Issue #352 Tue 18 Feb
NYT Strands Hints & Answer — February 18, 2025
A Tuesday morning spent tracing lines through a grid. The pace is deliberate, the connections quiet, and the path forward reveals itself only to the patient.
Theme 3 reveals
Today's theme
Cold air, a stuck-in-throat moment, the camera flash you weren't ready for — three different snags, same body.
Natural defense mechanisms
ANIMALS WITH VENOMOUS APPENDAGES
Spangram 4 hints · 8 letters
The connector word
A single, eight-letter plural noun.
8 letters.
Starts with S, ends with S.
STINGERS
Group hint 1 reveal
Show all starting letters
Starting letters
- 1 B (9 letters)
- 2 H (6 letters)
- 3 J (9 letters)
- 4 P (8 letters)
- 5 S (8 letters)
Group hint 1 reveal
Show the first two letters of each
First two letters
- 1 BU (9 letters)
- 2 HO (6 letters)
- 3 JE (9 letters)
- 4 PL (8 letters)
- 5 SC (8 letters)
Theme word 1 of 5 5 hints · 9 letters
A theme word
A fuzzy, yellow-and-black garden visitor that spends its afternoon moving from clover to clover.
9 letters.
Starts with B.
Starts with BU.
BUMBLEBEE
Theme word 2 of 5 5 hints · 6 letters
A theme word
A territorial flyer with a paper-like nest tucked into the eaves of the porch.
6 letters.
Starts with H.
Starts with HO.
HORNET
Theme word 3 of 5 5 hints · 9 letters
A theme word
A translucent drifter that leaves an unpleasant, burning reminder of its presence in the surf.
9 letters.
Starts with J.
Starts with JE.
JELLYFISH
Theme word 4 of 5 5 hints · 8 letters
A theme word
An oddity of the riverbank that seems to have borrowed parts from a handful of other creatures.
8 letters.
Starts with P.
Starts with PL.
PLATYPUS
Theme word 5 of 5 5 hints · 8 letters
A theme word
A desert dweller that keeps its curled tail raised as a clear warning to anything nearby.
8 letters.
Starts with S.
Starts with SC.
SCORPION
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
- BUMBLEBEE
- HORNET
- JELLYFISH
- PLATYPUS
- SCORPION
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Strands on February 18, 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 18, 2025, or browse every Strands puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Strands on February 18, 2025?
NYT Strands on February 18, 2025 rates 3 out of 4 — a tougher-than-average puzzle. There are 5 theme words to find, plus the spangram that ties them together.
Where does the February 18, 2025 Strands spangram start?
The spangram is 8 letters long and stretches right across the board. It begins with the letter "S" — 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 18, 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 5 words? Open the answer section on this page.
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 5 theme words · 8-letter spangram
Today on Cluestand
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 5 theme words · 8-letter spangram