NYT Midi Crossword Answers for Friday, September 4, 2026: “Three Strikes and Yer Out!”

Friday, September 4, 2026 · Today's NYT Midi Crossword answers

SEP4

NYT Midi Crossword

Friday, September 4, 2026

9×9“Three Strikes and Yer Out!”By Rena CohenEdited by Ian Livengood

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

This Midi was titled “Three Strikes and Yer Out!” — the title hints at the theme. Clues that point at it: 18A. Puzzle note: “This puzzle is a maze. Pass through three key squares to escape the grid, as suggested by the title.”

Across

  1. 1Spent time in a dining hall (3)
    RevealATE
  2. 4👀 (4)
    RevealEYES
  3. 8Busiest airport on the West Coast, familiarly (3)
    RevealLAX
  4. 9Opulent (4)
    RevealLUXE
  5. 10Got rid of (4)
    RevealAXED
  6. 12Show off, in modern slang (4)
    RevealFLEX
  7. 13Complimentary champagne and plush robes, in a hotel room (8)
    RevealNICETIES
  8. 15Wetland (3)
    RevealFEN
  9. 16Microsoft gaming console (4)
    RevealXBOX
  10. 18Official who is calling the "strikes" in this puzzle's grid? (3)
    RevealUMP
  11. 21"That's my impression" (9)
    RevealSOIGATHER
  12. 23Palindromic kitchen brand (3)
    RevealOXO
  13. 24Supermodel Campbell (5)
    RevealNAOMI
  14. 25Rejections (3)
    RevealNOS
  15. 26Common cereal in homemade trail mix (4)
    RevealCHEX

Down

  1. 1Actor Rickman or Ritchson (4)
    RevealALAN
  2. 2Cab (4)
    RevealTAXI
  3. 3C.O.O. or C.F.O. (4)
    RevealEXEC
  4. 4Like some North Pole workers (5)
    RevealELFIN
  5. 5Christmastime (4)
    RevealYULE
  6. 6Tate McRae song with the lyric "We make up, then we break up, then they swear they'll never call me" (4)
    RevealEXES
  7. 7Health class topic (3)
    RevealSEX
  8. 11Clear, as a windshield (5)
    RevealDEFOG
  9. 14Houston football player (5)
    RevealTEXAN
  10. 16Love letter sign-off (4)
    RevealXOXO
  11. 17Parts of social media profiles (4)
    RevealBIOS
  12. 18"That's not good!" (4)
    RevealUHOH
  13. 19Distracted Boyfriend or Expanding Brain (4)
    RevealMEME
  14. 20Grand ___ (motor race) (4)
    RevealPRIX
  15. 21Daughter's brother (3)
    RevealSON
  16. 22Tic-___-toe (3)
    RevealTAC
Crossword regulars in this grid (spoilers)

Answers in this NYT Midi Crossword that had shown up before, counted over the 191 puzzles since February 2026:

ATE ×12EXES ×4SEX ×4SON ×3EXEC ×2LAX ×2

Show all 31 answers and the solved grid

Across: 1A ATE4A EYES8A LAX9A LUXE10A AXED12A FLEX13A NICETIES15A FEN16A XBOX18A UMP21A SOIGATHER23A OXO24A NAOMI25A NOS26A CHEX

Down: 1D ALAN2D TAXI3D EXEC4D ELFIN5D YULE6D EXES7D SEX11D DEFOG14D TEXAN16D XOXO17D BIOS18D UHOH19D MEME20D PRIX21D SON22D TAC

About This NYT Midi Crossword

The NYT Midi for Friday, September 4, 2026 was a 9×9 grid by Rena Cohen, edited by Ian Livengood, titled “Three Strikes and Yer Out!”, with 31 clues; the longest answer ran 9 letters. That is 1 fewer than the average Friday before it (32.4). It came with a note: “This puzzle is a maze. Pass through three key squares to escape the grid, as suggested by the title.”

Also on Sep 4: the NYT Mini Crossword and the NYT Crossword.

Earlier September 2026 NYT Midi Crossword Answers

Sep 1Sep 2Sep 3Sep 4

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.