Words of affirmation

Latest answer — February 12, 2026

55 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?

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

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

Down

  1. 1. What a phone call or new album might do — Answer: DROP
  2. 2. 7-Eleven competitor on the East Coast — Answer: WAWA
  3. 3. Tree of knowledge locale — Answer: EDEN
  4. 4. Directory name — Answer: LISTEE
  5. 5. *Behind in payment — Answer: LATEX
  6. 6. Ones "over there" in "Over There," in brief — Answer: GIS
  7. 7. Sacrilegious — Answer: UNHOLY
  8. 8. Legend, e.g. — Answer: ACURA
  9. 9. Beat in chess — Answer: MATED
  10. 10. Mechanisms that are often spring-loaded — Answer: MOUSETRAPS
  11. 11. *Forevermore — Answer: EXTERNALLY
  12. 12. Us, in Spanish — Answer: NOS
  13. 14. Sushi seaweed type — Answer: NORI
  14. 19. From further back — Answer: OLDER
  15. 21. Befuddled — Answer: ATSEA
  16. 25. Coarse, as language — Answer: SALTY
  17. 26. Quickly smooch ... or a hint to the answers to the four starred Down clues — Answer: STEALAKISS
  18. 27. Square — Answer: EVENSTEVEN
  19. 29. *Word appearing 51 times in the New Testament — Answer: AXMEN
  20. 31. Speak extemporaneously — Answer: ADLIB
  21. 32. Makeup of some shelves — Answer: ICE
  22. 33. Lunch item usually eaten with two hands, in brief — Answer: BLT
  23. 34. Cow's mouthful — Answer: CUD
  24. 35. Photo ___ — Answer: OPS. Hint: Think about the behind-the-scenes magic of capturing moments! 📸
  25. 38. Wolf (down) — Answer: SNARF
  26. 41. Michael nominated for Oscars in five different decades — Answer: CAINE
  27. 45. Fool — Answer: DELUDE
  28. 46. Hollywood's Anderson or Bach — Answer: PAMELA
  29. 48. Nosh — Answer: SNACK
  30. 49. Little laugh — Answer: TEHEE
  31. 51. Sounds from un estadio — Answer: OLES
  32. 52. *Severely harm — Answer: MAXIM
  33. 55. Words of affirmation — Answer: ITIS
  34. 56. Resting place for a boa — Answer: NECK
  35. 57. Pâté de foie ___ — Answer: GRAS
  36. 58. Unpleasant discovery under a desk — Answer: GUM
  37. 59. Hair raiser? — Answer: GEL

Recent NYT Crossword Answers

The last 7 days of solutions

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The answer to “Words of affirmation” in the New York Times crossword is ITIS — a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on February 12, 2026, a Thursday puzzle, at 55-Down. Other answers we've seen for this clue include IWILL, and IAM. 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.

“Words of affirmation” answer

ITIS (4 letters) — most recent; also seen as IWILL, IAM

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 ITIS.

Why the answer is ITIS

ITIS is the 4-letter solution that fits "Words of affirmation" in the NYT Crossword crossword on February 12, 2026 (55-Down). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

Other answers for “Words of affirmation”

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

More clues from the NYT Crossword on February 12, 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 12, 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 Thursday 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 “Words of affirmation”?

The answer is ITIS, a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on February 12, 2026. Other answers for this clue include IWILL, and IAM.

How many letters is the answer to “Words of affirmation”?

4 letters: ITIS. Earlier fills for this clue have also been IWILL (5), IAM (3).

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on February 12, 2026 (a Thursday puzzle), at 55-Down. Earlier appearances: November 28, 2025 → IWILL; April 16, 2025 → IAM.

Can “Words of affirmation” have a different answer?

Yes. Besides ITIS, New York Times has also used IWILL, and IAM 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.

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