Tough to crack WSJ Crossword Clue

By Narcissa Kh / February 17, 2026

Crossword Answer

1 ? H

2 ? A

3 ? R

4 ? D

Hint

Interactive Solver for Tough to crack Crossword Clue

Drag letters from the pool into “Your Answer”, then reorder them to match the solution.

Your Answer 4 Letter

Current guess: —

Letter Pool

Need a helpful nudge?

Unlock the puzzle's secrets with Daze's progressive hints!

Hint 1

hint

Reveal Hint

Think of something that describes both a challenging puzzle and a sturdy object.

Hint 2

meaning

Reveal Hint

???? means not easily broken, penetrated, or solved.

Hint 3

explanation

Reveal Hint

The clue 'Tough to crack' suggests something that is difficult to solve or break. The word '????' is commonly used to describe objects or problems that are not easily broken or solved, fitting the clue perfectly.

Hint 4

another clue

Reveal Hint

Like a rock ... or rocket science, Like sudokus with very few given digits, generally, Unbreakable, strong, Like some lemonade, Like a 1,000-piece monochromatic jigsaw puzzle

WSJ Crossword February 17 2026 Answers

Tap a cell to show its letter

1 ? H
2 ? A
3 ? R
4 ? D
5 ? P
6 ? O
7 ? E
8 ? M
9 ? P
10 ? O
11 ? O
12 ? L
13 ? S
14 ? A
? C
? H
? E
15 ? A
? M
? I
? E
16 ? O
? N
? S
? E
? T
17 ? S
? T
? O
? C
18 ? K
? Y
? A
? R
? D
19 ? L
? E
? A
? V
? E
20 ? E
? N
? T
? R
? E
? A
21 ? T
22 ? I
? K
? E
? A
23 ? C
24 ? A
? M
? E
? O
25 ? Y
? A
26 ? R
? D
? A
? R
? M
27 ? A
? R
? M
? B
? A
? N
28 ? D
29 ? K
? A
? A
30 ? M
? O
? P
? E
? D
31 ? R
32 ? A
33 ? V
? E
? N
34 ? C
35 ? P
36 ? A
37 ? I
? C
? E
? R
38 ? S
? A
? L
? E
? S
39 ? S
? O
? O
? N
40 ? D
? I
? D
41 ? L
? A
? G
? E
? R
42 ? S
? A
? M
? B
? A
43 ? S
? E
? T
44 ? B
45 ? A
? N
? D
? B
? O
? X
46 ? B
47 ? O
48 ? X
? W
? O
? O
49 ? D
50 ? N
? O
? I
? S
? Y
51 ? E
? P
? E
? E
52 ? N
? O
53 ? S
54 ? H
? O
? W
? S
55 ? T
? E
? R
? R
56 ? Y
57 ? W
? O
? O
? D
? S
? T
58 ? O
59 ? C
60 ? K
61 ? T
? R
? O
? V
? E
62 ? E
? D
? G
? E
63 ? I
? N
? C
? A
64 ? Y
? A
? X
? E
? S
65 ? L
? A
? S
? S
66 ? C
? O
? S
? T

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Clue Analysis

The clue “Tough to crack” is a classic crossword staple, frequently appearing in puzzles like the WSJ crossword. For the puzzle dated February 17 2026, the definitive 4-letter answer is: HARD.

Expert Tip: When you’re stuck, try to analyze the structure of the clue itself. Is it a direct definition, a pun, a fill-in-the-blank, or a pop culture reference? Identifying the type of clue you’re dealing with is a key skill for improving your solving speed.

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Your Questions, Answered by Experts.

At Daze Puzzle, we understand that every clue is a puzzle within a larger puzzle. Our team of dedicated human experts and puzzle lovers solves these challenges daily to help you succeed. Below, we answer common questions about this specific clue.

A: The most common and recent 4-letter answer for "Tough to crack" is HARD.

A: The clue 'Tough to crack' suggests something that is difficult to solve or break. The word 'hard' is commonly used to describe objects or problems that are not easily broken or solved, fitting the clue perfectly.

A: This clue was last seen in the WSJ Crossword on February 17, 2026.

A: Hard means not easily broken, penetrated, or solved.

A: Like a rock ... or rocket science, Like sudokus with very few given digits, generally, Unbreakable, strong, Like some lemonade, Like a 1,000-piece monochromatic jigsaw puzzle

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Tough to crack WSJ Crossword Clue

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