NYT Strands #958 answer & hints: Saturday, October 17, 2026

Updated: Saturday, October 17, 2026 · Hints reviewed by Omer Liban · New puzzle daily at midnight US Eastern Time (5am UK). · Puzzle editor: Tracy Bennett.

This page has every level of help for the NYT Strands puzzle #958 of Saturday, October 17, 2026: 2 spoiler-free hint tiers that narrow things down step by step, followed by the complete answers with explanations — each behind its own tap-to-reveal card.

Today's Strands theme got you stuck? Start with the theme explainer, then reveal first letters, the spangram, and finally the full solution.

Strands is a themed word search: find the theme words hidden in the letter grid, plus the spangram — a special answer that touches two opposite sides of the board and names the theme. Every letter gets used exactly once.

Strands hints (October 17, 2026)

1Understanding the theme

The official clue is “ Quite the crush”. There are 6 theme words plus the spangram.

2First letters of the theme words

B, B, F, G, P, S

Strands answers — October 17, 2026 (#958)

★The spangram

FALLINLOVE (10 letters).

★All of today's Strands answers

Spangram: FALLINLOVE
Theme words: BABBLE, BLUSH, FIDGET, GIGGLE, PERSPIRE, STUMBLE

The puzzle, explained

# Strands Solution Recap When you're falling in love, you can't help but display all those telltale signs of nervousness and excitement—the giddy GIGGLE, the involuntary BLUSH, the way you BABBLE when trying to impress someone, or even PERSPIRE when they're nearby. You might FIDGET with your hands or STUMBLE over your words as your brain short-circuits around them. PERSPIRE is probably the least obvious one since we don't usually think of sweating as a romantic giveaway, but that physical anxiety response is such a real part of that crushing, falling-in-love experience that the puzzle nailed it.

Next in today's routine: Spelling Bee → · every game's answers on one page. New puzzle daily at midnight US Eastern Time (5am UK). Bookmark this page for tomorrow's hints. Or play Strands on the official site.

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Strands — common questions

What is a spangram in Strands?

The spangram is the special theme word or phrase that touches two opposite sides of the board. It describes the puzzle's theme and always exists in every Strands puzzle.

How do I earn hints in Strands itself?

Finding three non-theme words in the grid earns one in-game hint, which highlights the letters of a theme word.

Can theme words overlap in Strands?

No — every letter in the grid is used exactly once across the theme words and spangram, which is a powerful deduction tool late in the puzzle.

Previous Strands puzzles

Full Strands archive (185 puzzles) → · How to play Strands (spangram tactics) →