Crossword clue

“They make streaks on cheeks”

This clue appeared as 41-Down in the NYT Crossword on Friday, January 23, 2026. The answer has 5 letters.

Answer · 5 lettersFirst appearance
TEARS
Letters5
Starts withT
Ends withS
Vowels2

Where this clue has appeared

NYT Crossword
Jan 23, 20265 letters→

About this clue

The clue “They make streaks on cheeks” ran in the NYT Crossword on January 23, 2026 as 41-Down. Its answer is a 5-letter word that starts with T and ends with S.

See every answer from the puzzle on the NYT Crossword page for January 23, 2026, or learn how clues like this work in our guide to crossword clue types.

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FAQ

What is the answer to the “They make streaks on cheeks” clue?+

The answer is TEARS (5 letters), from the NYT Crossword of January 23, 2026.

Where has this clue appeared?+

We have seen it 1 time in the NYT Crossword.

How do I find other NYT Crossword answers?+

Open the full list of answers for January 23, 2026, or browse every date on the NYT Crossword hub.