NYT Midi Crossword Clue · Down · 5-D
What a pair of jokers might be found in the back of? ... and a hint to this puzzle's theme
Tap each tile to reveal the answer
Stuck? Tap one tile at a time for a gentle nudge, or reveal the full answer.
Letters
8
Direction
Down
Clue #
5
Starts with
C
Ends with
R
Vowels
2
About this clue
The clue “What a pair of jokers might be found in the back of? ... and a hint to this puzzle's theme” appeared in the New York Times Midi Crossword on Sunday, August 16, 2026, at position 5-D. The answer is a 8-letter word that starts with C and ends with R.
This puzzle was titled “Put a Tent on This Circus!” and constructed by Kareem Ayas, edited 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.
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 Across 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.