NYT Midi Crossword Clue · Across · 14-A

Mindless sorts?

From the Monday, June 1, 2026 puzzleAnswer: 7 lettersBy Ian Livengood
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Letters
7
Direction
Across
Clue #
14
Starts with
Z
Ends with
S
Vowels
3

About this clue

The clue “Mindless sorts?” appeared in the New York Times Midi Crossword on Monday, June 1, 2026, at position 14-A. The answer is a 7-letter word that starts with Z and ends with S.

This puzzle was titled “The Perfect Score Doesn't Exi—” 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. With 3 vowels, this answer is unusually vowel-heavy — suggesting a phrase, name, or non-English borrowing.

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.