Fool

Latest answer — February 12, 2026

45 Down

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NYT Crossword

This clue's Thursday, February 12, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1*Succeed
  2. 6Home of War in the Pacific National Historical Park
  3. 10Sign on some restroom doors
  4. 13Angular unit of measurement
  5. 15Sapa ___ ("the only emperor" in Quechua)
  6. 16Kitchen gadget brand
  7. 17Must pay
  8. 18*Public messages of appreciation
  9. 20Heavy metal band whose name is a big cat in Spanish
  10. 22Alternatively ... !!!
  11. 23Sign out?
  12. 24Firehouse supply
  13. 26Take out, in a way
  14. 28"An idea ..."
  15. 30Mount known to produce rare volcanic "smoke rings"
  16. 31Off-road ride, for short
  17. 32Horned mountain climber
  18. 34Pen
  19. 36Dennis's sister on "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia"
  20. 37*New England-style chowder, for one
  21. 39___-weekly (mag type)
  22. 40Small surgical instrument
  23. 42Wraps up
  24. 43Wield
  25. 44Ingrid Bergman's "Casablanca" role
  26. 45Stuff with strands
  27. 46College subj. that can be evolutionary or behavioral
  28. 47Lightweight fabric for a handkerchief
  29. 50Tomato type
  30. 53Digs for dogs
  31. 54*Long-legged wader
  32. 58Provide comfort, in a way ... or a hint to the answers to the four starred Across clues
  33. 60Northeastern prep school or its town
  34. 61"What's the ___?!"
  35. 62Surrender
  36. 63Ceramics component
  37. 64Web portal with a butterfly logo
  38. 65Schooner's stabilizer
  39. 66Some spa treatments

Down

  1. 1What a phone call or new album might do
  2. 27-Eleven competitor on the East Coast
  3. 3Tree of knowledge locale
  4. 4Directory name
  5. 5*Behind in payment
  6. 6Ones "over there" in "Over There," in brief
  7. 7Sacrilegious
  8. 8Legend, e.g.
  9. 9Beat in chess
  10. 10Mechanisms that are often spring-loaded
  11. 11*Forevermore
  12. 12Us, in Spanish
  13. 14Sushi seaweed type
  14. 19From further back
  15. 21Befuddled
  16. 25Coarse, as language
  17. 26Quickly smooch ... or a hint to the answers to the four starred Down clues
  18. 27Square
  19. 29*Word appearing 51 times in the New Testament
  20. 31Speak extemporaneously
  21. 32Makeup of some shelves
  22. 33Lunch item usually eaten with two hands, in brief
  23. 34Cow's mouthful
  24. 35Photo ___
  25. 38Wolf (down)
  26. 41Michael nominated for Oscars in five different decades
  27. 45Fool
  28. 46Hollywood's Anderson or Bach
  29. 48Nosh
  30. 49Little laugh
  31. 51Sounds from un estadio
  32. 52*Severely harm
  33. 55Words of affirmation
  34. 56Resting place for a boa
  35. 57Pâté de foie ___
  36. 58Unpleasant discovery under a desk
  37. 59Hair raiser?

The answer to “Fool” in the New York Times crossword is DELUDE — a 6-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on February 12, 2026, a Thursday puzzle, at 45-Down. Other answers we've seen for this clue include ASS, and DUPE. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Fool” answer

DELUDE (6 letters) — most recent; also seen as ASS, DUPE

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is DELUDE.

Why the answer is DELUDE

DELUDE is the 6-letter solution that fits "Fool" in the NYT Crossword crossword on February 12, 2026 (45-Down). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

What does DELUDE mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of DELUDE is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(verb)

  • make (someone) believe something that is not true

Other answers for “Fool”

New York Times has used this clue with more than one solution. Besides DELUDE, it has also been ASS, and DUPE. Every appearance we've indexed is listed below with the date it ran.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Fool”?

The answer is DELUDE, a 6-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on February 12, 2026. Other answers for this clue include ASS, and DUPE.

How many letters is the answer to “Fool”?

6 letters: DELUDE. Earlier fills for this clue have also been ASS (3), DUPE (4).

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on February 12, 2026 (a Thursday puzzle), at 45-Down. Earlier appearances: September 4, 2025 → ASS; June 29, 2025 → DUPE.

Can “Fool” have a different answer?

Yes. Besides DELUDE, New York Times has also used ASS, and DUPE for this clue. Every date and answer is listed above.

Where can I find the rest of this day's NYT Crossword answers?

The full grid for February 12, 2026 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

New York Times Crossword is published by The New York Times; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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