LA Times Crossword Puzzle Answers 02/14/26
Looking for help with today's LA Times Crossword puzzle? Here are some hints and answers for today's LA Times Crossword Puzzle.
LA Times Crossword Answers February 14 2026 (02/14/26)
We have all the answers to the LA Times Crossword puzzle for February 14 2026, it will help you to finish today's puzzle.
LA Times Crossword Answers - Saturday, February 14, 2026
Grazing spots? LA Times Crossword Clue
Answer: TAPAS (5 Letters)
Answer Explanation: A clever play on words where "grazing" refers to eating small portions, and tapas are Spanish small plates perfect for grazing through multiple dishes.
Letter Pattern: T-A-P-A-S
Difficulty Level: Medium
Classic Milwaukee brewer Crossword Clue
Answer: PABST (5 Letters)
Letter Pattern: P-A-B-S-T
Answer Explanation: Pabst Brewing Company, famous for Pabst Blue Ribbon beer, is a historic Milwaukee brewery founded in 1844.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Holding back tears, perhaps LA Times Crossword Clue
Answer: EMOTIONAL (9 Letters)
Answer Explanation: When someone is holding back tears, they're in an emotional state, trying to suppress their feelings.
Letter Pattern: E-M-O-T-I-O-N-A-L
Difficulty Level: Easy
Corn cake Crossword Clue
Answer: AREPA (5 Letters)
Letter Pattern: A-R-E-P-A
Answer Explanation: An arepa is a traditional corn cake popular in Venezuelan and Colombian cuisine, made from ground maize dough.
Difficulty Level: Medium
Final act for a big star LA Times Crossword Clue
Answer: SUPERNOVA (9 Letters)
Answer Explanation: A supernova is the explosive death of a massive star, literally the final act in the life cycle of a big star.
Letter Pattern: S-U-P-E-R-N-O-V-A
Difficulty Level: Easy
Tiptoe Crossword Clue
Answer: CREEP (5 Letters)
Letter Pattern: C-R-E-E-P
Answer Explanation: To creep means to move slowly and quietly, similar to tiptoeing, trying not to make noise.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Phillies All-Star shortstop Turner LA Times Crossword Clue
Answer: TREA (4 Letters)
Answer Explanation: Trea Turner is a professional baseball player who signed with the Philadelphia Phillies and has been selected as an All-Star.
Letter Pattern: T-R-E-A
Difficulty Level: Medium
Salon sounds Crossword Clue
Answer: SNIPS (5 Letters)
Letter Pattern: S-N-I-P-S
Answer Explanation: The snipping sound of scissors is commonly heard in hair salons during haircuts.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Squeaks (by) LA Times Crossword Clue
Answer: EKES (4 Letters)
Answer Explanation: To "eke by" means to barely manage or squeak by with minimal resources or margin.
Letter Pattern: E-K-E-S
Difficulty Level: Easy
Hermana de la madre Crossword Clue
Answer: TIA (3 Letters)
Letter Pattern: T-I-A
Answer Explanation: Spanish for "sister of the mother," which translates to "aunt" (tía in Spanish).
Difficulty Level: Easy
Scoped out LA Times Crossword Clue
Answer: CASED (5 Letters)
Answer Explanation: To "case" a place means to survey or scope it out, often used in the context of planning a robbery.
Letter Pattern: C-A-S-E-D
Difficulty Level: Easy
Resource that may be recognized with alone time Crossword Clue
Answer: SOCIALBATTERY (13 Letters)
Letter Pattern: S-O-C-I-A-L-B-A-T-T-E-R-Y
Answer Explanation: A person's "social battery" is their capacity for social interaction, which needs recharging through alone time.
Difficulty Level: Hard
Alan Ladd Western LA Times Crossword Clue
Answer: SHANE (5 Letters)
Answer Explanation: "Shane" (1953) is a classic Western film starring Alan Ladd as the mysterious gunfighter Shane.
Letter Pattern: S-H-A-N-E
Difficulty Level: Medium
Sphere Crossword Clue
Answer: REALM (5 Letters)
Letter Pattern: R-E-A-L-M
Answer Explanation: A sphere can refer to an area of activity, interest, or knowledge—a realm of influence or expertise.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Greek shade LA Times Crossword Clue
Answer: PEA (3 Letters)
Answer Explanation: "Pea" refers to pea green, a shade of green color, with "Greek" possibly hinting at the letter "P" (pea).
Letter Pattern: P-E-A
Difficulty Level: Medium
1990s fad item Crossword Clue
Answer: POG (3 Letters)
Letter Pattern: P-O-G
Answer Explanation: POGs were collectible cardboard discs that were a huge fad among children in the 1990s.
Difficulty Level: Medium
State gemstone of Minnesota LA Times Crossword Clue
Answer: AGATE (5 Letters)
Answer Explanation: Lake Superior agate is the official state gemstone of Minnesota, found along the shores of Lake Superior.
Letter Pattern: A-G-A-T-E
Difficulty Level: Hard
[Raises hand] Crossword Clue
Answer: IAM (3 Letters)
Letter Pattern: I-A-M
Answer Explanation: When someone raises their hand in class or a meeting, they typically say "I am" (I am here, I am volunteering, etc.).
Difficulty Level: Easy
Ferment, perhaps LA Times Crossword Clue
Answer: AGE (3 Letters)
Answer Explanation: To age something, like wine or cheese, often involves fermentation as part of the maturation process.
Letter Pattern: A-G-E
Difficulty Level: Medium
Cut back Crossword Clue
Answer: PRUNE (5 Letters)
Letter Pattern: P-R-U-N-E
Answer Explanation: To prune means to cut back or trim, especially plants or unnecessary expenses.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Alabama and Kansas LA Times Crossword Clue
Answer: BANDS (5 Letters)
Answer Explanation: Alabama and Kansas are both names of famous rock bands from the 1970s and 1980s.
Letter Pattern: B-A-N-D-S
Difficulty Level: Medium
Unapologetic self-promotion Crossword Clue
Answer: SHAMELESSPLUG (13 Letters)
Letter Pattern: S-H-A-M-E-L-E-S-S-P-L-U-G
Answer Explanation: A "shameless plug" is when someone openly promotes themselves or their work without embarrassment.
Difficulty Level: Medium
Infer LA Times Crossword Clue
Answer: EDUCE (5 Letters)
Answer Explanation: To educe means to draw out or infer something, especially through reasoning or evidence.
Letter Pattern: E-D-U-C-E
Difficulty Level: Hard
"__-complicated" Crossword Clue
Answer: ITS (3 Letters)
Letter Pattern: I-T-S
Answer Explanation: "It's complicated" is a common phrase used to describe complex situations, especially relationships.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Big D cagers LA Times Crossword Clue
Answer: MAVS (4 Letters)
Answer Explanation: The Dallas Mavericks (Mavs) are the NBA team from Dallas, nicknamed "Big D."
Letter Pattern: M-A-V-S
Difficulty Level: Easy
David Oyelowo film set in Alabama Crossword Clue
Answer: SELMA (5 Letters)
Letter Pattern: S-E-L-M-A
Answer Explanation: "Selma" (2014) is a historical drama about the 1965 voting rights marches, starring David Oyelowo as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Difficulty Level: Medium
French head LA Times Crossword Clue
Answer: TETE (4 Letters)
Answer Explanation: "Tête" is French for "head," commonly seen in phrases like "tête-à-tête" (face-to-face conversation).
Letter Pattern: T-E-T-E
Difficulty Level: Easy
Covered in vines Crossword Clue
Answer: IVIED (5 Letters)
Letter Pattern: I-V-I-E-D
Answer Explanation: "Ivied" describes something covered with ivy vines, like an old building with ivy-covered walls.
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reason to cover a lot of ground quickly? LA Times Crossword Clue
Answer: RAINDELAY (9 Letters)
Answer Explanation: A rain delay in sports requires groundskeepers to quickly cover the field with tarps to protect it.
Letter Pattern: R-A-I-N-D-E-L-A-Y
Difficulty Level: Hard
Come and go Crossword Clue
Answer: RECUR (5 Letters)
Letter Pattern: R-E-C-U-R
Answer Explanation: To recur means to happen repeatedly, to come and go at intervals.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Nonbinding work? LA Times Crossword Clue
Answer: MINORROLEINFILM (15 Letters)
Answer Explanation: A play on words where "non-binding" refers to a minor role that isn't a binding commitment or central to the plot.
Letter Pattern: M-I-N-O-R-R-O-L-E-I-N-F-I-L-M
Difficulty Level: Hard
Goomba, to Mario Crossword Clue
Answer: ENEMY (5 Letters)
Letter Pattern: E-N-E-M-Y
Answer Explanation: In the Super Mario video game series, Goombas are one of the most common enemies Mario encounters.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Local cultural ecosystems LA Times Crossword Clue
Answer: ARTSCENES (9 Letters)
Answer Explanation: Art scenes are local cultural ecosystems where artists, galleries, and audiences create a vibrant community.
Letter Pattern: A-R-T-S-C-E-N-E-S
Difficulty Level: Medium
Exam Crossword Clue
Answer: TEST (4 Letters)
Letter Pattern: T-E-S-T
Answer Explanation: A test is another word for an exam, an assessment of knowledge or skills.
Difficulty Level: Easy
River between Russia and China LA Times Crossword Clue
Answer: AMUR (4 Letters)
Answer Explanation: The Amur River forms part of the border between Russia and China in the Far East.
Letter Pattern: A-M-U-R
Difficulty Level: Medium
Vatican City resident Crossword Clue
Answer: POPE (4 Letters)
Letter Pattern: P-O-P-E
Answer Explanation: The Pope is the most famous resident of Vatican City, serving as the head of the Catholic Church.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Carbo-loaded, say LA Times Crossword Clue
Answer: ATE (3 Letters)
Answer Explanation: To carbo-load means to eat large amounts of carbohydrates, so "ate" is the simple past tense verb.
Letter Pattern: A-T-E
Difficulty Level: Easy
Military address Crossword Clue
Answer: SIR (3 Letters)
Letter Pattern: S-I-R
Answer Explanation: "Sir" is the formal way to address a superior officer in the military.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Art with a moyogi style LA Times Crossword Clue
Answer: BONSAI (6 Letters)
Answer Explanation: Bonsai is the Japanese art of growing miniature trees, and moyogi is an informal upright style in bonsai.
Letter Pattern: B-O-N-S-A-I
Difficulty Level: Hard
Rando on a message board Crossword Clue
Answer: ANON (4 Letters)
Letter Pattern: A-N-O-N
Answer Explanation: "Anon" is short for anonymous, referring to a random anonymous user on an online message board.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Sitarist Shankar LA Times Crossword Clue
Answer: RAVI (4 Letters)
Answer Explanation: Ravi Shankar was a legendary Indian musician and composer who popularized the sitar in Western music.
Letter Pattern: R-A-V-I
Difficulty Level: Easy
Give a hand? Crossword Clue
Answer: DEAL (4 Letters)
Letter Pattern: D-E-A-L
Answer Explanation: In card games, to "give a hand" means to deal cards to players.
Difficulty Level: Medium
Campaign gp. LA Times Crossword Clue
Answer: PAC (3 Letters)
Answer Explanation: PAC stands for Political Action Committee, a group that raises money for political campaigns.
Letter Pattern: P-A-C
Difficulty Level: Easy
Mesmerize Crossword Clue
Answer: ENTRANCE (8 Letters)
Letter Pattern: E-N-T-R-A-N-C-E
Answer Explanation: To entrance someone means to fill them with wonder or delight, to mesmerize or captivate them completely.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Sting operation? LA Times Crossword Clue
Answer: BEEKEEPING (10 Letters)
Answer Explanation: A clever pun where "sting operation" refers to beekeeping, since bees sting and beekeepers operate (manage) them.
Letter Pattern: B-E-E-K-E-E-P-I-N-G
Difficulty Level: Hard
Cram for book club Crossword Clue
Answer: SPEEDREAD (9 Letters)
Letter Pattern: S-P-E-E-D-R-E-A-D
Answer Explanation: To cram for book club means to speed read through a book quickly before the meeting.
Difficulty Level: Medium
Dances like Savion Glover LA Times Crossword Clue
Answer: TAPS (4 Letters)
Answer Explanation: Savion Glover is a famous tap dancer, so "taps" refers to tap dancing.
Letter Pattern: T-A-P-S
Difficulty Level: Medium
Magnitude Crossword Clue
Answer: SIZE (4 Letters)
Letter Pattern: S-I-Z-E
Answer Explanation: Magnitude refers to the size or extent of something, making "size" a direct synonym.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Water cooler LA Times Crossword Clue
Answer: ICE (3 Letters)
Answer Explanation: Ice is what cools water, making it a "water cooler" in the literal sense.
Letter Pattern: I-C-E
Difficulty Level: Easy
Texter's "Currently" Crossword Clue
Answer: RN (2 Letters)
Letter Pattern: R-N
Answer Explanation: "RN" is texting slang for "right now," meaning currently.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Words from a seasoned pro LA Times Crossword Clue
Answer: IVEDONEABEFORE (14 Letters)
Answer Explanation: A seasoned professional would say "I've done a before" or "I've done this before" when facing a familiar task.
Letter Pattern: I-V-E-D-O-N-E-A-B-E-F-O-R-E
Difficulty Level: Medium
Engage in forensics Crossword Clue
Answer: DEBATE (6 Letters)
Letter Pattern: D-E-B-A-T-E
Answer Explanation: Forensics in an academic context refers to competitive debate and public speaking.
Difficulty Level: Medium
Tilts LA Times Crossword Clue
Answer: SLOPES (6 Letters)
Answer Explanation: When something tilts, it slopes or angles to one side.
Letter Pattern: S-L-O-P-E-S
Difficulty Level: Easy
"Matlock" star Crossword Clue
Answer: ANDYGRIFFITH (12 Letters)
Letter Pattern: A-N-D-Y-G-R-I-F-F-I-T-H
Answer Explanation: Andy Griffith starred as the title character in the legal drama "Matlock" from 1986 to 1995.
Difficulty Level: Medium
Staple of Nigerian cuisine LA Times Crossword Clue
Answer: RICE (4 Letters)
Answer Explanation: Rice, particularly jollof rice, is a staple ingredient in Nigerian cuisine and West African cooking.
Letter Pattern: R-I-C-E
Difficulty Level: Easy
Beauty spots Crossword Clue
Answer: SPAS (4 Letters)
Letter Pattern: S-P-A-S
Answer Explanation: Spas are beauty spots where people go for beauty treatments and relaxation.
Difficulty Level: Easy
State of bliss LA Times Crossword Clue
Answer: NIRVANA (7 Letters)
Answer Explanation: Nirvana is a state of perfect peace and happiness, a transcendent state of bliss in Buddhism.
Letter Pattern: N-I-R-V-A-N-A
Difficulty Level: Easy
"Les Alyscamps" city Crossword Clue
Answer: ARLES (5 Letters)
Letter Pattern: A-R-L-E-S
Answer Explanation: Arles is a city in southern France where Vincent van Gogh painted "Les Alyscamps," depicting an ancient Roman necropolis.
Difficulty Level: Hard
Whee target LA Times Crossword Clue
Answer: BULLSEYE (8 Letters)
Answer Explanation: A bullseye is the center target in sports like darts or archery, where hitting it causes excitement ("Whee!").
Letter Pattern: B-U-L-L-S-E-Y-E
Difficulty Level: Medium
Club kin Crossword Clue
Answer: BAT (3 Letters)
Letter Pattern: B-A-T
Answer Explanation: A bat is related (kin) to a club, as both are blunt instruments used for hitting.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Puritanical LA Times Crossword Clue
Answer: PRIM (4 Letters)
Answer Explanation: To be prim means to be formally precise or puritanical in manner or appearance.
Letter Pattern: P-R-I-M
Difficulty Level: Easy
Institution that may have a repatriation policy Crossword Clue
Answer: MUSEUM (6 Letters)
Letter Pattern: M-U-S-E-U-M
Answer Explanation: Museums often have repatriation policies to return cultural artifacts and remains to their countries or communities of origin.
Difficulty Level: Medium
Moving challenges LA Times Crossword Clue
Answer: LOGISTICS (9 Letters)
Answer Explanation: Logistics refers to the complex organization involved in moving, including planning, coordinating, and executing a move.
Letter Pattern: L-O-G-I-S-T-I-C-S
Difficulty Level: Easy
Wetland Crossword Clue
Answer: MARSH (5 Letters)
Letter Pattern: M-A-R-S-H
Answer Explanation: A marsh is a type of wetland characterized by soft-stemmed vegetation and shallow water.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Gospel singer Franklin LA Times Crossword Clue
Answer: ARETHA (6 Letters)
Answer Explanation: Aretha Franklin, the "Queen of Soul," began her career singing gospel music before becoming a legendary soul and R&B artist.
Letter Pattern: A-R-E-T-H-A
Difficulty Level: Easy
Burrow Crossword Clue
Answer: DEN (3 Letters)
Letter Pattern: D-E-N
Answer Explanation: A den is an animal's burrow or lair, a place where they live underground or in a sheltered space.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Bread maker LA Times Crossword Clue
Answer: OVEN (4 Letters)
Answer Explanation: An oven is what makes bread by baking the dough at high temperatures.
Letter Pattern: O-V-E-N
Difficulty Level: Easy
North Carolina college town Crossword Clue
Answer: ELON (4 Letters)
Letter Pattern: E-L-O-N
Answer Explanation: Elon is a town in North Carolina home to Elon University, a private liberal arts institution.
Difficulty Level: Medium
Epic LA Times Crossword Clue
Answer: SAGA (4 Letters)
Answer Explanation: A saga is a long epic story, especially one chronicling heroic deeds or family history.
Letter Pattern: S-A-G-A
Difficulty Level: Easy
Emoji reaction to a hot take Crossword Clue
Answer: FIRE (4 Letters)
Letter Pattern: F-I-R-E
Answer Explanation: The fire emoji ? is commonly used to react to "hot takes" or particularly bold, impressive statements on social media.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Word with rub or run LA Times Crossword Clue
Answer: DRY (3 Letters)
Answer Explanation: "Dry" can combine with both "rub" (dry rub for seasoning) and "run" (dry run for practice).
Letter Pattern: D-R-Y
Difficulty Level: Medium
Kinshasa's country, briefly Crossword Clue
Answer: DRC (3 Letters)
Letter Pattern: D-R-C
Answer Explanation: DRC stands for Democratic Republic of the Congo, the country where Kinshasa is the capital city.
Difficulty Level: Medium
LA Times Crossword Answers - February 14, 2026 (Quick View)
| Crossword Clue | Answer | Letter Count | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grazing spots? | TAPAS | 5 | Medium |
| Classic Milwaukee brewer | PABST | 5 | Easy |
| Holding back tears, perhaps | EMOTIONAL | 9 | Easy |
| Corn cake | AREPA | 5 | Medium |
| Final act for a big star | SUPERNOVA | 9 | Easy |
| Tiptoe | CREEP | 5 | Easy |
| Phillies All-Star shortstop Turner | TREA | 4 | Medium |
| Salon sounds | SNIPS | 5 | Easy |
| Squeaks (by) | EKES | 4 | Easy |
| Hermana de la madre | TIA | 3 | Easy |
| Scoped out | CASED | 5 | Easy |
| Resource that may be recognized with alone time | SOCIALBATTERY | 13 | Hard |
| Alan Ladd Western | SHANE | 5 | Medium |
| Sphere | REALM | 5 | Easy |
| Greek shade | PEA | 3 | Medium |
| 1990s fad item | POG | 3 | Medium |
| State gemstone of Minnesota | AGATE | 5 | Hard |
| [Raises hand] | IAM | 3 | Easy |
| Ferment, perhaps | AGE | 3 | Medium |
| Cut back | PRUNE | 5 | Easy |
| Alabama and Kansas | BANDS | 5 | Medium |
| Unapologetic self-promotion | SHAMELESSPLUG | 13 | Medium |
| Infer | EDUCE | 5 | Hard |
| "__-complicated" | ITS | 3 | Easy |
| Big D cagers | MAVS | 4 | Easy |
| David Oyelowo film set in Alabama | SELMA | 5 | Medium |
| French head | TETE | 4 | Easy |
| Covered in vines | IVIED | 5 | Medium |
| Reason to cover a lot of ground quickly? | RAINDELAY | 9 | Hard |
| Come and go | RECUR | 5 | Easy |
| Nonbinding work? | MINORROLEINFILM | 15 | Hard |
| Goomba, to Mario | ENEMY | 5 | Easy |
| Local cultural ecosystems | ARTSCENES | 9 | Medium |
| Exam | TEST | 4 | Easy |
| River between Russia and China | AMUR | 4 | Medium |
| Vatican City resident | POPE | 4 | Easy |
| Carbo-loaded, say | ATE | 3 | Easy |
| Military address | SIR | 3 | Easy |
| Art with a moyogi style | BONSAI | 6 | Hard |
| Rando on a message board | ANON | 4 | Easy |
| Sitarist Shankar | RAVI | 4 | Easy |
| Give a hand? | DEAL | 4 | Medium |
| Campaign gp. | PAC | 3 | Easy |
| Mesmerize | ENTRANCE | 8 | Easy |
| Sting operation? | BEEKEEPING | 10 | Hard |
| Cram for book club | SPEEDREAD | 9 | Medium |
| Dances like Savion Glover | TAPS | 4 | Medium |
| Magnitude | SIZE | 4 | Easy |
| Water cooler | ICE | 3 | Easy |
| Texter's "Currently" | RN | 2 | Easy |
| Words from a seasoned pro | IVEDONEABEFORE | 14 | Medium |
| Engage in forensics | DEBATE | 6 | Medium |
| Tilts | SLOPES | 6 | Easy |
| "Matlock" star | ANDYGRIFFITH | 12 | Medium |
| Staple of Nigerian cuisine | RICE | 4 | Easy |
| Beauty spots | SPAS | 4 | Easy |
| State of bliss | NIRVANA | 7 | Easy |
| "Les Alyscamps" city | ARLES | 5 | Hard |
| Whee target | BULLSEYE | 8 | Medium |
| Club kin | BAT | 3 | Easy |
| Puritanical | PRIM | 4 | Easy |
| Institution that may have a repatriation policy | MUSEUM | 6 | Medium |
| Moving challenges | LOGISTICS | 9 | Easy |
| Wetland | MARSH | 5 | Easy |
| Gospel singer Franklin | ARETHA | 6 | Easy |
| Burrow | DEN | 3 | Easy |
| Bread maker | OVEN | 4 | Easy |
| North Carolina college town | ELON | 4 | Medium |
| Epic | SAGA | 4 | Easy |
| Emoji reaction to a hot take | FIRE | 4 | Easy |
| Word with rub or run | DRY | 3 | Medium |
| Kinshasa's country, briefly | DRC | 3 | Medium |
