Quickly smooch ... or a hint to the answers to the four starred Down clues

Crossword Answer — February 12, 2026

Answer
NYT Crossword Answers

NYT Crossword

Thursday, February 12, 2026

By Kareem Ayas

D
W
E
L
L
G
U
A
M
M
E
N
R
A
D
I
A
N
I
N
C
A
O
X
O
O
W
E
S
T
O
S
H
U
T
O
U
T
S
P
A
N
T
E
R
A
O
R
E
L
S
E
E
X
I
T
L
A
D
D
E
R
S
S
E
E
S
A
Y
E
T
N
A
A
T
V
I
B
E
X
C
O
R
R
A
L
D
E
E
C
L
A
M
S
U
P
A
L
T
L
A
N
C
E
T
E
N
D
S
P
L
Y
I
L
S
A
D
N
A
P
S
Y
B
A
T
I
S
T
E
R
O
M
A
K
E
N
N
E
L
F
L
A
M
I
N
G
G
I
V
E
A
H
U
G
E
X
E
T
E
R
U
S
E
C
E
D
E
S
I
L
I
C
A
M
S
N
K
E
E
L
M
A
S
K
S

Across

  1. 1*SucceedDWELL
  2. 6Home of War in the Pacific National Historical ParkGUAM
  3. 10Sign on some restroom doorsMEN
  4. 13Angular unit of measurementRADIAN
  5. 15Sapa ___ ("the only emperor" in Quechua)INCA
  6. 16Kitchen gadget brandOXO
  7. 17Must payOWESTO
  8. 18*Public messages of appreciationSHUTOUTS
  9. 20Heavy metal band whose name is a big cat in SpanishPANTERA
  10. 22Alternatively ... !!!ORELSE
  11. 23Sign out?EXIT
  12. 24Firehouse supplyLADDERS
  13. 26Take out, in a waySEE
  14. 28"An idea ..."SAY
  15. 30Mount known to produce rare volcanic "smoke rings"ETNA
  16. 31Off-road ride, for shortATV
  17. 32Horned mountain climberIBEX
  18. 34PenCORRAL
  19. 36Dennis's sister on "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia"DEE
  20. 37*New England-style chowder, for oneCLAMSUP
  21. 39___-weekly (mag type)ALT
  22. 40Small surgical instrumentLANCET
  23. 42Wraps upENDS
  24. 43WieldPLY
  25. 44Ingrid Bergman's "Casablanca" roleILSA
  26. 45Stuff with strandsDNA
  27. 46College subj. that can be evolutionary or behavioralPSY
  28. 47Lightweight fabric for a handkerchiefBATISTE
  29. 50Tomato typeROMA
  30. 53Digs for dogsKENNEL
  31. 54*Long-legged waderFLAMING
  32. 58Provide comfort, in a way ... or a hint to the answers to the four starred Across cluesGIVEAHUG
  33. 60Northeastern prep school or its townEXETER
  34. 61"What's the ___?!"USE
  35. 62SurrenderCEDE
  36. 63Ceramics componentSILICA
  37. 64Web portal with a butterfly logoMSN
  38. 65Schooner's stabilizerKEEL
  39. 66Some spa treatmentsMASKS

Down

  1. 1What a phone call or new album might doDROP
  2. 27-Eleven competitor on the East CoastWAWA
  3. 3Tree of knowledge localeEDEN
  4. 4Directory nameLISTEE
  5. 5*Behind in paymentLATEX
  6. 6Ones "over there" in "Over There," in briefGIS
  7. 7SacrilegiousUNHOLY
  8. 8Legend, e.g.ACURA
  9. 9Beat in chessMATED
  10. 10Mechanisms that are often spring-loadedMOUSETRAPS
  11. 11*ForevermoreEXTERNALLY
  12. 12Us, in SpanishNOS
  13. 14Sushi seaweed typeNORI
  14. 19From further backOLDER
  15. 21BefuddledATSEA
  16. 25Coarse, as languageSALTY
  17. 26Quickly smooch ... or a hint to the answers to the four starred Down cluesSTEALAKISS
  18. 27SquareEVENSTEVEN
  19. 29*Word appearing 51 times in the New TestamentAXMEN
  20. 31Speak extemporaneouslyADLIB
  21. 32Makeup of some shelvesICE
  22. 33Lunch item usually eaten with two hands, in briefBLT
  23. 34Cow's mouthfulCUD
  24. 35Photo ___OPS
  25. 38Wolf (down)SNARF
  26. 41Michael nominated for Oscars in five different decadesCAINE
  27. 45FoolDELUDE
  28. 46Hollywood's Anderson or BachPAMELA
  29. 48NoshSNACK
  30. 49Little laughTEHEE
  31. 51Sounds from un estadioOLES
  32. 52*Severely harmMAXIM
  33. 55Words of affirmationITIS
  34. 56Resting place for a boaNECK
  35. 57Pâté de foie ___GRAS
  36. 58Unpleasant discovery under a deskGUM
  37. 59Hair raiser?GEL

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

The answer to “Quickly smooch ... or a hint to the answers to the four starred Down clues” in the New York Times crossword is STEALAKISS — a 10-letter word. This clue ran in the New York Times crossword on February 12, 2026, a Thursday puzzle, at 26-Down. If it's the entry standing between you and a clean grid, that's the word you need — and below you'll find why it fits, plus links to the day's other clues if more than one square is giving you trouble.

“Quickly smooch ... or a hint to the answers to the four starred Down clues” answer

STEALAKISS (10 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 STEALAKISS.

Why the answer is STEALAKISS

STEALAKISS is the 10-letter solution that fits "Quickly smooch ... or a hint to the answers to the four starred Down clues" in the NYT Crossword crossword on February 12, 2026 (26-Down). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

When else has “Quickly smooch ... or a hint to the answers to the four starred Down clues” 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 before, and what the answer was each time — handy if you landed here from a puzzle on another date.

February 12, 2026 (this puzzle) → STEALAKISS. We haven't indexed an earlier appearance of this exact clue yet.

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 “Quickly smooch ... or a hint to the answers to the four starred Down clues”?

The answer is STEALAKISS, a 10-letter word. It appeared in the New York Times crossword on February 12, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Quickly smooch ... or a hint to the answers to the four starred Down clues”?

10 letters: STEALAKISS.

Where did this clue appear?

In the New York Times crossword on February 12, 2026 (a Thursday puzzle), at 26-Down.

Can “Quickly smooch ... or a hint to the answers to the four starred Down clues” 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 12, 2026 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

NYT Crossword Answers NYT Mini Crossword Answers NYT Crossword Answers — Feb 12 Wordle Hint Today Connections Hint Today Strands Hint Today Quordle Hint Today Contexto Hint Today Spotle Hint Today Minute Cryptic Answer Today Pips Hint Today Jumble Answers Today