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New York Times, Saturday, February 14, 2026

Author:
David Karp
Editor:
Will Shortz
Blog:
38-Across : Like a nepo baby's life, perhaps
TotalDebutLatest
69/30/20222/14/2026
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
2000013
ScrabDebutFlowFresh
1.652671.165%
David Karp

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 15 Words: 63, Blocks: 47 Missing: {FJQYZ} Grid has mirror symmetry. This is puzzle # 6 for Mr. Karp. Grid flow: 80.4 Saturday freshness: 27%
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© 2026, The New York Times2/14/26 ( No. 27,857 )
Across
1
It's made with two fingers : PEACESIGN
10
They're often taken in December : SANTAPHOTOS
12
Features of many romantic dramas : LOVETRIANGLES
14
"Follow me" : COME
15
Heart test, for short : ECG
16
Subject of study : AREA
18
Go heavy at the buffet, say : LOADUP
21
Kind of car on a long-distance train : DINING
23
The W.N.B.A.'s Dream, on scoreboards : ATL
24
Requirement of some dress codes : SLEEVES
28
Tree of life, in Norse mythology : ASH
29
Tire meas. : PSI
30
Intimate footage : SEXTAPE
31
Meadow : LEA
32
Arrive suddenly and from a distance, metaphorically : PARACHUTEIN
35
Big drink : SWIG
37
Unlikeable sorts : TOOLS
38
Like a nepo baby's life, perhaps : CUSH
41
Things peddled : WARES
43
B.C. winter hrs. : PST
44
Arizona State city : TEMPE
45
Where Excalibur was forged : AVALON
47
North African fortress : CASBAH
48
Access, as a profitable enterprise : GETINON
50
Potpourri bags : SACHETS
51
Ones no longer in office? : REMOTEWORKERS
53
One of the "Golden Girls" of the 2024 Summer Olympics : SIMONEBILES
54
Puts one's money on the line : TAKESABET
Down
1
Smoothed over, in a way : PAVED
2
Suffix with benz- : ENE
3
QB stat: Abbr. : ATT
4
Attention to detail : CARE
5
"Totally awesome!" : EPIC
6
Screw or nail, to a Brit : SHAG
7
It's charged : ION
8
Texter's ta-ta : GTG
9
"Oppenheimer" director : NOLAN
10
Antagonists in 2013's "Captain Phillips" : SOMALIPIRATES
11
One-of-a-kind figures : SERIALNUMBERS
12
Takes badly? : LOOTS
13
Faculty : SENSE
14
Show appreciation, in a way : CLAP
17
Honorific meaning "elder brother" : AGHA
19
Losing team in the "Miracle on Ice" : USSR
20
Fold : PLEAT
21
Govt. divisions : DEPTS
22
"That's clear now" : ISEE
25
Many a private investigator : EXCOP
26
Community spirit : ETHOS
27
Gymnastics event : VAULT
33
Minor issue? : AGELIMIT
34
Greenland expanse : ICESHEET
35
Stylish confidence : SWAG
36
Show indecision : WAVER
39
Short rows : SPATS
40
Nervous laughs : HEHS
42
County next to Napa : SONOMA
44
Take on, or take down : TACKLE
46
Violating the rules : NOTOK
47
Beer brand from Trinidad and Tobago : CARIB
49
Goose named for its call : NENE
50
Buckwheat noodle : SOBA
52
Maryland governor Moore : WES

Answer summary:
4 unique to this puzzle, 1 unique to Modern Era but used previously.

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