NYT Strands Hints and Answers for February 14, 2026 (#713)
Spoiler-safe hints for the NYT Strands puzzle of February 14, 2026: the theme clue first, then first letters, word lengths, the spangram, and the full grid.
Stuck on the Strands puzzle of February 14, 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 14, 2026, one rung at a time
ThemeToday’s theme
XOXOXO
Today’s theme is “XOXOXO”. All 6 theme words fit that idea — and the spangram names it outright.
Hint 2First letters
The theme words begin with C, E, P, S, S, S. Two of them start with the same letter (S).
Hint 3Word lengths
By length, the answers run 4, 5, 6, 6, 7 and 7. The shortest is 4 letters, the longest 7.
SpangramThe spangram
HUGSANDKISSES
13 letters, a single word, running from one edge of the grid to the opposite edge.
Starts with H, ends with S.
AnswersAll theme words
- PECK4 letters
- SMACK5 letters
- CUDDLE6 letters
- SMOOCH6 letters
- EMBRACE7 letters
- SNUGGLE7 letters
BoardThe completed grid
Theme wordSpangramEach line follows one word; the small number is that letter’s place in it.