This web browser is not supported. Use Chrome, Edge, Safari, or Firefox for best results.

New York Times, Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Author:
Stephan Prock and Jeff Chen
Editor:
Will Shortz
Blog:
Tough-but-loving fathers, informally
TotalDebutLatestCollabs
212/4/20252/17/20262
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
0010100
CircleScrabDebutFlowFresh
11.53824.720%
Stephan Prock
TotalDebutLatestCollabs
1667/5/20102/17/2026118
SunMonTueWedThuFriSatAcr
441218303811121
RebusCircleScrabDebutFlowFresh
11451.6296332.753%
Jeff Chen

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 15 Words: 78, Blocks: 36 Missing: {JV} This is puzzle # 2 for Mr. Prock. This is puzzle # 165 for Mr. Chen. Grid flow: 26.7 Tuesday freshness: 29%
1
S
2
K
3
A
4
S
5
I
6
N
7
C
8
E
9
A
10
B
11
A
12
S
13
H
14
P
A
L
15
O
P
E
R
A
16
D
A
R
L
A
17
A
L
B
18
I
N
O
R
A
T
19
O
R
I
O
N
20
N
E
A
T
O
21
F
I
S
22
T
23
I
A
M
S
24
S
N
A
F
25
U
26
G
U
E
27
S
S
S
O
28
N
A
I
L
A
R
29
T
30
P
E
A
T
31
O
L
A
Y
32
S
A
33
G
34
T
A
35
P
36
A
37
S
38
P
A
N
39
B
A
R
O
40
Q
41
U
E
42
A
C
H
43
E
D
S
44
E
L
45
D
E
N
46
U
P
T
O
47
A
T
48
M
49
S
50
D
I
51
S
B
A
N
D
52
P
53
E
R
S
O
N
54
A
55
T
A
E
B
O
56
S
A
R
A
57
P
O
P
58
S
59
F
R
E
R
60
E
61
L
U
R
C
62
H
63
O
R
A
64
L
E
X
A
M
S
65
A
L
O
H
A
66
Z
O
N
E
S
67
R
A
P
68
W
I
R
E
D
69
E
N
D
I
T
70
S
L
Y
© 2026, The New York Times2/17/26 ( No. 27,860 )
Across
1
Forerunner of reggae : SKA
4
Because : SINCE
9
Fluster with embarrassment : ABASH
14
Buddy : PAL
15
"L'Orfeo" or "Idomeneo" : OPERA
16
Spoiled girl in "Finding Nemo" : DARLA
17
White rodent often used in lab research : ALBINORAT
19
Hunter in the night sky : ORION
20
"Cool!" : NEATO
21
Hit maker? : FIST
23
Big name in pet food : IAMS
24
Complete fiasco : SNAFU
26
"I suppose that's right" : GUESSSO
28
Some fancy finger painting : NAILART
30
Flavoring in an earthy whiskey : PEAT
31
Classic skin-care brand : OLAY
32
Film performers' union, for short : SAG
34
Spanish appetizers : TAPAS
38
Prospector's receptacle : PAN
39
Music genre for the words hidden in this puzzle's circled letters ... or a punny description for them? : BAROQUE
42
German cry of dismay : ACH
43
Old Ford Motor offering : EDSEL
45
Site for hibernation ... or a Super Bowl party : DEN
46
No more than : UPTO
47
Sources of quick $$$ : ATMS
50
Break up, as a group : DISBAND
52
Someone's public identity : PERSONA
55
Workout inspired by martial arts : TAEBO
56
"Nobody doesn't like ___ Lee" (classic food slogan) : SARA
57
Daddy-o : POPS
59
"___ Jacques" (children's song) : FRERE
61
"The Addams Family" butler : LURCH
63
Spoken evaluations : ORALEXAMS
65
Island greeting : ALOHA
66
Starts daydreaming, with "out" : ZONES
67
Sound heard at the door : RAP
68
Amped up : WIRED
69
Call off the relationship : ENDIT
70
Furtive : SLY
Down
1
Distance from end to end : SPAN
2
Leafy side dish rich in vitamin K : KALESALAD
3
Residents of Tirana : ALBANIANS
4
"Oh, that stupid little punk ..." : SONOFA
5
Wall Street debut, for short : IPO
6
Toy brand with foam ammo : NERF
7
Daniel of the "Knives Out" movies : CRAIG
8
Devours : EATSUP
9
Fuss and flurry : ADO
10
Many a Starbucks employee : BARISTA
11
Highlights of a 15-Across : ARIAS
12
Smartphone video effect : SLOMO
13
Film composer Zimmer : HANS
18
Boot out of Europe? : ITALY
22
Item stored in a small hole in a golf cart : TEE
25
___ Major : URSA
27
Fill fully : SATE
28
"Uh-uh" : NOPE
29
Material for a roof repair : TAR
33
Mars, but not Earth : GOD
35
Tough-but-loving fathers, informally : PAPABEARS
36
"Don't be so weird!" : ACTNORMAL
37
Equipped with footwear : SHOD
39
Sandwiches often on toasted bread : BLTS
40
Proof-ending inits. : QED
41
Troop group : UNIT
44
Aural ailment : EARACHE
46
Standard option on a rideshare app : UBERX
48
Shaggy head of hair : MOP
49
Get some Z's : SNOOZE
51
Least risky : SAFEST
52
Physicist Wolfgang who proposed the "exclusion principle" : PAULI
53
Blunder : ERROR
54
Front part of a stage : APRON
56
Barbecue side dish : SLAW
58
Material in a classical timepiece : SAND
60
Sneak a peek at : ESPY
62
Suckered : HAD
64
Ring of flowers : LEI

Answer summary:
1 unique to this puzzle, 2 unique to Modern Era but used previously.

Found bugs or have suggestions? Please let us know.

Like this puzzle? Please share this page on social media to help spread the word about XWord Info. Thanks!

XWord Info Home
XWord Info © 2007-2026, Jim Horne
69 ms