NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, February 18 (game #717)

My clues will help you solve the NYT's Strands today and keep that streak going

17 Feb 2026, 15:00 · TechRadar

News By Johnny Dee Contributions from Marc McLaren published 17 February 2026

(Image credit: New York Times)

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A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, February 17 (game #716).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #717) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Cold competition

NYT Strands today (game #717) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

BROAD
STOP
SPOTS
BRINE
RING
BIRD

NYT Strands today (game #717) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 12 letters

NYT Strands today (game #717) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: top, 1st column

Last side: bottom, 6th column

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #717) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #717, are…

LUGE
BOBSLED
SNOWBOARDING
HOCKEY
CURLING
SPANGRAM: WINTERSPORTS

My rating: Easy
My score: Perfect

The first thing that I thought of when I read the theme “cold competition” was the Winter Olympics, but the easily spotted spangram was actually WINTERSPORTS.

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