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.
20 February 2026 NYT Strands Theme: “True grit”
Today’s theme leaned into texture and touch. “True grit” pointed solvers toward words that describe rough or uneven surfaces. The vocabulary felt very tactile, with each answer evoking a physical sensation. The spangram was especially fitting — not overly long, but perfectly descriptive of the theme’s core idea.
20 February 2026 NYT Strands Hints
- Think about how something feels when you run your hand across a rugged surface.
- Look for adjectives that describe uncomfortable or uneven textures.
- Several words relate to materials that might irritate skin.
- Expect synonyms — some answers are closely related in meaning.
- The grid favors descriptive texture words rather than objects.
- Spangram: It’s something used to smooth surfaces by creating friction.
20 February 2026 NYT Strands Answers
- HARSH (severe or rough in texture or feel)
- ROUGH (uneven or coarse to the touch)
- COARSE (not smooth or fine)
- PRICKLY (sharp or spiky sensation)
- ABRASIVE (capable of scraping or wearing away)
- SCRATCHY (causing irritation or a scraping feeling)
Spangram
SANDPAPER
The spangram perfectly captures the “True grit” theme. Sandpaper is literally designed to be rough and abrasive, embodying every texture-related word hidden throughout today’s grid.
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 20 February puzzle felt approachable but satisfying, especially if you quickly locked into the texture theme. The cohesive word list made it smooth to solve once you spotted the pattern. How many did you find before using a hint?
