NYT Midi Crossword Answers for Monday, October 12, 2026: “I Started It!”

Monday, October 12, 2026 · Today's NYT Midi Crossword answers

OCT12

NYT Midi Crossword

Monday, October 12, 2026

10×9“I Started It!”By Victor SchmittEdited by Ian Livengood

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

This Midi was titled “I Started It!” — the title hints at the theme. Clues that point at it: 21A.

Across

  1. 1Place for a mud bath (3)
    RevealSPA
  2. 4Not just mine (4)
    RevealOURS
  3. 8Smooth-talking (4)
    RevealGLIB
  4. 9Brazilian dance (5)
    RevealSAMBA
  5. 10Sailor's "Yes, sir!" (10)
    RevealAYECAPTAIN
  6. 12R&B group with the 1995 #1 hit "Waterfalls" (3)
    RevealTLC
  7. 13Let sleeping dogs ___ (3)
    RevealLIE
  8. 14Trial figure giving a firsthand account (10)
    RevealEYEWITNESS
  9. 19Recede, as the tide (3)
    RevealEBB
  10. 20One of two in the game Catan (3)
    RevealDIE
  11. 21Assign a starting value, in computer programming lingo ... or a phonetic hint to 10- and 14-Across? (10)
    RevealINITIALIZE
  12. 25Nods off for a bit (4)
    RevealNAPS
  13. 26Tied, as shoes (5)
    RevealLACED
  14. 27Org. with the Nets and Knicks (3)
    RevealNBA
  15. 28Tons and tons (4)
    RevealLOTS

Down

  1. 1In a crafty way (5)
    RevealSLYLY
  2. 2Bishop, but not priest (5)
    RevealPIECE
  3. 3"Shark Tank" airer (3)
    RevealABC
  4. 4Like Cheerios and some breakfast bars (5)
    RevealOATEN
  5. 5Thurman of "Kill Bill" (3)
    RevealUMA
  6. 6Slugger's stat (3)
    RevealRBI
  7. 7First word in the names of seven counties in California (3)
    RevealSAN
  8. 8Golden ___ Bridge (4)
    RevealGATE
  9. 9"Ammunition" for a class clown (8)
    RevealSPITBALL
  10. 11It might be disproved by a 14-Across (5)
    RevealALIBI
  11. 15Moistens (4)
    RevealWETS
  12. 16Order from a monarch, say (5)
    RevealEDICT
  13. 17S, M, L and XL (5)
    RevealSIZES
  14. 18N.C.A.A. bracket assignment (4)
    RevealSEED
  15. 21Holiday ___ (3)
    RevealINN
  16. 22Catch red-handed (3)
    RevealNAB
  17. 23Tap option at a craft brewery, for short (3)
    RevealIPA
  18. 24Thai's neighbor (3)
    RevealLAO
Crossword regulars in this grid (spoilers)

Answers in this NYT Midi Crossword that had shown up before, counted over the 229 puzzles since February 2026:

SPA ×15LIE ×7ABC ×5NBA ×5IPA ×4UMA ×4ALIBI ×3INN ×3

Show all 33 answers and the solved grid

Across: 1A SPA4A OURS8A GLIB9A SAMBA10A AYECAPTAIN12A TLC13A LIE14A EYEWITNESS19A EBB20A DIE21A INITIALIZE25A NAPS26A LACED27A NBA28A LOTS

Down: 1D SLYLY2D PIECE3D ABC4D OATEN5D UMA6D RBI7D SAN8D GATE9D SPITBALL11D ALIBI15D WETS16D EDICT17D SIZES18D SEED21D INN22D NAB23D IPA24D LAO

About This NYT Midi Crossword

The NYT Midi for Monday, October 12, 2026 was a 10×9 grid by Victor Schmitt, edited by Ian Livengood, titled “I Started It!”, with 33 clues; the longest answer ran 10 letters. That is 2 more than the average Monday before it (31.3).

Also on Oct 12: the NYT Mini Crossword and the NYT Crossword.

Earlier October 2026 NYT Midi Crossword Answers

Oct 1Oct 2Oct 3Oct 4Oct 5Oct 6Oct 7Oct 8Oct 9Oct 10Oct 11Oct 12

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.