Saturday, February 28, 2026
By Adam Levav
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NYT Crossword Clues
Across
- 1Set unambitious goals
- 7One playing beerball, perhaps
- 14Tolkien ring bearer
- 16Precious person
- 17Phrase you might say while pointing at a photograph
- 18Goes against the rule?
- 19Musical set in Alphabet City
- 20Term of endearment appropriated from 9-Down
- 22Part of a Blues Brothers outfit
- 23Animated friend of Sebastian the crab
- 25Some arm muscles, informally
- 27Cassiterite is a source of it
- 28Robert Frost's middle name
- 29___ Allen Express, Amtrak train from New York City to Burlington, Vt.
- 31Innermost moon of Neptune
- 33Pressure gauge?
- 35Past, colloquially
- 36Symbols used to group blocks of computer code
- 37Was on the sidelines
- 38Breathlessness
- 39Polynesian staple
- 42Not mainstream, as some music genres
- 43Fuss
- 44Weakens, as an overly strong character, in video game lingo
- 46Angora fabric
- 49Utmost
- 51___ Tung, star of cable TV's "The Summer I Turned Pretty"
- 52Did a bedtime task
- 54Modern banking convenience
- 56Musical sample added for excitement
- 57Animals in an early-2000s virtual fad
- 58Entered again
- 59One might play at home
Down
- 1Kind of projection
- 2Call at a roll call
- 3Big jerk
- 4Drink often sipped
- 5Rap pioneers, slangily
- 6Space to develop as a person?
- 7In brief, to whom Grover Cleveland once said "I am making a strange wish for you ... that you may never be president of the United States"
- 8School houses?
- 9Dialect that is responsible for a large majority of Gen Z slang
- 10Put one's foot down
- 11Decorative items worn at Western galas
- 12Like defendants at court
- 13Principle of improv comedy
- 15Gay nightlife spot with a dress requirement
- 21Error correction tool
- 24Uncork, so to speak
- 26Body bronzer
- 30___ Story (punny nickname for the "Iliad")
- 31Like the lion killed by Hercules
- 32Scientific classification for birds
- 33Tesla, for one
- 34Affliction treated with a nit comb
- 35Acting like a sore loser, informally
- 36___ counter
- 37South Indian lentil stew
- 39Following etiquette
- 40Recently
- 41Declaration after "because"
- 43French relative
- 45Skip the ceremony, say
- 47Like some unmoisturized skin
- 48Blue-roofed restaurant
- 50Coral and sand, for two
- 53Popular role-playing game since 1974, informally
- 55One whose eyes are "all aglow" in "The Christmas Song"
Crossword clues, hints, and answers
Across
- 1. Set unambitious goals — Answer: AIMLOW
- 7. One playing beerball, perhaps — Answer: FRATBOY
- 14. Tolkien ring bearer — Answer: SMEAGOL
- 16. Precious person — Answer: DEARONE
- 17. Phrase you might say while pointing at a photograph — Answer: THATSME
- 18. Goes against the rule? — Answer: REVOLTS
- 19. Musical set in Alphabet City — Answer: RENT
- 20. Term of endearment appropriated from 9-Down — Answer: BAE
- 22. Part of a Blues Brothers outfit — Answer: FEDORA
- 23. Animated friend of Sebastian the crab — Answer: ARIEL
- 25. Some arm muscles, informally — Answer: TRIS
- 27. Cassiterite is a source of it — Answer: TIN
- 28. Robert Frost's middle name — Answer: LEE
- 29. ___ Allen Express, Amtrak train from New York City to Burlington, Vt. — Answer: ETHAN
- 31. Innermost moon of Neptune — Answer: NAIAD
- 33. Pressure gauge? — Answer: STRESSLEVEL
- 35. Past, colloquially — Answer: BEFORETIMES
- 36. Symbols used to group blocks of computer code — Answer: CURLYBRACES
- 37. Was on the sidelines — Answer: SATBY
- 38. Breathlessness — Answer: APNEA
- 39. Polynesian staple — Answer: POI
- 42. Not mainstream, as some music genres — Answer: ALT
- 43. Fuss — Answer: FRET
- 44. Weakens, as an overly strong character, in video game lingo — Answer: NERFS
- 46. Angora fabric — Answer: MOHAIR
- 49. Utmost — Answer: NTH
- 51. ___ Tung, star of cable TV's "The Summer I Turned Pretty" — Answer: LOLA
- 52. Did a bedtime task — Answer: BRUSHED
- 54. Modern banking convenience — Answer: AUTOPAY
- 56. Musical sample added for excitement — Answer: AIRHORN
- 57. Animals in an early-2000s virtual fad — Answer: NEOPETS
- 58. Entered again — Answer: RETYPED
- 59. One might play at home — Answer: STEREO
Down
- 1. Kind of projection — Answer: ASTRAL
- 2. Call at a roll call — Answer: IMHERE
- 3. Big jerk — Answer: MEANIE
- 4. Drink often sipped — Answer: LATTE
- 5. Rap pioneers, slangily — Answer: OGS
- 6. Space to develop as a person? — Answer: WOMB
- 7. In brief, to whom Grover Cleveland once said "I am making a strange wish for you ... that you may never be president of the United States" — Answer: FDR
- 8. School houses? — Answer: REEFS
- 9. Dialect that is responsible for a large majority of Gen Z slang — Answer: AAVE
- 10. Put one's foot down — Answer: TROD
- 11. Decorative items worn at Western galas — Answer: BOLOTIES
- 12. Like defendants at court — Answer: ONTRIAL
- 13. Principle of improv comedy — Answer: YESAND
- 15. Gay nightlife spot with a dress requirement — Answer: LEATHERBAR
- 21. Error correction tool — Answer: ERASERPEN
- 24. Uncork, so to speak — Answer: LETFLY
- 26. Body bronzer — Answer: INSTANTTAN
- 30. ___ Story (punny nickname for the "Iliad") — Answer: TROY
- 31. Like the lion killed by Hercules — Answer: NEMEAN
- 32. Scientific classification for birds — Answer: AVES
- 33. Tesla, for one — Answer: SERB
- 34. Affliction treated with a nit comb — Answer: LICE
- 35. Acting like a sore loser, informally — Answer: BUTTHURT
- 36. ___ counter — Answer: CALORIE
- 37. South Indian lentil stew — Answer: SAMBAR
- 39. Following etiquette — Answer: PROPER
- 40. Recently — Answer: OFLATE
- 41. Declaration after "because" — Answer: ISAYSO
- 43. French relative — Answer: FRERE
- 45. Skip the ceremony, say — Answer: ELOPE
- 47. Like some unmoisturized skin — Answer: ASHY
- 48. Blue-roofed restaurant — Answer: IHOP
- 50. Coral and sand, for two — Answer: HUES
- 53. Popular role-playing game since 1974, informally — Answer: DND
- 55. One whose eyes are "all aglow" in "The Christmas Song" — Answer: TOT
Here are the NYT Crossword answers for Saturday, February 28, 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 28?” 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 28, 2026
The full solution for the February 28 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 28.
Hints for the February 28 puzzle
Not ready for the full answer? Here are lighter, spoiler-free nudges for that day's grid, above the solutions. The February 28 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 28, 2026?
Every answer for the Saturday, February 28, 2026 NYT Crossword is listed at the top of this page — the confirmed grid as published that day.
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