___ mortal
Published by Naitik Mehta · March 29, 2026
Stuck on the clue ___ mortal from the New York Times Midi for March 29, 2026? We have the correct 4-letter answer, including the definition, alternative hints, as well as other answers from the same crossword. Ready to learn more about this clue?
Clue
___ mortal (4)
Answer
The answer to ___ mortal is Mere (4 letters).
Some cells in this answer were drawn with a circle in the original puzzle — these often flag a hidden theme.
Why does Mere fit this clue?
This entry has circled cells at positions 1 and 2, highlighting the letters 'E' and 'R' within MERE. The circled letters likely mark a theme pattern or hidden element that connects to other entries in the puzzle. The clue '___ mortal' is a fill-in-the-blank that points directly to MERE, meaning nothing more than what is specified or simple and unadorned. The phrase 'mere mortal' is a common expression used to describe an ordinary human being, as opposed to a deity, superhero, or someone with extraordinary abilities. This idiomatic pairing makes MERE the natural completion of the blank.
What does ___ mortal mean?
We break down each word in the clue and show its dictionary definitions below.
mortal
adjective
•subject to death; not immortal
noun
•a human being
Where did this clue appear?
This clue appeared as 21-down in the New York Times Midi on March 29, 2026, by Tom McCoy, edited by Ian Livengood. See all answers for this puzzle.
NYT Midi — Mar 29, 2026
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What does Mere mean?
noun
•A body of standing water, such as a lake or a pond. More specifically, it can refer to a lake that is broad in relation to its depth. Also included in place names such as Windermere.
•Boundary, limit; a boundary-marker; boundary-line.
•A Maori war-club.
verb
•To limit; bound; divide or cause division in.
•To set divisions and bounds.
adjective
•Famous.
•Pure, unalloyed .
•Nothing less than; complete, downright .
Origin of the word Mere
•origin: Old English 'mere' meaning boundary or landmark
•period: Old English
The word originally referred to physical boundary markers like stones or posts that divided territories, before evolving to mean 'nothing more than' or 'only' in modern usage.
How to use Mere in a sentence
Here are 3 examples of how to use the word Mere.
•“He was no god or superhero, but a mere mortal who struggled with the same fears and doubts as everyone else.”
•“The mere thought of eating that spicy food made her stomach turn.”
•“What seemed like a major crisis was resolved with a mere phone call to customer service.”
What are other crossword clues for Mere?
Learn about related clues
All clues from the New York Times Midi, Mar 29, 2026 crossword
The New York Times Midi for March 29, 2026 titled “Squaring Off” was published by Tom McCoy and has 35 clues. Curious about all the answers from this crossword puzzle? View all answers here.
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Frequently asked questions about ___ mortal
- What is the answer to ___ mortal?
- The answer is Mere (4 letters).
- Where did this clue appear?
- This clue was last seen in the New York Times Midi on March 29, 2026.
- How many letters does the answer to ___ mortal have?
- The answer has 4 letters: Mere.
Author
Naitik Mehta
Co-founder
Naitik is a gaming enthusiast who loves solving daily word games and enjoys the friendly competition from time to time. He is the co-founder of Crossword Chef and enjoys thinking about how to make crossword solving more fun for everyone around the world.
Puzzle
NYT Midi — Mar 29, 2026
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