Today's NYT Strands is live for Friday, February 20, 2026 (Puzzle #719). Stuck on today's Strands? We've got progressive hints, from gentle nudges to full solutions, so you can solve at your own pace.
How Strands Works (New Players Start Here)
Strands hides themed words inside a 6x8 letter grid. Your mission: find every word connected to the day's theme. Letters link in any direction (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) and words can twist and turn. Every letter gets used exactly once.
The spangram is the key word or phrase that captures the theme and stretches across the entire board, touching opposite edges.
Need a boost? Find any 4+ letter word (even non-theme words) three times, and the game reveals a hint highlighting theme word letters.
Theme Decoder
Today's Theme Prompt: "True grit"
What It Really Means
This theme points to words describing textures or qualities that are rough, harsh, or abrasive, things that literally or metaphorically have "grit."
Think About...
- Textures that feel rough to the touch
- Personality traits that are harsh or unpolished
- Materials or surfaces that create friction
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Zig-zag diagonally then up
Letter Count: 9 letters
Starting Zone: First letter of the first row
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): This is a physical object used for smoothing rough surfaces
Hint 2 (Warmer): It's coated with abrasive material and comes in different grades
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is S, last letter is R
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SANDPAPER
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: Something that feels sharp or irritating
Closer: Like a cactus or thorny plant
Letter Clue: Starts with P, 7 letters total
Answer
PRICKLY
Word 2
Vague: An unpleasant texture that might irritate skin
Closer: What cheap wool sweaters often feel like
Letter Clue: Starts with S, 8 letters total
Answer
SCRATCHY
Word 3
Vague: The opposite of smooth
Closer: Describes unfinished wood or gravel
Letter Clue: Starts with R, 5 letters total
Answer
ROUGH
Word 4
Vague: A quality that wears things down
Closer: What sandpaper or steel wool is
Letter Clue: Starts with A, 8 letters total
Answer
ABRASIVE
Word 5
Vague: Unforgiving or severe
Closer: Describes criticism or winter weather
Letter Clue: Starts with H, 5 letters total
Answer
HARSH
Word 6
Vague: Not fine or refined
Closer: Describes sand or unpolished stone
Letter Clue: Starts with C, 6 letters total
Answer
COARSE
Full Answers
Spangram: SANDPAPER
Theme Words:
- PRICKLY
- SCRATCHY
- ROUGH
- ABRASIVE
- HARSH
- COARSE
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Trickiest Word: ABRASIVE (It's the longest theme word and requires connecting multiple directions)
Our Take: A clever thematic puzzle that plays with both literal and metaphorical meanings of "grit." The spangram SANDPAPER perfectly encapsulates the theme while the words explore different aspects of roughness. The zig-zag orientation of the spangram adds a nice spatial challenge to an otherwise straightforward word set.
