Distressing encounter Crossword Clue

We have the 6-letter answer for Distressing encounter crossword clue, last seen in the NYT Crossword February 18, 2026 puzzle. Let us help you solve the crossword clue that has you stumped so you can finish the puzzle.

Distressing encounter Crossword Answer

↓41.

Find more clues, hints, and info below.

Hide

Find more clues, hints, and info below.

Helpful Hints

(noun)
1. a deep bow with the foot drawn backwards (indicating excessive humility)
2. an indication of damage
(verb)
1. scratch repeatedly
2. bend the knees and bow in a servile manner

Hint 2: Clue Definitions

DISTRESSING (adjective)
1. bad; unfortunate
2. causing distress or worry or anxiety
ENCOUNTER (verb)
1. contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle
2. come upon, as if by accident; meet with
ENCOUNTER (noun)
1. a casual meeting with a person or thing
2. a hostile disagreement face-to-face

Hint 3: Anagram

Unscramble the letters below to solve for today's answer.
CAPERS

More NYT Crossword (2/18/2026) Answers

Across

1. Genre for James Brown or Al Green, informally

6. Biblical name for Syria

10. International agreements

15. 'That's ___' (Dean Martin classic)

16. Plumb mad

17. Ancient Greek marketplace

18. Dwindled away

20. ___ Aran, heroine of Nintendo's Metroid

21. 🕘⏳⏰

23. Gullible one

24. Pepper that's two steps above poblano on the Scoville scale

25. Irritated outburst

28. Carnaval city, informally

30. Smallish batteries

31. Reservoir producer

34. Bounty

38. Favorable starting point of an auto race

39. 🤙👏👋

43. The Farm Service Agcy. is part of it

44. Some wand wielders

45. Trident-shaped letter

46. QB's call

49. Write "their" for "there," say

50. Slopping spot

51. Offensively odorous

55. Noted wildlife refuge

57. 💬🗣️🗯️

62. Cara of "Fame" fame

63. Digital capture

65. Enchantress of Greek mythology

66. Popular D.I.Y. website

67. Go after

68. Nincompoops

69. Rackets

70. Reduced to crumbs, say

All Answers

Down

1. What a fall guy has to take, with "the"

2. Home of the Big 12's Cyclones

3. Terse denial

4. Remains

5. Leader of the Sharks in "West Side Story"

6. Gucci of fashion

7. Locales for some urban gardens

8. Like the accents in "déclassé"

9. Godzilla foe

10. Elbows and bow ties

11. Once more

12. Best-selling home computers of the 1980s

13. On the money

14. Freshness?

19. Observation

22. It might be a stretch for historians

25. Fill an automobile tank … or boost the confidence of, in slang

26. Deep chasm

27. Pips

29. Demon of Japanese folklore

32. On guard

33. Like some buns and bedrooms

35. Org. for Wizards and Magic

36. Includes, in a way

37. One of the "six enemies of the mind," in Hinduism

38. Big name in water filters

40. Old-fashioned word that's a homophone of 49-Across

42. ___ Howard, Oscar-nominated actor for 2005's "Hustle & Flow"

46. New workmates

47. Manipulate

48. Cast

52. Meager measure of compassion?

53. Traditional rice cake snack on Japanese New Year

54. Actor Zac of "High School Musical"

56. Singer with the 2009 #1 hit "Tik Tok"

57. Acronym on a W-2

58. Bluish-purple bloom

59. Wraps up

60. Tête-à-tête

61. Firefighting aid

64. X

All Answers