Quick Start: Solve Wordle Strands Faster
Most U.S. players first check a light hint, then reveal the spangram, and only then open full answers. Use this flow to protect your streak and avoid instant spoilers.
Today's Wordle Strands Hints
February 23, 2026
“Strike a chord”
⚠️ Spoiler ahead! Click to reveal the NYT Strands answers.
Click a hint level above to start with NYT Strands hints.
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Yesterday's NYT Strands Solution
February 22, 2026
Today's Theme Clue
“Olympics wrap-up”
Spangram
CLOSINGCEREMONY
What is the Strands Puzzle?
Strands is a daily logic and word puzzle. It challenges you to find specific theme words hidden within a 6×8 letter grid. You also need to uncover the spangram—a unique concept word that acts as the puzzle's backbone, touching two opposite edges of the board.
While finding the words is fun, getting stuck can be frustrating. That's why we created a progressive guide that gives you just the right amount of help to keep you moving.
Strategies for Solving
- Analyze the daily theme clue: It's often a pun or wordplay pointing to the shared concept.
- Look for short, obvious words first to break up the dense 48-letter grid.
- Hunt for the spangram: Finding this early can divide the board and make the remaining words easier to spot.
- Trace the paths: Letters can connect in any adjacent direction (including diagonally), but cannot overlap.
- Take a small hint when blocked: Don't jump straight to the answers. Revealing just one letter of the spangram is usually enough to get unblocked.
How Our Progressive Hints Help You
Control Your Spoilers
Decide exactly how much help you want. Start with a subtle theme clue, move on to the first letter of the spangram, and only reveal full answers if you're truly stuck.
Updated for Today's Board
Our guides are prepared and updated every single day alongside the newest puzzle release, ensuring you have accurate and timely support.
Accessible & Free
Enjoy a clean, straightforward solving experience without paywalls or mandatory registrations.
Works on Any Device
Whether you are playing on your phone during a commute or on a desktop at home, the hint layout adapts perfectly to your screen.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do these progressive hints actually work?
Instead of immediately showing you the solved board, our system offers tiered clues. You can opt to see just a rephrased theme clue, uncover the first letter of the spangram, or fully reveal the spangram. This allows you to control the level of help you receive based on where you feel stuck.
When are the daily answers updated?
We publish our guide daily, shortly after the newest puzzle goes live. You will always find the current day's solution at the top of the page.
What is the 'spangram' and why is it important?
The spangram is the key concept word that visually spans across the entire puzzle board from one edge to the opposite side. Identifying it first often breaks the 6×8 grid into smaller, more manageable sections, making the remaining theme words much easier to find.
How is this different from Wordle or Connections?
While Wordle relies on letter placement logic and Connections focuses on grouping related concepts, this game marries theme logic with spatial search. You have to physically connect adjacent letters to trace out the theme words on the grid.
Is using hints considered cheating?
Not at all. In fact, reviewing a light hint is a great way to learn complex word-pattern strategies and improve your vocabulary. Many players prefer a gentle nudge over losing their daily solving streak.
Can I look up puzzles from previous days?
Yes, you can visit our Archive section. There, you can review past clues, spangrams, and full solutions, which is a great way to study recurring pattern trends.