Saturday, February 21, 2026
By Josh Knapp
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NYT Crossword Clues
Across
- 1Look to give nothing away?
- 11European city on the Bay of Angels
- 15Film subgenre exemplified by "The Thing" or "The Fly"
- 16Like some fixations
- 17It gets folded and pressed
- 18Split in two
- 19Posts on Insta
- 20The third primary chakra is located just above it
- 21Foundations of many dad jokes
- 22"Right, right, right"
- 24Yom Kippur topic
- 25Certain slip-on
- 27Merely hinted at
- 29Author of "The Fisherman and His Flute"
- 31Clip-on mic, for short
- 32Many great athletes play with it
- 34Architect's tool
- 36A cow can produce about 200 pounds of it a year
- 39In pieces
- 40Items of some import?
- 41Rachel ___, author of "Heated Rivalry"
- 42Savory latke topping
- 43Sidney who directed "12 Angry Men"
- 45"Quiet, you!"
- 49Formula 1 star, e.g.
- 51Shade similar to avocado
- 53"Sick!"
- 54On a chain, say
- 55A lot of paperwork
- 57The W.N.B.A.'s Mercury, on scoreboards
- 58Steps to a lively tune
- 59How low can you go?
- 61"Right now!"
- 62What roller coasters are designed to do
- 63Flat earth?
- 64Item for purchase with a question mark on its side
Down
- 1Smoking spot
- 2Mrs. John Quincy Adams
- 3Campaign leader, informally
- 4Overseer of the Erie Canal, in brief
- 5"Star Trek" villain played by Ricardo Montalbán
- 6Some diner drinks
- 7They might have all the answers
- 8Pink-furred cat in "Garfield"
- 9With 26-Down, basic instruction to a dog
- 10New ___ (official cap maker for M.L.B.)
- 11Like a spoilsport
- 12Totally foolproof
- 13Many key changes take place in it
- 14Herd at Yellowstone
- 21It's a surprise, of course!
- 23Chinese symbol of prosperity
- 25Group of companions
- 26See 9-Down
- 28Followed surreptitiously
- 30Beginner's set
- 33Rack up
- 35Ruined
- 36Blend into one
- 37Free spirits?
- 38Hydrogen sulfide, e.g.
- 44Big times
- 46You might hear a hiss when it's pulled
- 47Defunct image editor
- 48Chile con carne cuisine
- 50Hornet genus
- 52Take a constitutional
- 55Cunning
- 56Go to the moon
- 58Play together, in a way
- 59Phase for dreamers
- 60"___ me!"
Crossword clues, hints, and answers
Across
- 1. Look to give nothing away? — Answer: BLANKSTARE
- 11. European city on the Bay of Angels — Answer: NICE
- 15. Film subgenre exemplified by "The Thing" or "The Fly" — Answer: BODYHORROR
- 16. Like some fixations — Answer: ORAL
- 17. It gets folded and pressed — Answer: QUESADILLA
- 18. Split in two — Answer: FORK
- 19. Posts on Insta — Answer: PIX
- 20. The third primary chakra is located just above it — Answer: NAVEL
- 21. Foundations of many dad jokes — Answer: PUNS
- 22. "Right, right, right" — Answer: ISEE
- 24. Yom Kippur topic — Answer: SIN
- 25. Certain slip-on — Answer: PONCHO
- 27. Merely hinted at — Answer: TACIT
- 29. Author of "The Fisherman and His Flute" — Answer: AESOP
- 31. Clip-on mic, for short — Answer: LAV
- 32. Many great athletes play with it — Answer: GRIT
- 34. Architect's tool — Answer: TSQUARE
- 36. A cow can produce about 200 pounds of it a year — Answer: METHANE
- 39. In pieces — Answer: ASUNDER
- 40. Items of some import? — Answer: EXOTICA
- 41. Rachel ___, author of "Heated Rivalry" — Answer: REID
- 42. Savory latke topping — Answer: LOX
- 43. Sidney who directed "12 Angry Men" — Answer: LUMET
- 45. "Quiet, you!" — Answer: ZIPIT
- 49. Formula 1 star, e.g. — Answer: DRIVER
- 51. Shade similar to avocado — Answer: PEA
- 53. "Sick!" — Answer: DOPE
- 54. On a chain, say — Answer: CCED
- 55. A lot of paperwork — Answer: FORMS
- 57. The W.N.B.A.'s Mercury, on scoreboards — Answer: PHX
- 58. Steps to a lively tune — Answer: JIGS
- 59. How low can you go? — Answer: ROCKBOTTOM
- 61. "Right now!" — Answer: ASAP
- 62. What roller coasters are designed to do — Answer: EXHILARATE
- 63. Flat earth? — Answer: MESA
- 64. Item for purchase with a question mark on its side — Answer: MYSTERYBOX
Down
- 1. Smoking spot — Answer: BBQPIT
- 2. Mrs. John Quincy Adams — Answer: LOUISA
- 3. Campaign leader, informally — Answer: ADEXEC
- 4. Overseer of the Erie Canal, in brief — Answer: NYS
- 5. "Star Trek" villain played by Ricardo Montalbán — Answer: KHAN
- 6. Some diner drinks — Answer: SODAS
- 7. They might have all the answers — Answer: TRIVIATEAM
- 8. Pink-furred cat in "Garfield" — Answer: ARLENE
- 9. With 26-Down, basic instruction to a dog — Answer: ROLL
- 10. New ___ (official cap maker for M.L.B.) — Answer: ERA
- 11. Like a spoilsport — Answer: NOFUN
- 12. Totally foolproof — Answer: IRONCLAD
- 13. Many key changes take place in it — Answer: CARSHARE
- 14. Herd at Yellowstone — Answer: ELK
- 21. It's a surprise, of course! — Answer: POPQUIZ
- 23. Chinese symbol of prosperity — Answer: EIGHT
- 25. Group of companions — Answer: POSSE
- 26. See 9-Down — Answer: OVER
- 28. Followed surreptitiously — Answer: TRAILED
- 30. Beginner's set — Answer: STARTERKIT
- 33. Rack up — Answer: INCUR
- 35. Ruined — Answer: UNDID
- 36. Blend into one — Answer: MELD
- 37. Free spirits? — Answer: EXORCISE
- 38. Hydrogen sulfide, e.g. — Answer: TOXICGAS
- 44. Big times — Answer: EPOCHS
- 46. You might hear a hiss when it's pulled — Answer: POPTAB
- 47. Defunct image editor — Answer: IPHOTO
- 48. Chile con carne cuisine — Answer: TEXMEX
- 50. Hornet genus — Answer: VESPA
- 52. Take a constitutional — Answer: AMBLE
- 55. Cunning — Answer: FOXY
- 56. Go to the moon — Answer: SOAR
- 58. Play together, in a way — Answer: JAM
- 59. Phase for dreamers — Answer: REM
- 60. "___ me!" — Answer: TRY
Here are the NYT Crossword answers for Saturday, February 21, 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 21?” 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 21, 2026
The full solution for the February 21 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 Saturday, February 21.
Hints for the February 21 puzzle
Not ready for the full answer? Here are lighter, spoiler-free nudges for that day's grid, above the solutions. The February 21 puzzle fell on a Saturday, 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 Saturday 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 21, 2026?
Every answer for the Saturday, February 21, 2026 NYT Crossword is listed at the top of this page — the confirmed grid as published that day.
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