Use makeup to sculpt and define, as facial features

Latest answer — February 03, 2026

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NYT Crossword

This clue's Tuesday, February 03, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Daytona 500 org.
  2. 7Cloth shopping bags
  3. 12Advanced to the next round of musical chairs, say
  4. 15"Their exact words were ..."
  5. 16Toy company behind Frisbees and Hula Hoops
  6. 17"Sex and the City" network
  7. 18Narrow, focused perspective
  8. 20"___ for one and one for ___!"
  9. 21E, on a compass
  10. 22Villain in Shakespeare's "Othello" and Disney's "Aladdin"
  11. 23Assigned a job
  12. 25Pizzeria fixtures
  13. 27Blackjack player's request
  14. 28Magazine for the small screen since 1953
  15. 31Parent's curt response to a kid's "But why?"
  16. 33Ballet dancer's handrail
  17. 34Unaccompanied
  18. 35"You can say ___ again!"
  19. 37Place for a seaweed body wrap
  20. 38Sign near a freshly applied coat
  21. 42Number represented by candles on a cake
  22. 43Toe treatment, in brief
  23. 45___ of the Horse (2026 in the Chinese zodiac)
  24. 46"You win! I give up!"
  25. 48One might be sworn to it
  26. 50Golf count
  27. 52Dog harness attachment
  28. 53Beyond well-done
  29. 54Maker of skintight swimwear
  30. 56Exceptionally good, in Gen Z slang
  31. 57"Very funny!"
  32. 61Dallas N.B.A. player, for short
  33. 62What children should use at the library ... and a literal description of the circled letters in this puzzle
  34. 65Any number raised to the 0th power
  35. 66"Say cheese!"
  36. 67People with custody of things, typically
  37. 68Toothpaste type
  38. 69Evil spells
  39. 70Feel remorse about

Down

  1. 1Evening, in ads
  2. 2Blue-green hue
  3. 3Pair orbited by the fictional planet Tatooine
  4. 4Use makeup to sculpt and define, as facial features
  5. 5Had a meal
  6. 6Depended (on)
  7. 7Tiny tree branches
  8. 8Very
  9. 9Word before chi or after mai
  10. 108-) or ;-P
  11. 11Beethoven's "Moonlight ___"
  12. 12Burger chain with custard-based drinks
  13. 13Ready, willing and ___
  14. 14Spilled the beans
  15. 19Rooftop accessory often shaped like a rooster atop an arrow
  16. 24Salacious material
  17. 26Oceanfront room feature
  18. 27Prefix with pad or port
  19. 28One of eight in a stick of butter: Abbr.
  20. 29Uses an e-cigarette
  21. 30Stage of education
  22. 31Tusked swine
  23. 32Bird on Mexico's flag
  24. 34Fix, at the vet's
  25. 36Some concert souvenirs
  26. 39"Look this way, class"
  27. 40The "T" in STEM, informally
  28. 41Go sour, as milk
  29. 44Slurpee alternative
  30. 47Potentially suspicious response to "What are you doing?"
  31. 49Red bit in a salad
  32. 50"You betcha!"
  33. 51The ___ Project (mental health organization for LGBTQ+ youth)
  34. 53___ one's time (waits patiently)
  35. 54Skyline haze
  36. 55Window section
  37. 56Submit one's taxes
  38. 58Taiwanese PC maker
  39. 59"Present!"
  40. 60The "A" in T.A.: Abbr.
  41. 63Highest roll of a standard die
  42. 64Have debts

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Daytona 500 org. — Answer: NASCAR. Hint: Stock-car racing's big-league organizer puts on the Daytona 500 🏁
  2. 7. Cloth shopping bags — Answer: TOTES
  3. 12. Advanced to the next round of musical chairs, say — Answer: SAT
  4. 15. "Their exact words were ..." — Answer: IQUOTE
  5. 16. Toy company behind Frisbees and Hula Hoops — Answer: WHAMO
  6. 17. "Sex and the City" network — Answer: HBO
  7. 18. Narrow, focused perspective — Answer: TUNNELVISION
  8. 20. "___ for one and one for ___!" — Answer: ALL
  9. 21. E, on a compass — Answer: EAST
  10. 22. Villain in Shakespeare's "Othello" and Disney's "Aladdin" — Answer: IAGO
  11. 23. Assigned a job — Answer: TASKED
  12. 25. Pizzeria fixtures — Answer: OVENS
  13. 27. Blackjack player's request — Answer: HITME
  14. 28. Magazine for the small screen since 1953 — Answer: TVGUIDE
  15. 31. Parent's curt response to a kid's "But why?" — Answer: BECAUSE
  16. 33. Ballet dancer's handrail — Answer: BARRE
  17. 34. Unaccompanied — Answer: SOLO
  18. 35. "You can say ___ again!" — Answer: THAT
  19. 37. Place for a seaweed body wrap — Answer: SPA. Hint: Think of the relaxing spot where massages and seaweed wraps are on the menu 🧖
  20. 38. Sign near a freshly applied coat — Answer: WETPAINT
  21. 42. Number represented by candles on a cake — Answer: AGE
  22. 43. Toe treatment, in brief — Answer: PEDI
  23. 45. ___ of the Horse (2026 in the Chinese zodiac) — Answer: YEAR
  24. 46. "You win! I give up!" — Answer: UNCLE
  25. 48. One might be sworn to it — Answer: SECRECY
  26. 50. Golf count — Answer: STROKES
  27. 52. Dog harness attachment — Answer: LEASH
  28. 53. Beyond well-done — Answer: BURNT
  29. 54. Maker of skintight swimwear — Answer: SPEEDO
  30. 56. Exceptionally good, in Gen Z slang — Answer: FIRE
  31. 57. "Very funny!" — Answer: HAHA
  32. 61. Dallas N.B.A. player, for short — Answer: MAV
  33. 62. What children should use at the library ... and a literal description of the circled letters in this puzzle — Answer: INSIDEVOICES
  34. 65. Any number raised to the 0th power — Answer: ONE
  35. 66. "Say cheese!" — Answer: SMILE
  36. 67. People with custody of things, typically — Answer: OWNERS
  37. 68. Toothpaste type — Answer: GEL
  38. 69. Evil spells — Answer: HEXES. Hint: These sinister enchantments are cast to bring bad luck. 🪄
  39. 70. Feel remorse about — Answer: REGRET

Down

  1. 1. Evening, in ads — Answer: NITE
  2. 2. Blue-green hue — Answer: AQUA. Hint: Think of a refreshing color often seen in tropical waters! 🌊
  3. 3. Pair orbited by the fictional planet Tatooine — Answer: SUNS
  4. 4. Use makeup to sculpt and define, as facial features — Answer: CONTOUR
  5. 5. Had a meal — Answer: ATE. Hint: This past-tense verb means you consumed food. 🍽️
  6. 6. Depended (on) — Answer: RELIED
  7. 7. Tiny tree branches — Answer: TWIGS
  8. 8. Very — Answer: OHSO
  9. 9. Word before chi or after mai — Answer: TAI
  10. 10. 8-) or ;-P — Answer: EMOTICON
  11. 11. Beethoven's "Moonlight ___" — Answer: SONATA
  12. 12. Burger chain with custard-based drinks — Answer: SHAKESHACK
  13. 13. Ready, willing and ___ — Answer: ABLE
  14. 14. Spilled the beans — Answer: TOLD
  15. 19. Rooftop accessory often shaped like a rooster atop an arrow — Answer: VANE
  16. 24. Salacious material — Answer: SMUT
  17. 26. Oceanfront room feature — Answer: VIEW
  18. 27. Prefix with pad or port — Answer: HELI
  19. 28. One of eight in a stick of butter: Abbr. — Answer: TBSP
  20. 29. Uses an e-cigarette — Answer: VAPES
  21. 30. Stage of education — Answer: GRADELEVEL
  22. 31. Tusked swine — Answer: BOAR
  23. 32. Bird on Mexico's flag — Answer: EAGLE
  24. 34. Fix, at the vet's — Answer: SPAY
  25. 36. Some concert souvenirs — Answer: TEES
  26. 39. "Look this way, class" — Answer: EYESONME
  27. 40. The "T" in STEM, informally — Answer: TECH
  28. 41. Go sour, as milk — Answer: TURN
  29. 44. Slurpee alternative — Answer: ICEE. Hint: A fizzy frozen drink brand you might grab at a convenience store when you want something icy and sweet 🥤
  30. 47. Potentially suspicious response to "What are you doing?" — Answer: NOTHING
  31. 49. Red bit in a salad — Answer: RADISH
  32. 50. "You betcha!" — Answer: SURE
  33. 51. The ___ Project (mental health organization for LGBTQ+ youth) — Answer: TREVOR
  34. 53. ___ one's time (waits patiently) — Answer: BIDES
  35. 54. Skyline haze — Answer: SMOG
  36. 55. Window section — Answer: PANE
  37. 56. Submit one's taxes — Answer: FILE
  38. 58. Taiwanese PC maker — Answer: ACER
  39. 59. "Present!" — Answer: HERE. Hint: When you announce your arrival, you're letting everyone know you're right in this spot! 📍
  40. 60. The "A" in T.A.: Abbr. — Answer: ASST
  41. 63. Highest roll of a standard die — Answer: SIX
  42. 64. Have debts — Answer: OWE. Hint: Be in someone’s debt, perhaps 💸

Recent NYT Crossword Answers

The last 7 days of solutions

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The answer to “Use makeup to sculpt and define, as facial features” in the New York Times crossword is CONTOUR — a 7-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on February 3, 2026, a Tuesday puzzle, at 4-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.

“Use makeup to sculpt and define, as facial features” answer

CONTOUR (7 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 CONTOUR.

Why the answer is CONTOUR

CONTOUR is the 7-letter solution that fits "Use makeup to sculpt and define, as facial features" in the NYT Crossword crossword on February 3, 2026 (4-Down). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

When else has “Use makeup to sculpt and define, as facial features” 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 3, 2026 (most recent) → CONTOUR. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

More clues from the NYT Crossword on February 3, 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 3, 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 Tuesday 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 “Use makeup to sculpt and define, as facial features”?

The answer is CONTOUR, a 7-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on February 3, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Use makeup to sculpt and define, as facial features”?

7 letters: CONTOUR.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on February 3, 2026 (a Tuesday puzzle), at 4-Down.

Can “Use makeup to sculpt and define, as facial features” 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 3, 2026 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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