Guarded

Latest answer — February 13, 2026

2 Down

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NYT Crossword

This clue's Friday, February 13, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Org. with checkpoints
  2. 4Poke accompaniment, at times
  3. 8Shoe-shaping tools
  4. 13"Abso-freaking-lutely!"
  5. 15A red plastic one might be worn on Halloween
  6. 17Skating venue
  7. 18"Thumbs-down from me"
  8. 19Bonkers
  9. 20A little sore, say
  10. 22It's what you should take, in brief
  11. 23Lundi ___, festive Monday observance in New Orleans
  12. 24Went after
  13. 25Catches
  14. 26Casual assent
  15. 27Dating qualifier
  16. 28Really fancy?
  17. 29They don't give you the full picture
  18. 32The 14.54-carat Apollo Blue, e.g., which sold for more than $42 million in 2017
  19. 34Polite, friendly stereotype from the Midwest
  20. 35Le contraire de "après"
  21. 36Clear a sentence?
  22. 37"Girl!"
  23. 40Goddess often depicted with peacocks
  24. 41Someone singing "Something"
  25. 43Alphabetically last nutrient in a multivitamin, often
  26. 44Counsel council, for short
  27. 45Gives a wave, maybe
  28. 46"Andor" actor ___ Luna
  29. 47Research scientist's jotting
  30. 49Visitor to a fertility clinic, maybe
  31. 51Birds whose name comes from the Latin word for "golden"
  32. 521976 Fleetwood Mac hit said to be inspired by a Welsh witch
  33. 53Provincetown catch
  34. 54Hit's counterpart
  35. 55Spots

Down

  1. 1Widget
  2. 2Guarded
  3. 3It's handled at the bar
  4. 4One with a burning passion?
  5. 5Bishop's locale
  6. 6Tiny nation claiming over 1,700 years of self-governance
  7. 7Cold drinks often topped with evaporated milk
  8. 8___ experience
  9. 9Longtime teammate of Derek Jeter, familiarly
  10. 10Group of reps
  11. 11Poem so beloved by Abraham Lincoln that he carried it in his pocket and memorized it
  12. 12Sheryl ___, author of the 2013 best seller "Lean In"
  13. 14Many a bonny bairn
  14. 15Sharp wind?
  15. 16Offerings at a reception
  16. 21Ones who don't believe in global revolutions?
  17. 24Saves for later, in a way
  18. 25"Seriously!"
  19. 27Teammate of Cupid in "A Visit From St. Nicholas"
  20. 28Mythological figure who turns men into pigs
  21. 29Spiritual sustenance
  22. 30Sped right through the stop signal
  23. 31Pop up
  24. 32Ones offering cheap shots?
  25. 33How the Quran is written
  26. 34Honolulu thank you
  27. 37Ferruginous pigment
  28. 38Close (with)
  29. 39Puts down
  30. 41Like some breath
  31. 42Blinkers?
  32. 43Canyon with a much-hiked section called the Narrows
  33. 45Word with guitar or go
  34. 46Historic event the French call "le jour J"
  35. 48"___ I!" (negative reply)
  36. 50Director Coppola of 2024's "The Last Showgirl"

The answer to “Guarded” in the New York Times crossword is SECURE — a 6-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on February 13, 2026, a Friday puzzle, at 2-Down. Other answers we've seen for this clue include LERY. 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.

“Guarded” answer

SECURE (6 letters) — most recent; also seen as LERY

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 SECURE.

Why the answer is SECURE

SECURE is the 6-letter solution that fits "Guarded" in the NYT Crossword crossword on February 13, 2026 (2-Down). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

What does SECURE mean?

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

(adjective)

  • fixed or fastened so as not to give way, become loose, or be lost
  • certain to remain safe and unthreatened

Other answers for “Guarded”

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

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Guarded”?

The answer is SECURE, a 6-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on February 13, 2026. Other answers for this clue include LERY.

How many letters is the answer to “Guarded”?

6 letters: SECURE. Earlier fills for this clue have also been LERY (4).

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on February 13, 2026 (a Friday puzzle), at 2-Down. Earlier appearances: June 12, 2025 → LERY.

Can “Guarded” have a different answer?

Yes. Besides SECURE, New York Times has also used LERY 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 13, 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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