Today's NYT Strands is live for Friday, February 6, 2026 (Puzzle #705). 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: "Let's face it"
What It Really Means
Today's theme focuses on facial features, the various parts that make up a human face.
Think About...
- Parts of the face you see in the mirror
- Facial anatomy and components
- Features that define facial structure
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Zig zag from bottom to top
Letter Count: 8 letters
Starting Zone: Third letter of the last row
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): This word describes the collective elements that make up something's appearance.
Hint 2 (Warmer): Think about what defines a person's facial appearance, the various components you notice.
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is F, last letter is S
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FEATURES
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: These frame the eyes
Closer: They can be arched, thick, or thin
Letter Clue: Starts with B, 5 letters total
Answer
BROWS
Word 2
Vague: They're on either side of your nose
Closer: They can blush or dimple
Letter Clue: Starts with C, 6 letters total
Answer
CHEEKS
Word 3
Vague: They're the windows to the soul
Closer: They come in pairs and have irises
Letter Clue: Starts with E, 4 letters total
Answer
EYES
Word 4
Vague: You use it for speaking and eating
Closer: Contains teeth and a tongue
Letter Clue: Starts with M, 5 letters total
Answer
MOUTH
Word 5
Vague: It's in the center of your face
Closer: You breathe through it
Letter Clue: Starts with N, 4 letters total
Answer
NOSE
Word 6
Vague: The upper part of your face
Closer: Above your eyebrows
Letter Clue: Starts with F, 8 letters total
Answer
FOREHEAD
Word 7
Vague: Where hair meets skin
Closer: The boundary of your hair
Letter Clue: Starts with H, 8 letters total
Answer
HAIRLINE
Full Answers
Spangram: FEATURES
Theme Words:
- BROWS
- CHEEKS
- EYES
- MOUTH
- NOSE
- FOREHEAD
- HAIRLINE
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Easy
Trickiest Word: HAIRLINE (Some might not consider it a facial feature in the traditional sense)
Our Take: A straightforward anatomical theme that's instantly recognizable. The "Let's face it" prompt gives it away immediately, making this puzzle accessible for beginners. The inclusion of HAIRLINE adds a slight twist, but overall this is a gentle Friday puzzle that won't frustrate players.
