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Need help with NYT Strands for Monday, February 16, 2026? Puzzle #715’s theme is “The cutting edge.” Start with the spoiler-free hints below, then open the answer section when you’re ready to check the spangram and all seven theme words.
What is today’s NYT Strands theme?
The theme clue is “The cutting edge.” Think of a winter sport performed on blades across ice: the puzzle is about figure skating. TechRadar and WePC identify this as Monday’s puzzle #715.
Hints before the answers
- The theme clue is “The cutting edge.”
- Think of a winter sport that uses blades on ice.
- The spangram is a 13-letter phrase naming that sport.
- The remaining answers are actions or technical terms associated with it.
In Strands, you can also enter non-theme words of at least four letters to earn a hint. TechRadar lists SPORE, JEST, WORST, BOATING, THING, and PINT as clue words for this puzzle. The hint highlights letters belonging to a theme word.
Spoiler warning: full Strands answers
The answers below reveal the complete solution.
Spangram
FIGURESKATING
Theme words
- COMBO — a linked sequence of skating elements.
- CROSSOVER — a skating step used to gain speed around curves.
- JUMP — an airborne skating element.
- LIFT — a pairs element in which one skater raises and supports another.
- LOOP — a recognized figure-skating jump.
- SPIN — a rotational element performed on the ice.
- THROW — a pairs-skating jump launched by one partner.
WordHint’s February 16 archive provides the answer list and explanations of the skating terms.
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How Strands works
Strands uses a 6-by-8 board of 48 letters. Trace connected letters to form theme words; answers do not overlap, and the goal is to use every letter. The spangram is the theme word or phrase that touches opposite sides of the board and captures the puzzle’s theme.
Finding three non-theme words of at least four letters earns an in-game hint. The daily puzzle changes at midnight; TechRadar says a new one appears at midnight in each time zone, while WordHint describes its page rolling over at midnight Eastern. You can play Strands on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
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