NYT Midi Crossword Answers for Thursday, October 22, 2026: “Fill in the Blanks”

Thursday, October 22, 2026 · Today's NYT Midi Crossword answers

OCT22

NYT Midi Crossword

Thursday, October 22, 2026

9×9“Fill in the Blanks”By Ian Livengood

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

This Midi was titled “Fill in the Blanks” — the title hints at the theme. Clues that point at it: 16D.

Across

  1. 1Distributes playing cards (5)
    RevealDEALS
  2. 6Phil ___, lead singer/drummer of Genesis (7)
    RevealCOLLINS
  3. 8Phil ___, winner of World Series of Poker bracelets in five different decades (8)
    RevealHELLMUTH
  4. 10Retirement savings plan, for short (3)
    RevealIRA
  5. 11Some natural hairstyles (5)
    RevealAFROS
  6. 13It "warms you a bit but the warming is temporary," per Marilyn Monroe (4)
    RevealFAME
  7. 14I.C.U. drip lines (3)
    RevealIVS
  8. 17Partner of improved (3)
    RevealNEW
  9. 18Champagne bucket grabbers (8)
    RevealICETONGS
  10. 21Phil ___, longtime TV talk show host (7)
    RevealDONAHUE
  11. 22Phil ___, co-founder of Nike (6)
    RevealKNIGHT

Down

  1. 1Real go-getter (4)
    RevealDOER
  2. 2Jazz singer Fitzgerald (4)
    RevealELLA
  3. 3100% (3)
    RevealALL
  4. 4Capital of Peru (4)
    RevealLIMA
  5. 5Extinguish, as a candle (5)
    RevealSNUFF
  6. 6The N.F.L.'s Bears, on scoreboards (3)
    RevealCHI
  7. 7Odd or bizarre (7)
    RevealSTRANGE
  8. 9Realtors' listings (5)
    RevealHOMES
  9. 12Work with needle and thread (3)
    RevealSEW
  10. 14Clickable image (4)
    RevealICON
  11. 15Word before "vidi" and "vici" in Caesar's boast (4)
    RevealVENI
  12. 16Norse mythology's Eikthyrnir (whose antlers drip water that fills the world's rivers), e.g. (4)
    RevealSTAG
  13. 18Texter's "No idea" (3)
    RevealIDK
  14. 19"NOW it's clear to me!" (3)
    RevealOHH
  15. 20Pistachio or pecan (3)
    RevealNUT
Crossword regulars in this grid (spoilers)

Answers in this NYT Midi Crossword that had shown up before, counted over the 239 puzzles since February 2026:

ALL ×6SEW ×6IRA ×5CHI ×2ELLA ×2ICON ×2NEW ×2NUT ×2

Show all 26 answers and the solved grid

Across: 1A DEALS6A COLLINS8A HELLMUTH10A IRA11A AFROS13A FAME14A IVS17A NEW18A ICETONGS21A DONAHUE22A KNIGHT

Down: 1D DOER2D ELLA3D ALL4D LIMA5D SNUFF6D CHI7D STRANGE9D HOMES12D SEW14D ICON15D VENI16D STAG18D IDK19D OHH20D NUT

About This NYT Midi Crossword

The NYT Midi for Thursday, October 22, 2026 was a 9×9 grid by Ian Livengood, titled “Fill in the Blanks”, with 26 clues; the longest answer ran 8 letters. That is 7 fewer than the average Thursday before it (33.3).

Also on Oct 22: 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 12Oct 13Oct 14Oct 15Oct 16Oct 17Oct 18Oct 19Oct 20Oct 21Oct 22

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.