Free spirits?

Latest answer — February 21, 2026

37 Down

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NYT Crossword

This clue's Saturday, February 21, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Look to give nothing away?
  2. 11European city on the Bay of Angels
  3. 15Film subgenre exemplified by "The Thing" or "The Fly"
  4. 16Like some fixations
  5. 17It gets folded and pressed
  6. 18Split in two
  7. 19Posts on Insta
  8. 20The third primary chakra is located just above it
  9. 21Foundations of many dad jokes
  10. 22"Right, right, right"
  11. 24Yom Kippur topic
  12. 25Certain slip-on
  13. 27Merely hinted at
  14. 29Author of "The Fisherman and His Flute"
  15. 31Clip-on mic, for short
  16. 32Many great athletes play with it
  17. 34Architect's tool
  18. 36A cow can produce about 200 pounds of it a year
  19. 39In pieces
  20. 40Items of some import?
  21. 41Rachel ___, author of "Heated Rivalry"
  22. 42Savory latke topping
  23. 43Sidney who directed "12 Angry Men"
  24. 45"Quiet, you!"
  25. 49Formula 1 star, e.g.
  26. 51Shade similar to avocado
  27. 53"Sick!"
  28. 54On a chain, say
  29. 55A lot of paperwork
  30. 57The W.N.B.A.'s Mercury, on scoreboards
  31. 58Steps to a lively tune
  32. 59How low can you go?
  33. 61"Right now!"
  34. 62What roller coasters are designed to do
  35. 63Flat earth?
  36. 64Item for purchase with a question mark on its side

Down

  1. 1Smoking spot
  2. 2Mrs. John Quincy Adams
  3. 3Campaign leader, informally
  4. 4Overseer of the Erie Canal, in brief
  5. 5"Star Trek" villain played by Ricardo Montalbán
  6. 6Some diner drinks
  7. 7They might have all the answers
  8. 8Pink-furred cat in "Garfield"
  9. 9With 26-Down, basic instruction to a dog
  10. 10New ___ (official cap maker for M.L.B.)
  11. 11Like a spoilsport
  12. 12Totally foolproof
  13. 13Many key changes take place in it
  14. 14Herd at Yellowstone
  15. 21It's a surprise, of course!
  16. 23Chinese symbol of prosperity
  17. 25Group of companions
  18. 26See 9-Down
  19. 28Followed surreptitiously
  20. 30Beginner's set
  21. 33Rack up
  22. 35Ruined
  23. 36Blend into one
  24. 37Free spirits?
  25. 38Hydrogen sulfide, e.g.
  26. 44Big times
  27. 46You might hear a hiss when it's pulled
  28. 47Defunct image editor
  29. 48Chile con carne cuisine
  30. 50Hornet genus
  31. 52Take a constitutional
  32. 55Cunning
  33. 56Go to the moon
  34. 58Play together, in a way
  35. 59Phase for dreamers
  36. 60"___ me!"

The answer to “Free spirits?” in the New York Times crossword is EXORCISE — a 8-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on February 21, 2026, a Saturday puzzle, at 37-Down. 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.

“Free spirits?” answer

EXORCISE (8 letters)

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 EXORCISE.

Why the answer is EXORCISE

EXORCISE is the 8-letter solution that fits "Free spirits?" in the NYT Crossword crossword on February 21, 2026 (37-Down). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

What does EXORCISE mean?

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

(verb)

  • drive out or attempt to drive out (a supposed evil spirit) from a person or place

When else has “Free spirits?” appeared?

New York Times reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

February 21, 2026 (most recent) → EXORCISE. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Free spirits?”?

The answer is EXORCISE, a 8-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on February 21, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Free spirits?”?

8 letters: EXORCISE.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on February 21, 2026 (a Saturday puzzle), at 37-Down.

Can “Free spirits?” have a different answer?

Yes — New York Times sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

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

The full grid for February 21, 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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