NYT Midi Crossword Clue · Down · 9-D

"I really like that thought"

From the Friday, June 5, 2026 puzzleAnswer: 8 lettersBy Rena Cohen
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 #
9
Starts with
N
Ends with
A
Vowels
5

About this clue

The clue “"I really like that thought"” appeared in the New York Times Midi Crossword on Friday, June 5, 2026, at position 9-D. The answer is a 8-letter word that starts with N and ends with A.

This puzzle was titled “The Friend Zone” and constructed by Rena Cohen, 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. With 5 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 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.