Our NYT Midi Crossword Hints for May 16, 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 16, 2026
Below you’ll find hints for every clue in the NYT Midi Crossword for 5/16/26. 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.
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1A. Joke around in good fun
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5A. Owns
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8A. Nebraska's biggest city
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10A. Antlered forest animal
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11A. Deodorant target x Hospital area = Ring master?
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12A. Noon, on a sundial
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13A. When some doughnut shops open
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15A. Org. for doctors
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17A. Some marketing between TV shows
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18A. Keep one's mouth shut
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20A. Salmon topping for a bagel
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21A. π x Chicago train = TV spot?
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25A. Poke bowl fish
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26A. Last-second bid on eBay
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27A. Sweet potato lookalike
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28A. Annoying winged insect
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1D. "Don't quit your day ___!"
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2D. Angsty rock subgenre
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3D. J-shaped jazz instrument, for short
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4D. One's relatives, casually
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5D. That man x Singer Sheeran = Was a bad speller?
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6D. Another name to go by
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7D. Read over quickly
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9D. The M.L.B.'s Diamondbacks, on sports tickers
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14D. Smoking an e-cig
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15D. Hawaiian 'hello'
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16D. Mother x Online chat = Ain't it the truth?
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18D. Sculptor's material
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19D. FedEx alternative
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22D. Mark, as a square on a ballot
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23D. U.S. org. that monitors air quality
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24D. Allow
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.
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