NYT Strands Hints and Answers for February 16, 2026 (#715)
Spoiler-safe hints for the NYT Strands puzzle of February 16, 2026: the theme clue first, then first letters, word lengths, the spangram, and the full grid.
Stuck on the Strands puzzle of February 16, 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 16, 2026, one rung at a time
ThemeToday’s theme
The cutting edge
Today’s theme is “The cutting edge”. All 7 theme words fit that idea — and the spangram names it outright.
Hint 1A gentle clue
The 7 answers belong to one everyday scene. Picture the scene first, then look for its pieces on the board. The spangram runs across the grid, left edge to right, so look for a long sideways path first.
Hint 2First letters
The theme words begin with C, C, J, L, L, S, T. Several share a starting letter (C, L).
Hint 3Word lengths
By length, the answers run 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5 and 9. The shortest is 4 letters, the longest 9.
SpangramThe spangram
FIGURESKATING
13 letters, a single word, running from one edge of the grid to the opposite edge.
Starts with F, ends with G.
AnswersAll theme words
- JUMP4 letters
- LIFT4 letters
- LOOP4 letters
- SPIN4 letters
- COMBO5 letters
- THROW5 letters
- CROSSOVER9 letters
BoardThe completed grid
Theme wordSpangramEach line follows one word; the small number is that letter’s place in it.