NYT Strands Hints and Answers for February 18, 2026 (#717)
Spoiler-safe hints for the NYT Strands puzzle of February 18, 2026: the theme clue first, then first letters, word lengths, the spangram, and the full grid.
Stuck on the Strands puzzle of February 18, 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 18, 2026, one rung at a time
ThemeToday’s theme
Cold competition
Today’s theme is “Cold competition”. All 5 theme words fit that idea — and the spangram names it outright.
Hint 1A gentle clue
The 5 answers belong to one everyday scene. Picture the scene first, then look for its pieces on the board.
Hint 2First letters
Sorted alphabetically, the first letters are B, C, H, L, S.
Hint 3Word lengths
The theme words are 4, 6, 7, 7 and 12 letters long. The shortest is 4 letters, the longest 12.
SpangramThe spangram
WINTERSPORTS
It is a single word of 12 letters and it touches two opposite sides of the board.
Starts with W, ends with S.
AnswersAll theme words
- LUGE4 letters
- HOCKEY6 letters
- BOBSLED7 letters
- CURLING7 letters
- SNOWBOARDING12 letters
BoardThe completed grid
Theme wordSpangramEach line follows one word; the small number is that letter’s place in it.