The New York Times daily Strands puzzle for February 20th (#719) challenges players to identify words fitting a hidden theme. This guide provides hints and the complete solution, including the spangram – a word spanning the entire grid.
Understanding the Puzzle
Strands is a word-search variant where players uncover words of four letters or more. The game reveals theme words once three qualifying words are found. The ultimate goal is to identify all theme words, including the spangram, utilizing every letter on the board. The number of words in each puzzle can vary.
Today’s Theme: True Grit
The theme for today’s Strands puzzle is “True Grit”. If you’re stuck, consider words related to texture or harshness. A helpful clue is “You might find this in a wood shop.”
Initial Hints and Words
To unlock in-game hints, start by finding any words with four or more letters. Examples from today’s puzzle include:
- SAND
- CART
- SCAR
- SCAT
- PAPER
- HAVE
Complete Solution
The theme words for today’s Strands puzzle are:
- COARSE
- HARSH
- SCRATCHY
- ROUGH
- PRICKLY
- ABRASIVE
The spangram (the word that spans the entire grid) is not included in the provided text, making completion impossible without outside sources. The puzzle requires all letters to be used upon solution.
In conclusion, today’s Strands puzzle tested players’ ability to identify texture-related terms under a “True Grit” theme. Successful completion requires finding all six theme words and the spanning spangram.
