Issue #351 Mon 17 Feb
NYT Strands Hints & Answer — February 17, 2025
The week begins with a bright, focused grid. These puzzles reward a measured pace and a steady eye for detail.
Theme 3 reveals
Today's theme
The yolk of a soft-boiled egg, a taxi in the rain, or the first turning leaf of late August.
Color spectrum and visual perception
PRIMARY CHROMATIC HUE
Spangram 4 hints · 6 letters
The connector word
A single six-letter noun.
6 letters.
Starts with Y, ends with W.
YELLOW
Group hint 1 reveal
Show all starting letters
Starting letters
- 1 C (6 letters)
- 2 D (8 letters)
- 3 G (9 letters)
- 4 L (5 letters)
- 5 M (7 letters)
- 6 S (7 letters)
Group hint 1 reveal
Show the first two letters of each
First two letters
- 1 CA (6 letters)
- 2 DA (8 letters)
- 3 GO (9 letters)
- 4 LE (5 letters)
- 5 MU (7 letters)
- 6 SA (7 letters)
Theme word 1 of 6 5 hints · 6 letters
A theme word
A small singing bird often kept in a cage to signal air quality in deep mines.
6 letters.
Starts with C.
Starts with CA.
CANARY
Theme word 2 of 6 5 hints · 8 letters
A theme word
An early spring bulb that pushes through the frost with a trumpet-shaped bloom.
8 letters.
Starts with D.
Starts with DA.
DAFFODIL
Theme word 3 of 6 5 hints · 9 letters
A theme word
A tall, late-blooming wildflower often blamed for seasonal hay fever.
9 letters.
Starts with G.
Starts with GO.
GOLDENROD
Theme word 4 of 6 5 hints · 5 letters
A theme word
A sour citrus fruit frequently sliced into thin wheels for a glass of iced tea.
5 letters.
Starts with L.
Starts with LE.
LEMON
Theme word 5 of 6 5 hints · 7 letters
A theme word
A pungent condiment spread thick on a deli sandwich or a ballpark hot dog.
7 letters.
Starts with M.
Starts with MU.
MUSTARD
Theme word 6 of 6 5 hints · 7 letters
A theme word
A prized, expensive spice harvested from the delicate threads of a crocus flower.
7 letters.
Starts with S.
Starts with SA.
SAFFRON
Spoiler zone
Complete Strands answer
Open only the solution you want to see. Each answer stays hidden until you choose to reveal it.
Reveal the spangram
Reveal all theme words
- CANARY
- DAFFODIL
- GOLDENROD
- LEMON
- MUSTARD
- SAFFRON
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Strands on February 17, 2025. Every answer below helps you along without giving the game away — ready to see the full solution? See the complete Strands answer for February 17, 2025, or browse every Strands puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Strands on February 17, 2025?
NYT Strands on February 17, 2025 rates 3 out of 4 — a tougher-than-average puzzle. There are 6 theme words to find, plus the spangram that ties them together.
Where does the February 17, 2025 Strands spangram start?
The spangram is 6 letters long and stretches right across the board. It begins with the letter "Y" — the hints above ease you toward the rest one step at a time, without spelling it out.
What is the theme of NYT Strands on February 17, 2025?
We keep the theme under wraps here so nothing is spoiled — but the ladder above walks you into it, starting with the puzzle's overall vibe. Want it stated outright, with the spangram and all 6 words? Open the answer section on this page.
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 6 theme words · 6-letter spangram
Today on Cluestand
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 6 theme words · 6-letter spangram