NYT Midi Crossword Clue · Down · 3-D
"Despite my best efforts ..."
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Letters
9
Direction
Down
Clue #
3
Starts with
T
Ends with
Y
Vowels
3
About this clue
The clue “"Despite my best efforts ..."” appeared in the New York Times Midi Crossword on Sunday, May 31, 2026, at position 3-D. The answer is a 9-letter word or phrase that starts with T and ends with Y.
This puzzle was titled “Is This a Joke to You?” and constructed by Paolo Pasco, 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 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 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.