymes with) a trike: TYKE
  • 22. Dartmouth or Brown: IVY
  • 23. Versatile blackjack card: ACE
  • 24. "The Marvelous ___ Maisel": MRS
  • 25. Resource in Minecraft: ORE
Hints and full breakdown for Oct 7

More daily puzzle hints

What to expect from the Midi

The Midi uses a grid around nine squares wide, with a few dozen clues in total. That size leaves room for longer answers and a light theme, while keeping the clues approachable. It is a good stepping stone if the Mini feels too short and the main crossword feels daunting.

Tips for mid-size grids

  • Look for the long entries. The longest Across and Down answers often share the theme. Crack one and the others follow.
  • Read the question mark. A clue ending in "?" signals wordplay or a pun rather than a straight definition.
  • Abbreviations match. If the clue is abbreviated (e.g. "Dept."), the answer usually is too.
  • Move around the grid. If a section stalls, start somewhere new; fresh crossings will help when you return.
  • Take one letter, not the answer. Our tiles let you reveal a single letter so you keep the satisfaction of finishing.

Midi Crossword FAQ

How long does the Midi take?

Most solvers finish in five to fifteen minutes, depending on the day and how familiar the theme is.

Is there a yesterday page for the Midi?

Every past Midi has its own page in our Midi archive, with the same hints and reveal tools.

Can a solver help with a single clue?

Yes. Enter the pattern you have (e.g. C?A?E) into our crossword solver to list matching words.