NYT Strands Hints Today (February 18, 2026)

ByAdmin
Daily Puzzle Solution

Cold competition

NYT Strands Hint Today

Missed yesterday’s game? See Strands answers for February 17.

Need a nudge in the right direction? Today’s Strands puzzle is a fun one, and we have the full solution ready below. If you enjoy word puzzles, Word Finder Tips is your ultimate destination for daily strategies. The theme today is “Cold competition”. Below you will find a spoiler-free hint analysis followed by the complete solution.

Game Analysis: Cold competition

Before revealing the answers, let’s analyze the structure of today’s puzzle to help you solve it without spoilers.

Puzzle Attribute Data
Theme Cold competition
Total Words 6 Items
Spangram Length 12 Letters
Average Word Length 8 Letters
Difficulty Rating Medium

General Hints

  • Focus on words related to the Cold competition concept.
  • The Spangram spans from one side of the board to the other.
  • Check the corners first; they often contain the start or end of theme words.

Today’s Spangram

W
I
B
S
L
E
L
U
N
O
D
A
G
H
T
B
R
O
E
O
E
I
D
B
K
C
R
N
S
W
E
Y
S
G
N
O
R
U
C
P
O
T
L
I
N
G
R
S
The Spangram
wintersports

Full Answer Key

Here is the complete list of theme words found in the grid:

W
I
B
S
L
E
L
U
N
O
D
A
G
H
T
B
R
O
E
O
E
I
D
B
K
C
R
N
S
W
E
Y
S
G
N
O
R
U
C
P
O
T
L
I
N
G
R
S
Theme Word
luge

W
I
B
S
L
E
L
U
N
O
D
A
G
H
T
B
R
O
E
O
E
I
D
B
K
C
R
N
S
W
E
Y
S
G
N
O
R
U
C
P
O
T
L
I
N
G
R
S
Theme Word
hockey

W
I
B
S
L
E
L
U
N
O
D
A
G
H
T
B
R
O
E
O
E
I
D
B
K
C
R
N
S
W
E
Y
S
G
N
O
R
U
C
P
O
T
L
I
N
G
R
S
Theme Word
bobsled

W
I
B
S
L
E
L
U
N
O
D
A
G
H
T
B
R
O
E
O
E
I
D
B
K
C
R
N
S
W
E
Y
S
G
N
O
R
U
C
P
O
T
L
I
N
G
R
S
Theme Word
curling

W
I
B
S
L
E
L
U
N
O
D
A
G
H
T
B
R
O
E
O
E
I
D
B
K
C
R
N
S
W
E
Y
S
G
N
O
R
U
C
P
O
T
L
I
N
G
R
S
Theme Word
snowboarding

Detailed Word Breakdown

To help you understand today’s vocabulary better, here is a breakdown of the words found in the “Cold competition” theme:

  • wintersports: This is the Spangram. It contains 12 letters and starts with ‘w’. It connects the theme directly to the puzzle structure.
  • luge: A 4-letter word starting with ‘l’ and ending with ‘e’. It fits the category of “Cold competition”.
  • hockey: A 6-letter word starting with ‘h’ and ending with ‘y’. It fits the category of “Cold competition”.
  • bobsled: A 7-letter word starting with ‘b’ and ending with ‘d’. It fits the category of “Cold competition”.
  • curling: A 7-letter word starting with ‘c’ and ending with ‘g’. It fits the category of “Cold competition”.
  • snowboarding: A 12-letter word starting with ‘s’ and ending with ‘g’. It fits the category of “Cold competition”.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you play NYT Strands?
Find words related to the theme. Connect letters vertically, horizontally, or diagonally.
What is a Spangram?
It is the special theme word that spans across the entire board, touching two opposite sides.
When does the new puzzle come out?
A new puzzle with a new theme is released daily at midnight EST.

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