NYT Midi Crossword Clue · Across · 20-A

Soothing song

From the Sunday, April 26, 2026 puzzleAnswer: 7 lettersBy Ian Livengood
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Letters
7
Direction
Across
Clue #
20
Starts with
L
Ends with
Y
Vowels
2

About this clue

The clue “Soothing song” appeared in the New York Times Midi Crossword on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at position 20-A. The answer is a 7-letter word that starts with L and ends with Y.

This puzzle was titled “Bye-Bye!” and constructed by Ian Livengood.

The Midi Crossword sits between the lightning-fast Mini and the full daily, so its cluing tends toward punny misdirection rather than obscure trivia. The vowel pattern is balanced, suggesting a common English word. Note that the answer contains a double letter.

How to solve this clue

If you're stuck on this Midi clue, here are angles that often help:

  • Crosscheck with the perpendicular entries. Fill the Down entries that cross this one and the letters will usually reveal the answer.
  • Watch for the puzzle title. Midi puzzles usually carry a small theme — long Across entries that share a wordplay link.
  • Mind the part of speech. Singular clue takes a singular answer; past tense takes -ED or an irregular past form.
  • Trust your first instinct. If a clue feels easy in the Midi, it usually is — the puzzle is designed to be solvable in three to five minutes.