NYT Crossword Clues & Answers - Feb 17

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

By Stephan Prock and Jeff Chen

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NYT Crossword Clues

Across

  1. 1Forerunner of reggae
  2. 4Because
  3. 9Fluster with embarrassment
  4. 14Buddy
  5. 15"L'Orfeo" or "Idomeneo"
  6. 16Spoiled girl in "Finding Nemo"
  7. 17White rodent often used in lab research
  8. 19Hunter in the night sky
  9. 20"Cool!"
  10. 21Hit maker?
  11. 23Big name in pet food
  12. 24Complete fiasco
  13. 26"I suppose that's right"
  14. 28Some fancy finger painting
  15. 30Flavoring in an earthy whiskey
  16. 31Classic skin-care brand
  17. 32Film performers' union, for short
  18. 34Spanish appetizers
  19. 38Prospector's receptacle
  20. 39Music genre for the words hidden in this puzzle's circled letters ... or a punny description for them?
  21. 42German cry of dismay
  22. 43Old Ford Motor offering
  23. 45Site for hibernation ... or a Super Bowl party
  24. 46No more than
  25. 47Sources of quick $$$
  26. 50Break up, as a group
  27. 52Someone's public identity
  28. 55Workout inspired by martial arts
  29. 56"Nobody doesn't like ___ Lee" (classic food slogan)
  30. 57Daddy-o
  31. 59"___ Jacques" (children's song)
  32. 61"The Addams Family" butler
  33. 63Spoken evaluations
  34. 65Island greeting
  35. 66Starts daydreaming, with "out"
  36. 67Sound heard at the door
  37. 68Amped up
  38. 69Call off the relationship
  39. 70Furtive

Down

  1. 1Distance from end to end
  2. 2Leafy side dish rich in vitamin K
  3. 3Residents of Tirana
  4. 4"Oh, that stupid little punk ..."
  5. 5Wall Street debut, for short
  6. 6Toy brand with foam ammo
  7. 7Daniel of the "Knives Out" movies
  8. 8Devours
  9. 9Fuss and flurry
  10. 10Many a Starbucks employee
  11. 11Highlights of a 15-Across
  12. 12Smartphone video effect
  13. 13Film composer Zimmer
  14. 18Boot out of Europe?
  15. 22Item stored in a small hole in a golf cart
  16. 25___ Major
  17. 27Fill fully
  18. 28"Uh-uh"
  19. 29Material for a roof repair
  20. 33Mars, but not Earth
  21. 35Tough-but-loving fathers, informally
  22. 36"Don't be so weird!"
  23. 37Equipped with footwear
  24. 39Sandwiches often on toasted bread
  25. 40Proof-ending inits.
  26. 41Troop group
  27. 44Aural ailment
  28. 46Standard option on a rideshare app
  29. 48Shaggy head of hair
  30. 49Get some Z's
  31. 51Least risky
  32. 52Physicist Wolfgang who proposed the "exclusion principle"
  33. 53Blunder
  34. 54Front part of a stage
  35. 56Barbecue side dish
  36. 58Material in a classical timepiece
  37. 60Sneak a peek at
  38. 62Suckered
  39. 64Ring of flowers

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Forerunner of reggae — Answer: SKA
  2. 4. Because — Answer: SINCE
  3. 9. Fluster with embarrassment — Answer: ABASH
  4. 14. Buddy — Answer: PAL
  5. 15. "L'Orfeo" or "Idomeneo" — Answer: OPERA
  6. 16. Spoiled girl in "Finding Nemo" — Answer: DARLA
  7. 17. White rodent often used in lab research — Answer: ALBINORAT
  8. 19. Hunter in the night sky — Answer: ORION
  9. 20. "Cool!" — Answer: NEATO
  10. 21. Hit maker? — Answer: FIST
  11. 23. Big name in pet food — Answer: IAMS
  12. 24. Complete fiasco — Answer: SNAFU
  13. 26. "I suppose that's right" — Answer: GUESSSO
  14. 28. Some fancy finger painting — Answer: NAILART
  15. 30. Flavoring in an earthy whiskey — Answer: PEAT
  16. 31. Classic skin-care brand — Answer: OLAY
  17. 32. Film performers' union, for short — Answer: SAG
  18. 34. Spanish appetizers — Answer: TAPAS
  19. 38. Prospector's receptacle — Answer: PAN
  20. 39. Music genre for the words hidden in this puzzle's circled letters ... or a punny description for them? — Answer: BAROQUE
  21. 42. German cry of dismay — Answer: ACH
  22. 43. Old Ford Motor offering — Answer: EDSEL
  23. 45. Site for hibernation ... or a Super Bowl party — Answer: DEN
  24. 46. No more than — Answer: UPTO
  25. 47. Sources of quick $$$ — Answer: ATMS
  26. 50. Break up, as a group — Answer: DISBAND
  27. 52. Someone's public identity — Answer: PERSONA
  28. 55. Workout inspired by martial arts — Answer: TAEBO
  29. 56. "Nobody doesn't like ___ Lee" (classic food slogan) — Answer: SARA
  30. 57. Daddy-o — Answer: POPS
  31. 59. "___ Jacques" (children's song) — Answer: FRERE
  32. 61. "The Addams Family" butler — Answer: LURCH
  33. 63. Spoken evaluations — Answer: ORALEXAMS
  34. 65. Island greeting — Answer: ALOHA
  35. 66. Starts daydreaming, with "out" — Answer: ZONES
  36. 67. Sound heard at the door — Answer: RAP
  37. 68. Amped up — Answer: WIRED
  38. 69. Call off the relationship — Answer: ENDIT
  39. 70. Furtive — Answer: SLY

Down

  1. 1. Distance from end to end — Answer: SPAN
  2. 2. Leafy side dish rich in vitamin K — Answer: KALESALAD
  3. 3. Residents of Tirana — Answer: ALBANIANS
  4. 4. "Oh, that stupid little punk ..." — Answer: SONOFA
  5. 5. Wall Street debut, for short — Answer: IPO
  6. 6. Toy brand with foam ammo — Answer: NERF
  7. 7. Daniel of the "Knives Out" movies — Answer: CRAIG
  8. 8. Devours — Answer: EATSUP
  9. 9. Fuss and flurry — Answer: ADO
  10. 10. Many a Starbucks employee — Answer: BARISTA
  11. 11. Highlights of a 15-Across — Answer: ARIAS
  12. 12. Smartphone video effect — Answer: SLOMO
  13. 13. Film composer Zimmer — Answer: HANS
  14. 18. Boot out of Europe? — Answer: ITALY
  15. 22. Item stored in a small hole in a golf cart — Answer: TEE
  16. 25. ___ Major — Answer: URSA
  17. 27. Fill fully — Answer: SATE
  18. 28. "Uh-uh" — Answer: NOPE
  19. 29. Material for a roof repair — Answer: TAR
  20. 33. Mars, but not Earth — Answer: GOD
  21. 35. Tough-but-loving fathers, informally — Answer: PAPABEARS
  22. 36. "Don't be so weird!" — Answer: ACTNORMAL
  23. 37. Equipped with footwear — Answer: SHOD
  24. 39. Sandwiches often on toasted bread — Answer: BLTS
  25. 40. Proof-ending inits. — Answer: QED
  26. 41. Troop group — Answer: UNIT
  27. 44. Aural ailment — Answer: EARACHE
  28. 46. Standard option on a rideshare app — Answer: UBERX
  29. 48. Shaggy head of hair — Answer: MOP
  30. 49. Get some Z's — Answer: SNOOZE
  31. 51. Least risky — Answer: SAFEST
  32. 52. Physicist Wolfgang who proposed the "exclusion principle" — Answer: PAULI
  33. 53. Blunder — Answer: ERROR
  34. 54. Front part of a stage — Answer: APRON
  35. 56. Barbecue side dish — Answer: SLAW
  36. 58. Material in a classical timepiece — Answer: SAND
  37. 60. Sneak a peek at — Answer: ESPY
  38. 62. Suckered — Answer: HAD
  39. 64. Ring of flowers — Answer: LEI

Here are the NYT Crossword answers for Tuesday, February 17, 2026 — every solution for that day's 15×15 (21×21 on Sunday) puzzle, listed at the top of this page. Whether you're catching up on a puzzle you missed, settling a “what was the answer on February 17?” question, or checking a grid you finished that day, the complete clue-by-clue solution is right here. Looking for today's puzzle instead? Head to our live NYT Crossword answers page.

NYT Crossword answers for February 17, 2026

The full solution for the February 17 NYT Crossword is shown above, laid out clue by clue — every Across answer followed by every Down answer, exactly as that day's grid read. Each answer is listed separately, so you can check just the clue you were stuck on and leave the rest. This is the confirmed grid as published on Tuesday, February 17.

Hints for the February 17 puzzle

Not ready for the full answer? Here are lighter, spoiler-free nudges for that day's grid, above the solutions. The February 17 puzzle fell on a Tuesday, and with the New York Times crossword that matters: the grid gets harder as the week goes on, from an easy Monday to a fiendish Saturday, with a large themed puzzle on Sunday. So a Tuesday grid tells you how much misdirection to expect — and if a clue that day seemed to make no sense, the weekday is usually the reason. Use the hints for the trickiest clues, then reveal the answers above only if you need them.

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Frequently asked questions

What were the NYT Crossword answers on February 17, 2026?

Every answer for the Tuesday, February 17, 2026 NYT Crossword is listed at the top of this page — the confirmed grid as published that day.

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Today's live puzzle is on our NYT Crossword answers today page, updated the moment each new grid goes live.

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