Today's NYT Strands is live for Tuesday, February 10, 2026 (Puzzle #709). 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: "It's on the house"
What It Really Means
You're looking for exterior materials used in home construction and siding.
Think About...
- Common materials used for house exteriors
- Different types of siding options
- Construction materials that protect homes from weather
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Downward to the last row then all the way across to the left and up
Letter Count: 13 letters
Starting Zone: Sixth letter of the first row
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): Think about what covers the outside of a building
Hint 2 (Warmer): This is the category that includes all the theme words
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is S, last letter is L
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SIDINGMATERIAL
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: Classic natural material
Closer: Comes from trees, often used for rustic homes
Letter Clue: Starts with W, 4 letters total
Answer
WOOD
Word 2
Vague: Engineered material
Closer: Made from multiple components, often includes recycled materials
Letter Clue: Starts with C, 9 letters total
Answer
COMPOSITE
Word 3
Vague: Traditional building block
Closer: Red rectangular units, often used for walls
Letter Clue: Starts with B, 5 letters total
Answer
BRICK
Word 4
Vague: Synthetic material
Closer: Plastic-based siding, popular for low maintenance
Letter Clue: Starts with V, 5 letters total
Answer
VINYL
Word 5
Vague: Natural mineral material
Closer: Rock-based, often used for veneers or full walls
Letter Clue: Starts with S, 5 letters total
Answer
STONE
Word 6
Vague: Plaster-like finish
Closer: Cement-based coating applied to exterior walls
Letter Clue: Starts with S, 6 letters total
Answer
STUCCO
Full Answers
Spangram: SIDINGMATERIAL
Theme Words:
- WOOD
- COMPOSITE
- BRICK
- VINYL
- STONE
- STUCCO
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Trickiest Word: COMPOSITE (9 letters makes it the longest and least obvious)
Our Take: A straightforward construction theme with clear connections to the prompt "It's on the house." The spangram SIDINGMATERIAL perfectly captures the category. While most words are common building materials, COMPOSITE adds a modern twist with its engineered nature. Solid puzzle execution with logical theme progression.
