NYT Midi Crossword Answers for Thursday, November 12, 2026: “Put on a Happy Face”

Thursday, November 12, 2026 · Today's NYT Midi Crossword answers

NOV12

NYT Midi Crossword

Thursday, November 12, 2026

11×11“Put on a Happy Face”By Zhou Zhang and Kevin CurryEdited by Ian Livengood

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

This Midi was titled “Put on a Happy Face” — the title hints at the theme. Clues that point at it: 14A, 24A, 13D, 22D.

Across

  1. 1Mazda two-seater (5)
    RevealMIATA
  2. 6Coil of hair secured with a clip (7)
    RevealPINCURL
  3. 8One who takes the stage (9)
    RevealPERFORMER
  4. 10Train or subway component (3)
    RevealCAR
  5. 11Of the same ___ (similar) (3)
    RevealILK
  6. 12Understand (3)
    RevealGET
  7. 14Texter's icon depicted in this puzzle (11)
    RevealSMILEYEMOJI
  8. 17Exciting play on an ice rink (11)
    RevealPENALTYSHOT
  9. 18In the style of (3)
    RevealALA
  10. 19___ Moines, Iowa (3)
    RevealDES
  11. 20Commodity measured in barrels (3)
    RevealOIL
  12. 21"___ the Great" (children's lit sleuth with a rhyming name) (4)
    RevealNATE
  13. 23Brownish-purple shade (4)
    RevealPUCE
  14. 24Photographer's request ... and an apt instruction for this puzzle (9)
    RevealSAYCHEESE
  15. 28Major French city on the English Channel (7)
    RevealLEHAVRE
  16. 29Capital of Oregon (5)
    RevealSALEM

Down

  1. 1Former Russian space station (3)
    RevealMIR
  2. 2Where first, second and third base are (7)
    RevealINFIELD
  3. 3Devoted follower (7)
    RevealACOLYTE
  4. 4Entrees stuffed with stuffing (7)
    RevealTURKEYS
  5. 5Twist one's ___ (3)
    RevealARM
  6. 6Kind of care provided to mother and child around the time of birth (9)
    RevealPERINATAL
  7. 7Toy dwelling made of bricks (9)
    RevealLEGOHOUSE
  8. 8Actresses Anderson and Adlon (7)
    RevealPAMELAS
  9. 9Celebrate (7)
    RevealREJOICE
  10. 10Channel that airs governmental proceedings (5)
    RevealCSPAN
  11. 13This puzzle's "Put on a Happy Face," e.g. (5)
    RevealTITLE
  12. 15The City of Angels, for short (2)
    RevealLA
  13. 16Señorita, in English: Abbr. (2)
    RevealMS
  14. 22What the two isolated black squares in this puzzle represent (4)
    RevealEYES
  15. 23Salon treatment (4)
    RevealPERM
  16. 25"___-ching!" (3)
    RevealCHA
  17. 26"2001: A Space Odyssey" computer (3)
    RevealHAL
  18. 27'Tis the night before (3)
    RevealEVE
Crossword regulars in this grid (spoilers)

Answers in this NYT Midi Crossword that had shown up before, counted over the 260 puzzles since February 2026:

ALA ×13EVE ×8ARM ×5CAR ×4EYES ×3OIL ×3GET ×2SALEM ×2

Show all 34 answers and the solved grid

Across: 1A MIATA6A PINCURL8A PERFORMER10A CAR11A ILK12A GET14A SMILEYEMOJI17A PENALTYSHOT18A ALA19A DES20A OIL21A NATE23A PUCE24A SAYCHEESE28A LEHAVRE29A SALEM

Down: 1D MIR2D INFIELD3D ACOLYTE4D TURKEYS5D ARM6D PERINATAL7D LEGOHOUSE8D PAMELAS9D REJOICE10D CSPAN13D TITLE15D LA16D MS22D EYES23D PERM25D CHA26D HAL27D EVE

About This NYT Midi Crossword

The NYT Midi for Thursday, November 12, 2026 was a 11×11 grid by Zhou Zhang and Kevin Curry, edited by Ian Livengood, titled “Put on a Happy Face”, with 34 clues; the longest answer ran 11 letters. That is 1 more than the average Thursday before it (33.0).

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

Earlier November 2026 NYT Midi Crossword Answers

Nov 1Nov 2Nov 3Nov 4Nov 5Nov 6Nov 7Nov 8Nov 9Nov 10Nov 11Nov 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.