NYT Midi Crossword Hints May 1 2026

Our NYT Midi Crossword Hints for May 1, 2026 will help you work your way through the mid-size grid if a clue has you stumped. The New York Times Midi Crossword sits between the Mini and the full-sized puzzle in both size and difficulty, offering a satisfying challenge without the time commitment of the daily 15×15. It’s designed for solvers who want something meatier than the Mini but still approachable enough to finish in a short session. The Midi is published daily online and has become a favorite for players looking to sharpen their skills.

NYT Midi Crossword Hints, May 1, 2026

Below you’ll find hints for every clue in the NYT Midi Crossword for 5/1/26. You can click or tap on any clue to jump to its dedicated page for more detail, including definitions and additional guidance. If you prefer a lighter nudge, you can reveal letters one at a time to keep the puzzle challenging without giving away the full answer immediately.

• 1A. Shoe with a cougar in its logo
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• 5A. Singer/actress Lady ___
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• 9A. Like some fish that's not grilled or pan-seared
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• 11A. Tibetan spiritual leader
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• 12A. Gear tooth
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• 13A. Commotion
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• 15A. 100%
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• 18A. Mideast country that celebrates the new year ("Nowruz") in March
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• 19A. One who takes action
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• 21A. Longtime N.F.L. coach Andy
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• 22A. “A Man Called ___” (2022 Tom Hanks film)
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• 23A. Actress Rae of "Insecure"
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• 24A. Large ice cream containers
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• 25A. Ingredient in many plant-based meats
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• 26A. Catch my drift?
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• 1D. Pea coat?
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• 2D. State sch. founded by Thomas Jefferson
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• 3D. First name shared by two Spice Girls
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• 4D. Massive Amazon boa
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• 5D. Film portrayer of Wonder Woman
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• 6D. Letters before a nickname
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• 7D. Opal or sapphire
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• 8D. Palindromic name found in "abracadabra"
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• 10D. Book jacket blurb
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• 13D. "You __ busted!"
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• 14D. "Driving Miss ____" (1989 Best Picture winner)
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• 16D. Cross-legged yoga pose
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• 17D. Leave alone
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• 18D. Part of the eye that contains melanin
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• 20D. Stood up
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If you enjoy the Midi, you might also like stepping up to the full NYT Crossword, which offers a deeper challenge with its 15×15 weekday grids and the larger 21×21 Sunday puzzle. New crosswords are released at 10PM ET on weekdays and 6PM ET on weekends.

If you’re still struggling to solve your NYT crosswords, consider practicing with the Eugene Sheffer and Thomas Joseph dailies first. If you’re looking for similarly challenging crosswords, we recommend the WSJ Crossword and LA Times Crossword.