NYT Midi Crossword Clue · Down · 5-D

Scary sound to hear on a nature hike, or a comforting sound to hear from a crib

From the Friday, March 6, 2026 puzzleAnswer: 6 lettersBy Ian Livengood
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Letters
6
Direction
Down
Clue #
5
Starts with
R
Ends with
E
Vowels
2

About this clue

The clue “Scary sound to hear on a nature hike, or a comforting sound to hear from a crib” appeared in the New York Times Midi Crossword on Friday, March 6, 2026, at position 5-D. The answer is a 6-letter word that starts with R and ends with E.

This puzzle was titled “Barriers to Entry” 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 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.