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New York Times, Saturday, February 21, 2026

Author:
Josh Knapp
Editor:
Will Shortz
Blog:
Film subgenre exemplified by "The Thing" or "The Fly"
TotalDebutLatest
252/26/20102/21/2026
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
20102911
ScrabDebutFlowFresh
1.7113639.487%
Josh Knapp

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 15 Words: 72, Blocks: 29 Missing: {W} Scrabble average: 1.96 This is puzzle # 25 for Mr. Knapp. Grid flow: 20.9 Saturday freshness: 41%
1
B
2
L
3
A
4
N
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K
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S
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T
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A
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R
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E
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N
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I
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C
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E
15
B
O
D
Y
H
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R
R
O
R
16
O
R
A
L
17
Q
U
E
S
A
D
I
L
L
A
18
F
O
R
K
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P
I
X
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N
A
V
E
L
21
P
U
N
S
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I
S
E
23
E
24
S
I
N
25
P
O
N
C
H
26
O
27
T
A
C
I
28
T
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A
E
30
S
O
P
31
L
A
V
32
G
R
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I
T
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T
S
Q
35
U
A
R
E
36
M
37
E
38
T
H
A
N
E
39
A
S
U
N
D
E
R
40
E
X
O
T
I
C
A
41
R
E
I
D
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L
O
X
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L
U
M
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E
T
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Z
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P
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I
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T
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D
R
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V
E
R
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P
E
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A
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D
O
P
E
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C
C
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D
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F
O
R
M
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S
57
P
H
X
58
J
I
G
S
59
R
O
C
K
B
O
60
T
T
O
M
61
A
S
A
P
62
E
X
H
I
L
A
R
A
T
E
63
M
E
S
A
64
M
Y
S
T
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R
Y
B
O
X
© 2026, The New York Times2/21/26 ( No. 27,864 )
Across
1
Look to give nothing away? : BLANKSTARE
11
European city on the Bay of Angels : NICE
15
Film subgenre exemplified by "The Thing" or "The Fly" : BODYHORROR
16
Like some fixations : ORAL
17
It gets folded and pressed : QUESADILLA
18
Split in two : FORK
19
Posts on Insta : PIX
20
The third primary chakra is located just above it : NAVEL
21
Foundations of many dad jokes : PUNS
22
"Right, right, right" : ISEE
24
Yom Kippur topic : SIN
25
Certain slip-on : PONCHO
27
Merely hinted at : TACIT
29
Author of "The Fisherman and His Flute" : AESOP
31
Clip-on mic, for short : LAV
32
Many great athletes play with it : GRIT
34
Architect's tool : TSQUARE
36
A cow can produce about 200 pounds of it a year : METHANE
39
In pieces : ASUNDER
40
Items of some import? : EXOTICA
41
Rachel ___, author of "Heated Rivalry" : REID
42
Savory latke topping : LOX
43
Sidney who directed "12 Angry Men" : LUMET
45
"Quiet, you!" : ZIPIT
49
Formula 1 star, e.g. : DRIVER
51
Shade similar to avocado : PEA
53
"Sick!" : DOPE
54
On a chain, say : CCED
55
A lot of paperwork : FORMS
57
The W.N.B.A.'s Mercury, on scoreboards : PHX
58
Steps to a lively tune : JIGS
59
How low can you go? : ROCKBOTTOM
61
"Right now!" : ASAP
62
What roller coasters are designed to do : EXHILARATE
63
Flat earth? : MESA
64
Item for purchase with a question mark on its side : MYSTERYBOX
Down
1
Smoking spot : BBQPIT
2
Mrs. John Quincy Adams : LOUISA
3
Campaign leader, informally : ADEXEC
4
Overseer of the Erie Canal, in brief : NYS
5
"Star Trek" villain played by Ricardo Montalbán : KHAN
6
Some diner drinks : SODAS
7
They might have all the answers : TRIVIATEAM
8
Pink-furred cat in "Garfield" : ARLENE
9
With 26-Down, basic instruction to a dog : ROLL
10
New ___ (official cap maker for M.L.B.) : ERA
11
Like a spoilsport : NOFUN
12
Totally foolproof : IRONCLAD
13
Many key changes take place in it : CARSHARE
14
Herd at Yellowstone : ELK
21
It's a surprise, of course! : POPQUIZ
23
Chinese symbol of prosperity : EIGHT
25
Group of companions : POSSE
26
See 9-Down : OVER
28
Followed surreptitiously : TRAILED
30
Beginner's set : STARTERKIT
33
Rack up : INCUR
35
Ruined : UNDID
36
Blend into one : MELD
37
Free spirits? : EXORCISE
38
Hydrogen sulfide, e.g. : TOXICGAS
44
Big times : EPOCHS
46
You might hear a hiss when it's pulled : POPTAB
47
Defunct image editor : IPHOTO
48
Chile con carne cuisine : TEXMEX
50
Hornet genus : VESPA
52
Take a constitutional : AMBLE
55
Cunning : FOXY
56
Go to the moon : SOAR
58
Play together, in a way : JAM
59
Phase for dreamers : REM
60
"___ me!" : TRY

Answer summary:
5 unique to this puzzle.

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