NYT Mini Crossword Answers for February 21, 2026
Updated
Tap a clue to reveal its answer. By Joel Fagliano.
No spoilers until you tap Reveal.
Hint: letter count and first letter of every answer
1A M__ · 4A L____ · 6A M______ · 8A R__ · 9A M__ · 10A S______ · 12A R____ · 13A N__ · 1D M______ · 2D T__ · 3D V______ · 4D L____ · 5D S____ · 6D M__ · 7D A__ · 11D F__
Across
1A: "Jersey Shore" channel
4A: "___ Knows" (rhyming ad slogan)
LOWES · more answers for this clue
6A: Second-best-selling female musician of all time, behind Taylor Swift
MADONNA · more answers for this clue
8A: Whiskey grain
9A: Dreaded workday: Abbr.
10A: Backfiring blunder, in modern lingo
SELFOWN · more answers for this clue
12A: Lengthy sheet for a complicated board game, perhaps
RULES · more answers for this clue
13A: Subtle "Yes"
Down
1D: In which high schoolers might role-play as ambassadors
MODELUN · more answers for this clue
2D: This clue number
3D: Paid via app, perhaps
VENMOED · more answers for this clue
4D: Coat of paint
LAYER · more answers for this clue
5D: Falls in winter, say
SNOWS · more answers for this clue
6D: Married title
7D: ___ Arbor, Mich.
11D: Woman in Progressive ads
Completed grid
Show the full grid
MTV
LOWES
MADONNA
RYEMON
SELFOWN
RULES
NOD
FAQ
1-Across: "Jersey Shore" channel
MTV.
4-Across: "___ Knows" (rhyming ad slogan)
LOWES.
6-Across: Second-best-selling female musician of all time, behind Taylor Swift
MADONNA.
8-Across: Whiskey grain
RYE.
9-Across: Dreaded workday: Abbr.
MON.
10-Across: Backfiring blunder, in modern lingo
SELFOWN.
12-Across: Lengthy sheet for a complicated board game, perhaps
RULES.
13-Across: Subtle "Yes"
NOD.
1-Down: In which high schoolers might role-play as ambassadors
MODELUN.
2-Down: This clue number
TWO.
3-Down: Paid via app, perhaps
VENMOED.
4-Down: Coat of paint
LAYER.
5-Down: Falls in winter, say
SNOWS.
6-Down: Married title
MRS.
7-Down: ___ Arbor, Mich.
ANN.
11-Down: Woman in Progressive ads
FLO.