For many of us, the day isn’t complete without finishing the New York Times daily word games. While the full-size crossword is a classic, the NYT Mini Crossword has a massive following because it’s quick, fun, and free.
The Mini resets every night at 10 p.m. ET. If you are stuck on the Wednesday, February 18, 2026 puzzle, we have the clues and solutions you need below.
To help you avoid spoilers, we have listed the hints first, followed by the full answer key at the bottom.
NYT Mini Crossword Hints: Feb 18, 2026
Across Hints
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1 Across: ___ Glenn, Olympic figure skater who’s a three-time U.S. national champion — HINT: Starts with “A”
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6 Across: Popcorn size that might come in a bucket — HINT: Ends with “E”
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7 Across: “Lies and the Lying ___ Who Tell Them” (Al Franken book) — HINT: Starts with “L”
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8 Across: Close-up map — HINT: Ends with “T”
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9 Across: Prepares a home for a new baby — HINT: Starts with “N”
Down Hints
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1 Down: Bold poker declaration — HINT: Ends with “N”
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2 Down: Only U.S. state with a one-syllable name — HINT: Starts with “M”
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3 Down: Orchestra section with trumpets and horns — HINT: Ends with “S”
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4 Down: “Great” or “Snowy” wading bird — HINT: Ends with “T”
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5 Down: Some sheet music squiggles — HINT: Starts with “R”
NYT Mini Crossword Answers: Feb 18, 2026
Warning: Spoilers ahead! Stop scrolling here if you want to solve the puzzle on your own.
Across Answers
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1 Across: AMBER
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6 Across: LARGE
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7 Across: LIARS
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8 Across: INSET
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9 Across: NESTS
Down Answers
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1 Down: ALLIN
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2 Down: MAINE
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3 Down: BRASS
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4 Down: EGRET
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5 Down: RESTS
NYT Mini Crossword Hints and Answers: Tuesday, February 17, 2026
