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.
4 February 2026 NYT Strands Theme: “For the enthusiast”
Today’s theme leaned into hobbies and pastimes, focusing on items you’d expect to find in the hands (or on the shelves) of a dedicated fan. The word choices felt friendly and accessible, with a nice balance between short, common terms and longer, more specific ones. The spangram was especially fitting, neatly capturing the shared home of all these interests.
4 February 2026 NYT Strands Hints
- Think about activities people enjoy collecting, building, or playing in their free time.
- Look for words connected to tabletop games, collectibles, and hands-on fun.
- Some answers are broad categories rather than specific brands or titles.
- Expect a mix of play-focused and display-focused items.
- The spangram ties everything together as a place where enthusiasts often browse or shop.
4 February 2026 NYT Strands Answers
- Model (often built or displayed by hobbyists)
- Game (a broad but central part of many hobbies)
- Dice (common in tabletop and role-playing games)
- Puzzle (a classic pastime for enthusiasts of all ages)
- Miniature (small-scale figures or builds)
- Collectible (items gathered and cherished by fans)
Spangram
Hobby Shop
The spangram sums up the theme perfectly, representing the place where all these interests meet — a store filled with games, models, puzzles, miniatures, and collectibles for dedicated enthusiasts.
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 4 February 2026 Strands puzzle played at an easy-to-moderate level, with a welcoming theme and familiar vocabulary. It was a satisfying solve, especially for anyone who loves games and collectibles. How many words did you spot right away?
