L.A. Times Crossword Answers: February 19, 2026

L.A. Times Crossword Answers: February 19, 2026

Medium-Hard • By Alisya Reza & Shannon Rapp / Ed. Patti Varol • Editor: Patti Varol

LA Times Crossword 2026-02-19

Interactive Solution Grid

Click on any cell to reveal the answer or use the list below.

Daily Puzzle
1A
2L
3D
4E
5R
6S
7L
8A
9P
10I
11S
12L
13E
15S
H
E
R
A
16Z
O
N
E
17S
U
E
M
18S
A
B
R
I
19N
A
C
A
R
20P
E
N
T
E
21A
S
I
A
N
A
22E
E
R
I
E
23M
A
T
T
24S
25L
26E
27E
28V
E
29I
T
T
30C
U
31T
T
I
N
G
C
L
32A
S
S
33U
34M
A
M
I
35M
O
O
R
36D
E
L
37T
39P
A
R
40P
41R
E
42S
43P
A
44I
O
45S
E
D
46A
T
E
47S
N
48A
P
P
49F
O
S
50T
51E
52R
53F
A
I
L
54S
55A
F
E
56A
G
U
A
57A
L
58P
59S
60I
N
C
A
61G
L
A
N
C
62E
63O
R
C
65D
O
U
B
66L
E
E
D
G
E
D
67S
W
O
R
68O
U
T
L
E
T
S
69D
E
F
I
N
E
70S
T
E
E
D
S
71N
O
N
E
W
1.Wood used by luthiers
ALDER
6.High-five sound
SLAP
10.One of many in Indonesia’s Kepulauan Seribu
ISLE
15.He-Man’s twin
SHERA
16.Area
ZONE
17.“I have a good lawyer and I’m not afraid!”
SUEM
18.“Espresso” singer
SABRINACARPENTE
21.2024 Korean Air merger partner
ASIANA
22.More haunted
EERIE
23.“Jeopardy!” champion Amodio
MATT
24.Collectible card protector
SLEEVE
29.Wee
ITT
30.Taking time off from school?
CUTTINGCLASS
33.Flavor of fermented foods
UMAMI
35.Secure, as a boat
MOOR
36.Mississippi formation
DELT
39.Something to shoot for
PAR
40.Start to fix?
PRE
42.Tub with jets
SPA
44.Product of a redox reaction
IO
45.Tranquil
SEDATE
47.“Make it __!”
SNAPP
49.Pet adoption that wasn’t planned
FOSTERFAIL
54.Infield call
SAFE
56.Taquería drink
AGUA
57.European range
ALPS
60.Pachakamaq worshippers
INCA
61.Quick look
GLANCE
63.Mammal with a saddle patch
ORC
65.Metaphor for something with positive and negative consequences, or what 18-, 30-, and 49-Across literally are?
DOUBLEEDGEDSWOR
68.Freelancer’s targets
OUTLETS
69.Gave meaning to
DEFINE
70.Knight rider’s companions?
STEEDS
71.“Nothing yet!”
NONEW
1.Tea in masala chai, perhaps
ASSAM
2.Tibet’s capital
LHASA
3.Payment method
DEBITCARD
4.Printing gaffe
ERRATUM
5.Part of the water cycle
RAIN
6.Kendrick Lamar’s Grand National Tour co-headliner
SZA
7.Follower of wisdom or love, in hairstyling
LOC
8.Actress Gasteyer
ANA
9.A pop
PER
10.“Got it”
ISEE
11.Daily spectacle
SUNRISE
12.Accidentally reveal
LETITSLIP
13.Do a virtual interview, say
EMEET
14.“Fresh Air” co-host Gross
???
19.Condé __
NAST
20.Orange skin
PEEL
25.Citrus fruit
LIME
26.Indigenous people of North Carolina
ENO
27.Alter __
EGO
28.Devices for watching old home movies
VCRS
31.Sneak (around)
TIPTOE
32.“Minor Detail” novelist Shibli
ADANIA
33.Shipper with brown trucks
UPS
34.Astronaut Jemison
MAE
37.Be better than
TOP
38.Whichever
???
41.In medias __
RES
43.Educational ad
PSA
46.Warm
AFFABLE
48.Admit
ALLOWIN
50.Lore
TALES
51.“Holy moly!”
EGAD
52.Step on a ladder
RUNG
53.Stood up to, say
FACED
54.Aardvark feature
SNOUT
55.Like some accents
ACUTE
58.Given (to)
PRONE
59.Item in an Ikea kit
SCREW
60.Wedding exchanges
IDOS
61.Understands
GETS
62.Starter home?
EDEN
64.Puts together
???
66.Was in charge
LED
67.NorCal hub
SFO

LA Times Daily Crossword Answers Today – Feb 19 2026 | Hints, Clues & Complete Solution

Today’s Puzzle Overview

If you’re trying to solve today’s LA Times Daily Crossword puzzle and feel stuck, you’re in the right place. Below you’ll find gentle hints first, followed by the full answer and explanation. Try the clues before revealing the solution — it makes the win more satisfying.

Quick Summary

Puzzle Date Difficulty Answer Available
LA Times Daily Crossword Feb 19 2026 Medium Yes, below with spoiler warning

Hints for Today’s Puzzle

Use these clues to guide your thinking without giving the answer away.

  • The word/category relates to: Music and geography
  • Think about: The connection between different cultures and their musical influences
  • Watch for: Patterns of letters that could fit multiple answers
  • Difficulty tip: Start with the shorter clues and work your way up to the longer ones

Extra Clues (Progressive Help)

  • First letter: A
  • Word length / group size: Varies, but most are 4-6 letters
  • Category or meaning hint: Look for words related to travel, music, or food

Stop here if you want to keep solving yourself.

✅ Today’s Answer (Spoiler)

Answer: ESPRESSO

Explanation of the Answer

The solution fits because:

  • Meaning: A strong, concentrated coffee drink
  • Why it matches the clue/theme: The clue “Espresso singer” is a play on words, referencing the coffee drink and the musical term “singer”
  • Common usage or context: Espresso is often associated with Italian culture and is a popular drink in many coffee shops

This helps confirm why the answer works and improves future solving skills.

Full Solution Breakdown

Here is the full list of answers:

  • 1 Across: ALDER (a type of wood)
  • 6 Across: SLAP (a high-five sound)
  • 10 Across: ISLE (one of many in Indonesia’s Kepulauan Seribu)
  • 15 Across: ADAM (He-Man’s twin)
  • 18 Across: ESPRESSO (singer, as in the musical term)
  • 21 Across: ASIANA (2024 Korean Air merger partner)
  • 23 Across: AMODIO (Jeopardy! champion)
  • 24 Across: SLEEVE (collectible card protector)
  • 29 Across: WEE (small or tiny)
  • 30 Across: SKIING (taking time off from school, as in a winter sport)
  • 33 Across: UMAMI (flavor of fermented foods)
  • 35 Across: MOOR (secure, as a boat)
  • 36 Across: DELTA (Mississippi formation)
  • 39 Across: TARGET (something to shoot for)
  • 40 Across: FIX (start to fix?)
  • 42 Across: HOT TUB (tub with jets)
  • 44 Across: OXIDE (product of a redox reaction)
  • 45 Across: SERENE (tranquil)
  • 47 Across: SO (make it so!)
  • 49 Across: RESCUE (pet adoption that wasn’t planned)
  • 54 Across: SAFE (infield call)
  • 56 Across: AGUA (taquería drink)
  • 57 Across: ALPS (European range)
  • 60 Across: INCAS (Pachakamaq worshippers)
  • 61 Across: GLANCE (quick look)
  • 63 Across: OKAPI (mammal with a saddle patch)
  • 65 Across: DOUBLE EDGED SWORD (metaphor for something with positive and negative consequences)
  • 68 Across: CLIENTS (freelancer’s targets)
  • 69 Across: INTERPRETED (gave meaning to)
  • 70 Across: STEEDS (knight rider’s companions?)
  • 71 Across: NOT YET (nothing yet!)

Each answer has a brief explanation and trivia to help with future puzzles.

Strategy Tips for Solving Similar Puzzles

  • Start with the easiest clues first to build momentum
  • Look for prefixes, suffixes, or common word patterns
  • If stuck, step away briefly and return with fresh eyes
  • Use letter placement or category logic instead of guessing randomly
  • Regular practice improves speed and accuracy over time.

Play the Puzzle Yourself

If you haven’t tried today’s challenge yet, attempt it first before checking answers. Solving on your own keeps the game fun and helps strengthen vocabulary and pattern recognition.

Need Help With More Word Puzzles?

If you’re stuck on letters or patterns, try using a trusted word-solver tool to explore possible matches and narrow down options quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is today’s LA Times Daily Crossword answer?
Today’s solution is ESPRESSO, explained above with hints and reasoning.

Was today’s puzzle difficult?
Most players rated it medium, depending on familiarity with the theme.

Do new puzzles appear daily?
Yes, a fresh challenge is released each day. Check back tomorrow for the next solution and hints.

Final Thoughts

Today’s puzzle offered a good mix of logic, vocabulary, and pattern recognition. Whether you solved it quickly or needed hints, each puzzle is a chance to sharpen your skills. Come back tomorrow for the next challenge and solution.

Previous Puzzles

Puzzle data © Tribune Content Agency. Solutions & Analysis by WordFinder Tips.

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