If you’re hooked on the daily NYT Strands puzzle, you’re not alone. It’s a fresh word game from the New York Times that combines elements of a word search with clever, theme-based twists.
18 February 2026 NYT Strands Theme: “Cold competition”
Today’s theme centered on winter athletic events that thrive in freezing temperatures and snowy arenas. The puzzle felt cohesive and energetic, with recognizable sports scattered across the grid. The spangram was broad and satisfying, perfectly summing up the entire category while connecting each event under one frosty umbrella.
18 February 2026 NYT Strands Hints
- Think of athletic events that require ice, snow, or freezing temperatures.
- Several answers are high-speed sports played on tracks or slopes.
- One word involves sweeping on ice toward a circular target.
- Another is a fast-paced team sport played inside an ice rink.
- Look for both single-word and two-word entries in the grid.
- Spangram: It’s the general category that includes all of these chilly competitions.
18 February 2026 NYT Strands Answers
- Snow Boarding
- Hockey
- Curling
- Luge
- Bobsled
Spangram
Winter Sports
The spangram “Winter Sports” stretches across the grid and neatly captures the shared theme. Every listed activity is a competitive sport traditionally played during the winter season on ice or snow.
How Strands works
Strands is a daily word search puzzle with a twist:
- You’re given a theme.
- The grid is packed with hidden words tied to that theme.
- Words can run in any direction, including diagonals.
- Once you find all the theme words, you’re done!
Each puzzle usually has around 6–8 theme words.
How to get and use hints
Hints are built right into Strands, and they’re super useful if you’re stuck:
- To earn a hint, find any non-theme word of at least four letters in the grid.
- Each valid extra word gives you one hint.
- When you use a hint, one of the theme words will be revealed automatically, helping you move forward.
Pro tip: Don’t just burn hints — use them strategically when the grid feels impossible. Sometimes a single revealed word unlocks the entire board.
Tips to become a NYT Strands pro
- Start with obvious words. Look for clear connections to the theme first.
- Scan diagonals early. Strands loves to hide words at an angle.
- Build around found words. Once one word is cleared, the leftover letters often point to the next.
- Use hints wisely. Earn them steadily by spotting extra words, then save them for when you’re truly stuck.
- Think about synonyms. The theme clue isn’t always literal — broaden your thinking.
Final thoughts
The 18 Feb puzzle was a cool and breezy solve, especially if you’re familiar with winter athletics. The theme was straightforward yet satisfying, and the spangram tied it together cleanly. How many did you find before peeking?
