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Every day, the USA Today Crossword challenges players with a mix of easy and tricky clues to test vocabulary and knowledge. If you’re stuck on today’s puzzle, don’t worry! Below, you’ll find helpful hints and answers to the February 16, 2026 edition, making it easier to fill in those tricky spots. Whether you need just one clue or several, our guide is designed to assist without spoiling your entire solving experience.

Check back daily for fresh hints and answers to keep your crossword game strong and fun!

Across

• 1A In the thick of: AMID
• 5A Box office failure: FLOP
• 9A Ladies: DAMES
• 13A Like takeout orders: TO GO
• 14A Polynesian Disney heroine: MOANA
• 15A Soothing lotion additive: ALOE
• 16A Italy’s shape: BOOT
• 17A Bandmate of Simon and Theodore: ALVIN
• 18A “Royal” nuisance: PAIN
• 19A Perform like Yasmin Finney: ACT
• 20A NBC sketch show since 1975: SNL
• 21A “I’m supposed to care because . . .?”: AND SO
• 23A Written gratitude from a gift recipient: THANK YOU NOTE
• 26A Elf’s creation: TOY
• 27A Humorously ironic: WRY
• 28A Colorful, long-tailed parrot: MACAW
• 32A “That was a close one!”: PHEW
• 34A Friendly squeeze: HUG
• 35A Seldom seen: RARE
• 36A Reason for some R ratings: NUDITY
• 37A Flexible ruler that can retract: TAPE MEASURE
• 41A Shrinking superhero: ANTMAN
• 43A ___-care day: SELF
• 44A Turf: SOD
• 45A Sacred bird: IBIS
• 47A Deliberately avoids: SHUNS
• 49A Specific way to express oneself: PARLANCE
• 53A South American barbecue: ASADO
• 54A Perfectly fine: OKAY
• 55A Speak formally: ORATE
• 59A NBA star Westbrook, for short: RUSS
• 60A Opera star’s solo: ARIA
• 61A Cow’s milk source: UDDER
• 62A Meaty spread: PATE
• 63A “Hey, you! Yes, you!”: PSST
• 64A Signs of joy at medal ceremonies: TEARS
• 65A Shutter strip: SLAT
• 66A Tarantulas or rats, maybe: PETS
• 67A PS5-TV connection cable: HDMI

Down

• 1D Opportunity for Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: AT BAT
• 2D Human sponge: MOOCH
• 3D Suspenseful “Love Island” exclamation: I GOT A TEXT
• 4D 50% of an umlaut: DOT
• 5D Post-op appointment: FOLLOW UP
• 6D Loo: LAV
• 7D Like dopiaza and musakhan: ONIONY
• 8D Japanese breadcrumbs: PANKO
• 9D Academic hiatuses: DAYS OFF
• 10D Egyptian novelist ___ Al Aswany: ALAA
• 11D “Tender” cut of beef: LOIN
• 12D Drop in the mail: SEND
• 14D Lots of: MANY
• 20D Chicago WNBA team: SKY
• 22D Convenience at a cash bar: ATM
• 24D “ASAP!”: NOW
• 25D Strong desires: URGES
• 29D Protester’s passion: CAUSE
• 30D Projectile that’s nocked: ARROW
• 31D Undesirable weeds: WEEDS
• 32D “The More You Know” installment: PSA
• 33D Female lobster or chicken: HEN
• 34D Poet Abdurraqib: HANIF
• 37D Social no-no: TABOO
• 38D Small mongooses: MEERKATS
• 39D “Frozen” princess: ANNA
• 40D Only NFL division with multiple teams that have never been to the Super Bowl: NFC NORTH
• 42D Way of thinking: MINDSET
• 46D Thinly distributed: SPARSE
• 48D Brought together, like livestock: HERDED
• 49D Baseball diamond coverings: TARPS
• 50D Regular: USUAL
• 51D Follower of Jah: RASTA
• 52D Raise: ERECT
• 56D Bobsledder Ammour: ADAM
• 57D “Spy Kids” actress Hatcher: TERI
• 58D Surgical sites, for short: ORS
• 60D Shazam or 5 Calls, e.g.: APP