“Alternatively … !!!” crossword clue
Answer
O
R
E
L
S
E
••••••ORELSE
Reveal the answer to see why it works and where this clue has appeared before.ORELSE is the answer to the New York Times crossword clue “Alternatively … !!!”. It was last seen in the puzzle of February 12, 2026, where it runs at 22 Across and fills 6 squares. It crosses 6 other entries in that grid — those are listed below and are the quickest way to confirm the letters you already have. This exact clue has run 2 times in NYT puzzles, first on February 12, 2026.
Crossing entries
Feb 12, 2026 grid7DSacrilegious6 ltrs›8DLegend, e.g.5 ltrs›9DBeat in chess5 ltrs›10DMechanisms that are often spring-loaded10 ltrs›11D*Forevermore10 ltrs›19DFrom further back5 ltrs›
Every appearance
2 puzzlesDatePuzzlePositionAnswer
Jul 12, 2026NYT Crossword17 Down••••ELSEFeb 12, 2026NYT Crossword22 Across••••••ORELSEOther answers for this clue
Across all puzzles we index••••••ORELSE6 ltrs
••••ELSE4 ltrs
•••••••INSTEAD7 ltrs
•••••••••OTHERWISE9 ltrs
Clues repeat across publications with different fills. If your grid needs a different length, one of these usually fits.
Back to the full Feb 12, 2026 answer list, or browse the puzzle archive.