Many puzzle fans start their day with the New York Times word games. Whether you play Wordle, Connections, or Strands, the Mini Crossword is a favorite daily habit.
Unlike the larger NYT puzzles, the Mini is free and quick to play. It resets every night at 10 p.m. ET. If you are stuck on the Tuesday, February 17, 2026 puzzle, we have the help you need.
Below, you will find hints for every clue, followed by the full list of answers.
NYT Mini Crossword Hints: Feb 17, 2026
Across Hints
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1 Across: Prefix meaning “eight” — Hint: Starts with O.
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5 Across: A famous poem starting with “I saw the best minds…” — Hint: Ends with L.
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6 Across: One of the famous Jenner sisters — Hint: Starts with K.
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7 Across: A henchman (or two words meaning “Go ahead”) — Hint: Ends with N.
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8 Across: Prickly cases found on seeds — Hint: Starts with B.
Down Hints
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1 Down: Something said when receiving a compliment — Hint: Ends with U.
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2 Down: How difficulty is shown in the game Connections — Hint: Starts with C.
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3 Down: Two siblings who look exactly alike — Hint: Ends with S.
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4 Down: A common chant heard at soccer matches — Hint: Ends with E.
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6 Down: The former Soviet intelligence agency — Hint: Starts with K.
NYT Mini Crossword Answers: Feb 17, 2026
The solutions are listed below. Do not scroll further if you want to solve the puzzle on your own!
Across Answers
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1 Across: OCTO
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5 Across: HOWL
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6 Across: KYLIE
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7 Across: GOON
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8 Across: BURS
Down Answers
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1 Down: OHYOU
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2 Down: COLOR
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3 Down: TWINS
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4 Down: OLE
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6 Down: KGB
