NYT Strands Hints and Answers for February 3, 2026 (#702)
Spoiler-safe hints for the NYT Strands puzzle of February 3, 2026: the theme clue first, then first letters, word lengths, the spangram, and the full grid.
Stuck on the Strands puzzle of February 3, 2026? Start with the theme, take one rung at a time, and stop as soon as the grid opens up. Nothing below is revealed until you tap it.
Hints for February 3, 2026, one rung at a time
ThemeToday’s theme
On key
Today’s theme is “On key”. All 6 theme words fit that idea — and the spangram names it outright.
Hint 2First letters
The theme words begin with A, B, C, H, T, U.
Hint 3Word lengths
By length, the answers run 5, 5, 7, 7, 8 and 10. The shortest is 5 letters, the longest 10.
SpangramThe spangram
SYMBOL
6 letters, a single word, running from one edge of the grid to the opposite edge.
Starts with S, ends with L.
AnswersAll theme words
- CARET5 letters
- TILDE5 letters
- BRACKET7 letters
- HASHTAG7 letters
- ASTERISK8 letters
- UNDERSCORE10 letters
BoardThe completed grid
Theme wordSpangramEach line follows one word; the small number is that letter’s place in it.