Leader of the Sharks in "West Side Story"

Latest answer — February 18, 2026

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NYT Crossword

This clue's Wednesday, February 18, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Genre for James Brown or Al Green, informally
  2. 6Biblical name for Syria
  3. 10International agreements
  4. 15"That's ___" (Dean Martin classic)
  5. 16Plumb mad
  6. 17Ancient Greek marketplace
  7. 18Dwindled away
  8. 20___ Aran, heroine of Nintendo's Metroid
  9. 21:nine_o'clock::hourglass_not_done::alarm_clock:
  10. 23Gullible one
  11. 24Pepper that's two steps above poblano on the Scoville scale
  12. 25Irritated outburst
  13. 28Carnaval city, informally
  14. 30Smallish batteries
  15. 31Reservoir producer
  16. 34Bounty
  17. 38Favorable starting point of an auto race
  18. 39:call_me_hand::clapping_hands::waving_hand:
  19. 43The Farm Service Agcy. is part of it
  20. 44Some wand wielders
  21. 45Trident-shaped letter
  22. 46QB's call
  23. 49Write "their" for "there," say
  24. 50Slopping spot
  25. 51Offensively odorous
  26. 55Noted wildlife refuge
  27. 57:speech_balloon::speaking_head::right_anger_bubble:
  28. 62Cara of "Fame" fame
  29. 63Digital capture
  30. 65Enchantress of Greek mythology
  31. 66Popular D.I.Y. website
  32. 67Go after
  33. 68Nincompoops
  34. 69Rackets
  35. 70Reduced to crumbs, say

Down

  1. 1What a fall guy has to take, with "the"
  2. 2Home of the Big 12's Cyclones
  3. 3Terse denial
  4. 4Remains
  5. 5Leader of the Sharks in "West Side Story"
  6. 6Gucci of fashion
  7. 7Locales for some urban gardens
  8. 8Like the accents in "déclassé"
  9. 9Godzilla foe
  10. 10Elbows and bow ties
  11. 11Once more
  12. 12Best-selling home computers of the 1980s
  13. 13On the money
  14. 14Freshness
  15. 19Observation
  16. 22It might be a stretch for historians
  17. 25Fill an automobile tank ... or boost the confidence of, in slang
  18. 26Deep chasm
  19. 27Pips
  20. 29Demon of Japanese folklore
  21. 32On guard
  22. 33Like some buns and bedrooms
  23. 35Org. for Wizards and Magic
  24. 36Includes, in a way
  25. 37One of the "six enemies of the mind," in Hinduism
  26. 38Big name in water filters
  27. 40Old-fashioned word that's a homophone of 49-Across
  28. 41Distressing encounter
  29. 42___ Howard, Oscar-nominated actor for 2005's "Hustle & Flow"
  30. 46New workmates
  31. 47Manipulate
  32. 48Cast
  33. 52Meager measure of compassion?
  34. 53Traditional rice cake snack on Japanese New Year
  35. 54Actor Zac of "High School Musical"
  36. 56Singer with the 2009 #1 hit "Tik Tok"
  37. 57Acronym on a W-2
  38. 58Bluish-purple bloom
  39. 59Wraps (up)
  40. 60Tête-à-tête
  41. 61Firefighting aid
  42. 64X

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Genre for James Brown or Al Green, informally — Answer: RANDB
  2. 6. Biblical name for Syria — Answer: ARAM
  3. 10. International agreements — Answer: PACTS
  4. 15. "That's ___" (Dean Martin classic) — Answer: AMORE
  5. 16. Plumb mad — Answer: LOCO
  6. 17. Ancient Greek marketplace — Answer: AGORA
  7. 18. Dwindled away — Answer: PETEREDOUT
  8. 20. ___ Aran, heroine of Nintendo's Metroid — Answer: SAMUS
  9. 21. :nine_o'clock::hourglass_not_done::alarm_clock: — Answer: SIGNSOFTHETIMES
  10. 23. Gullible one — Answer: SAP
  11. 24. Pepper that's two steps above poblano on the Scoville scale — Answer: SERRANO
  12. 25. Irritated outburst — Answer: GAH
  13. 28. Carnaval city, informally — Answer: RIO
  14. 30. Smallish batteries — Answer: AAS. Hint: Think of the everyday cylindrical cells that power remotes and small toys. 🔋
  15. 31. Reservoir producer — Answer: DAM
  16. 34. Bounty — Answer: ABUNDANCE
  17. 38. Favorable starting point of an auto race — Answer: POLE
  18. 39. :call_me_hand::clapping_hands::waving_hand: — Answer: SYMBOLICGESTURES
  19. 43. The Farm Service Agcy. is part of it — Answer: USDA
  20. 44. Some wand wielders — Answer: SORCERERS
  21. 45. Trident-shaped letter — Answer: PSI
  22. 46. QB's call — Answer: HUT
  23. 49. Write "their" for "there," say — Answer: ERR
  24. 50. Slopping spot — Answer: STY
  25. 51. Offensively odorous — Answer: NOISOME
  26. 55. Noted wildlife refuge — Answer: ARK
  27. 57. :speech_balloon::speaking_head::right_anger_bubble: — Answer: FIGURESOFSPEECH
  28. 62. Cara of "Fame" fame — Answer: IRENE
  29. 63. Digital capture — Answer: SCREENSHOT
  30. 65. Enchantress of Greek mythology — Answer: CIRCE
  31. 66. Popular D.I.Y. website — Answer: EHOW
  32. 67. Go after — Answer: CHASE
  33. 68. Nincompoops — Answer: ASSES
  34. 69. Rackets — Answer: DINS. Hint: This word describes loud, chaotic noise 📣
  35. 70. Reduced to crumbs, say — Answer: EATEN

Down

  1. 1. What a fall guy has to take, with "the" — Answer: RAP
  2. 2. Home of the Big 12's Cyclones — Answer: AMES
  3. 3. Terse denial — Answer: NOTI
  4. 4. Remains — Answer: DREGS
  5. 5. Leader of the Sharks in "West Side Story" — Answer: BERNARDO
  6. 6. Gucci of fashion — Answer: ALDO. Hint: Think of a popular footwear and accessories brand found in many shopping malls. 👟
  7. 7. Locales for some urban gardens — Answer: ROOFS
  8. 8. Like the accents in "déclassé" — Answer: ACUTE
  9. 9. Godzilla foe — Answer: MOTHRA
  10. 10. Elbows and bow ties — Answer: PASTAS
  11. 11. Once more — Answer: AGAIN. Hint: One more time, with feeling, as if you’re giving it another go 🎯
  12. 12. Best-selling home computers of the 1980s — Answer: COMMODORES
  13. 13. On the money — Answer: TRUE
  14. 14. Freshness — Answer: SASS
  15. 19. Observation — Answer: ESPIAL
  16. 22. It might be a stretch for historians — Answer: ERA
  17. 25. Fill an automobile tank ... or boost the confidence of, in slang — Answer: GASUP
  18. 26. Deep chasm — Answer: ABYSS
  19. 27. Pips — Answer: HUMDINGERS
  20. 29. Demon of Japanese folklore — Answer: ONI
  21. 32. On guard — Answer: ALERT
  22. 33. Like some buns and bedrooms — Answer: MESSY
  23. 35. Org. for Wizards and Magic — Answer: NBA
  24. 36. Includes, in a way — Answer: CCS
  25. 37. One of the "six enemies of the mind," in Hinduism — Answer: EGO
  26. 38. Big name in water filters — Answer: PUR
  27. 40. Old-fashioned word that's a homophone of 49-Across — Answer: ERE
  28. 41. Distressing encounter — Answer: SCRAPE
  29. 42. ___ Howard, Oscar-nominated actor for 2005's "Hustle & Flow" — Answer: TERRENCE
  30. 46. New workmates — Answer: HIREES
  31. 47. Manipulate — Answer: USE
  32. 48. Cast — Answer: TOSSED
  33. 52. Meager measure of compassion? — Answer: OUNCE
  34. 53. Traditional rice cake snack on Japanese New Year — Answer: MOCHI
  35. 54. Actor Zac of "High School Musical" — Answer: EFRON
  36. 56. Singer with the 2009 #1 hit "Tik Tok" — Answer: KESHA
  37. 57. Acronym on a W-2 — Answer: FICA
  38. 58. Bluish-purple bloom — Answer: IRIS
  39. 59. Wraps (up) — Answer: SEWS
  40. 60. Tête-à-tête — Answer: CHAT
  41. 61. Firefighting aid — Answer: HOSE
  42. 64. X — Answer: TEN

Recent NYT Crossword Answers

The last 7 days of solutions

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The answer to “Leader of the Sharks in "West Side Story"” in the New York Times crossword is BERNARDO — a 8-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on February 18, 2026, a Wednesday puzzle, at 5-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.

“Leader of the Sharks in "West Side Story"” answer

BERNARDO (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 BERNARDO.

Why the answer is BERNARDO

BERNARDO is the 8-letter solution that fits "Leader of the Sharks in "West Side Story"" in the NYT Crossword crossword on February 18, 2026 (5-Down). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

When else has “Leader of the Sharks in "West Side Story"” 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 18, 2026 (most recent) → BERNARDO. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

More clues from the NYT Crossword on February 18, 2026

Stuck elsewhere in the grid? Here are some of the crossing and nearby clues from the same puzzle — tap any for its answer and explanation.

Want every clue in one place? The full New York Times answer list for February 18, 2026 is on that day's grid page, and today's live NYT Crossword answers are always one tap from the today page.

About the NYT Crossword

The New York Times crossword, edited by Will Shortz, is the most famous daily puzzle in the United States. It runs a 15×15 grid Monday through Saturday and a larger 21×21 grid on Sunday, and its difficulty deliberately ramps through the week: Monday is the most approachable, Saturday the toughest, with Thursday often reserved for a trick or twist like rebus squares. This page covers a Wednesday puzzle. A straight-definition entry is the kind of solid mid-grid answer that anchors the trickier crossings around it. Because the NYT reuses short, crossing-friendly words regularly, seeing them once makes them easier to spot next time.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Leader of the Sharks in "West Side Story"”?

The answer is BERNARDO, a 8-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on February 18, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Leader of the Sharks in "West Side Story"”?

8 letters: BERNARDO.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on February 18, 2026 (a Wednesday puzzle), at 5-Down.

Can “Leader of the Sharks in "West Side Story"” 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 18, 2026 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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