NYT Midi Crossword Answers for Sunday, August 23, 2026: “Crossbones”

Sunday, August 23, 2026 · Today's NYT Midi Crossword answers

AUG23

NYT Midi Crossword

Sunday, August 23, 2026

9×10“Crossbones”By Ian Livengood

35 clues. Tap Reveal on any clue for just that answer, or open the full solution at the bottom.

This Midi was titled “Crossbones” — the title hints at the theme. Clues that point at it: 5D.

Across

  1. 1Bitter-tasting (5)
    RevealACERB
  2. 6CBS forensic show with many spinoffs (3)
    RevealCSI
  3. 9___ Act, statute passed in 1764 to deter molasses smuggling (5)
    RevealSUGAR
  4. 10Bumbling sort (3)
    RevealOAF
  5. 11"Go ahead, ask away!" (5)
    RevealTRYME
  6. 12___ the record (3)
    RevealOFF
  7. 13Psychic's so-called "skill," for short (3)
    RevealESP
  8. 14Back street (5)
    RevealALLEY
  9. 16Movie shoot do-over (6)
    RevealRETAKE
  10. 18Jump to conclusions (6)
    RevealASSUME
  11. 22Wanderer (5)
    RevealNOMAD
  12. 25What might be caked on a dog after a rainy hike (3)
    RevealMUD
  13. 26The Cavaliers of the N.C.A.A. (3)
    RevealUVA
  14. 27Busy airport in the Midwest (5)
    RevealOHARE
  15. 29Disfigure (3)
    RevealMAR
  16. 30"Dangerous ___" (2016 Ariana Grande hit) (5)
    RevealWOMAN
  17. 31Sandwich whose initials stand for its ingredients (3)
    RevealBLT
  18. 32Singer Diamond (4)
    RevealNEIL

Down

  1. 1Flower that blooms in fall (5)
    RevealASTER
  2. 2Put a hex on (5)
    RevealCURSE
  3. 3Home of the Great Pyramid of Giza (5)
    RevealEGYPT
  4. 4Animal with a hard head (3)
    RevealRAM
  5. 5Analyzes ... or how to describe the circled bones in the 1st and 8th columns of this puzzle? (10)
    RevealBREAKSDOWN
  6. 6"Sweet!" (4)
    RevealCOOL
  7. 7Umpire's call with arms stretched out horizontally (4)
    RevealSAFE
  8. 8Far from certain (4)
    RevealIFFY
  9. 15"Allez ___ Bleus!" (French sports rallying cry) (3)
    RevealLES
  10. 17Battery for a wireless mouse, perhaps (3)
    RevealAAA
  11. 19Savory taste (5)
    RevealUMAMI
  12. 20Certain public artwork (5)
    RevealMURAL
  13. 21Garden of Adam and Eve (4)
    RevealEDEN
  14. 22Like an arm that's asleep (4)
    RevealNUMB
  15. 23Shape of a rugby ball (4)
    RevealOVAL
  16. 24Spot to shop (4)
    RevealMART
  17. 28Weed removal tool (3)
    RevealHOE
Crossword regulars in this grid (spoilers)

Answers in this NYT Midi Crossword that had shown up before, counted over the 179 puzzles since February 2026:

AAA ×7ESP ×6OVAL ×4UMAMI ×4HOE ×3LES ×3MAR ×3UVA ×3

Show all 35 answers and the solved grid

Across: 1A ACERB6A CSI9A SUGAR10A OAF11A TRYME12A OFF13A ESP14A ALLEY16A RETAKE18A ASSUME22A NOMAD25A MUD26A UVA27A OHARE29A MAR30A WOMAN31A BLT32A NEIL

Down: 1D ASTER2D CURSE3D EGYPT4D RAM5D BREAKSDOWN6D COOL7D SAFE8D IFFY15D LES17D AAA19D UMAMI20D MURAL21D EDEN22D NUMB23D OVAL24D MART28D HOE

About This NYT Midi Crossword

The NYT Midi for Sunday, August 23, 2026 was a 9×10 grid by Ian Livengood, titled “Crossbones”, with 35 clues; the longest answer ran 6 letters. That is 3 more than the average Sunday before it (32.2).

Also on Aug 23: the NYT Mini Crossword and the NYT Crossword.

Earlier August 2026 NYT Midi Crossword Answers

Aug 1Aug 2Aug 3Aug 4Aug 5Aug 6Aug 7Aug 8Aug 9Aug 10Aug 11Aug 12Aug 13Aug 14Aug 15Aug 16Aug 17Aug 18Aug 19Aug 20Aug 21Aug 22Aug 23

Every earlier puzzle is in the NYT Midi Crossword archive. For the newest one, see today's NYT Midi Crossword answers, which switch to the next puzzle as soon as it's released.

Unofficial fan guide — not affiliated with or endorsed by The New York Times. Clues are quoted for reference.