Our NYT Crossword Hints for February 23, 2026 puzzle will help you move through the grid if you’ve found yourself stuck on a clue. The NYT Crossword is a daily crossword that tests solvers’ knowledge and vocabulary. It’s one of the most popular crosswords in the world, known for its challenging clues and clever wordplay. The puzzle is published in the print edition of the paper and is also available online.
NYT Crossword Hints, February 23, 2026
You’ll find hints for all of the crossword clues for the NYT Crossword on 2/23/26. The clues are listed below, and you can click/tap on a clue to go to its page for more detail, including definitions, but if you don’t want to be immediately spoiled, you can reveal letter by letter to still offer yourself more of a challenge before revealing the full solution.
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1A. Buffoons
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6A. Paula of "American Idol"
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11A. Final use for an old T-shirt
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14A. Enraged
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15A. What "my guitar gently" does, in a classic George Harrison song
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16A. Mesozoic or Paleozoic
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17A. Home for a single guy
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19A. Animation sheet
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20A. Hole for threading a lace
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21A. __ fide (genuine)
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22A. "Please like and subscribe" and the like, on YouTube videos
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25A. Dr. Seuss book with the quote "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."
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28A. ___ Today
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29A. Kind of computer port
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31A. Like the smell of trees
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32A. Showed again
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34A. Zoom past
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37A. Psychotherapy switcheroos ... or what are hidden in 17-, 25-, 50- and 59-Across?
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41A. Text on a red, white and blue sticker
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42A. Gender-neutral possessive
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44A. Ran after
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47A. Opposite of WNW
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49A. To and ___
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50A. Time machine car in "Back to the Future"
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53A. Made a grand speech
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55A. Brother of Abel
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56A. Times between dusk and dawn
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58A. Had lunch, say
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59A. Fruit with a "bellybutton"
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64A. What planets revolve around
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65A. How often the time is 12:00 each day
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66A. Decorate
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67A. Mini-albums
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68A. ___ of Troy
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69A. Sat for a portrait
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1D. Accessory for a baby in a highchair
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2D. British singer Rita
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3D. Efron of "The Greatest Showman"
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4D. Last multiple choice option, often
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5D. Rude goodbye to an enemy
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6D. Soldier who has failed to report
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7D. Military cap
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8D. One of the three dimensions
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9D. Kick __ fuss
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10D. Counterculture drug, in brief
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11D. 4.75 seconds to assemble a Mr. Potato Head, per Guinness
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12D. Concert venues
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13D. Milky Way, e.g.
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18D. Not as much
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21D. "I crushed it!!!"
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22D. Not just my
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23D. ___-friendly
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24D. Root used in making poi
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26D. Large jug
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27D. Cage for crustaceans
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30D. American Psycho author ___ Easton Ellis
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33D. Cartoonist Bechdel
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35D. Mass ___ (Boston thoroughfare)
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36D. Give up
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38D. Was a passenger
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39D. Democrats and Socialists, with "the"
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40D. Father
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43D. Axle, e.g.
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44D. Jewel box
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45D. Start to escalate
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46D. Extraterrestrials
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48D. London theater district
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51D. Object hitting people's heads in old cartoons
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52D. Siblings daughter
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54D. South American barbecue
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57D. Valley
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59D. High degree
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60D. Response to seeing an aurora, maybe
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61D. Rejections
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62D. College sr.'s test
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63D. 63-Down, in this puzzle
We also recommend trying your hand at the NYT Mini Crossword, which is definitely easier (on all days!) as it is a 5×5, compared to the full-sized crossword (which is 15×15, and the Sunday edition is 21×21!). New crosswords are released at 10PM ET on weekdays and 6PM ET on weekends.
The New York Times crossword was first published in The New York Times in 1942 and has been a daily feature ever since. It is known for its high level of difficulty and for its clever, often playful, clues and themes. The puzzles range in size from 15x15 grids on weekdays to larger 21x21 grids on Sundays, with varying levels of difficulty.
The New York Times crossword is created by a team of skilled puzzle constructors and editors, who work to ensure that each puzzle is both entertaining and challenging for solvers. The puzzles are often themed, with clues and answers related to a particular subject or concept, and they frequently feature wordplay and puns.
Solving the New York Times crossword has become a beloved pastime for many, and there are even competitions and clubs devoted to crossword puzzle solving. The New York Times crossword is available in print in the newspaper and online, and it has a dedicated following of loyal solvers who eagerly await each day's puzzle.
If you’re still struggling to solve your NYT crosswords, consider practicing with the Eugene Sheffer and Thomas Joseph dailies first. If you’re looking for similarly challenging crosswords, we recommend the WSJ Crossword and LA Times Crossword.
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