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NYT Strands puzzle No. 722, published Monday, February 23, 2026, has the theme “Strike a chord.” Try the hint below before scrolling to the spoiler-marked answers.
Strands hint for Monday, February 23
The theme points to parts of an instrument. A spoiler-free nudge: Rockers sometimes smash them.
If you want a little more help without seeing the full solution, the theme-word initials are BO, NE, PE, ST, HE, FR, BR; the spangram begins GU and runs mostly horizontally across the board.
How to play NYT Strands
Find the theme words by dragging or tapping connected letters. Theme words fill the board and are highlighted in blue. The spangram describes the theme, reaches two opposite sides of the grid, and is highlighted in yellow; it can contain two words.
Finding three words that are not part of the theme earns a hint. A hint reveals the letters of a theme word, and using it can show their correct order.
Spoilers: Strands answers for puzzle No. 722
The seven theme answers are:
- BODY
- NECK
- PEGS
- STRING
- HEADSTOCK
- FRETBOARD
- BRIDGE
The spangram is GUITAR. It is six letters long and touches the left and right sides of the board on the fourth row.
Clue words for in-game hints
These words can help unlock the game’s hint system: TOAD, BRIDE, TANK, BONG, TRIED, and RANK.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the theme fits
BODY, NECK, PEGS, STRING, HEADSTOCK, FRETBOARD, and BRIDGE are parts of a guitar, while GUITAR ties them together as the spangram. The theme is about identifying the instrument’s components, not naming songs or musicians.
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