The New York Times Strands puzzle continues to challenge word game enthusiasts with its unique letter grid format. Today’s Strands 715 for February 16, 2026 features a theme that’s perfect for the winter season, celebrating athletic grace and artistry on ice. Whether you’re struggling to find the spangram or need help identifying theme words, this guide provides progressive hints to help you solve the puzzle while maintaining the satisfaction of discovery.
Enjoying daily puzzle games? Check out our other guides: Globle February 16, 2026 Hints and Answer, Bandle Hints and Answer for February 16, 2026, and Wordle Today 1703 Hints and Answer.
What is NYT Strands?
NYT Strands is a daily word puzzle game from The New York Times that challenges players to find themed words hidden within a grid of letters. Unlike traditional word searches, Strands requires you to trace connected paths through adjacent letters (horizontally, vertically, and diagonally) to form words. Each puzzle has a specific theme, and finding all the theme words reveals the spangram—a special word or phrase that spans the entire grid and encapsulates the puzzle’s theme.
How to Play Strands
Understand the theme: Each Strands puzzle has a unifying theme. Today’s theme is revealed as “The cutting edge.”
Find theme words: Search for words related to the theme by tracing paths through connected letters.
Discover the spangram: This special word or phrase touches every letter in the grid at least once and perfectly describes the theme.
Use hint system wisely: If you’re stuck, finding three non-theme words of at least four letters each will unlock a hint that reveals one theme word.
Complete the puzzle: Find all theme words and the spangram to solve the puzzle.
Today’s Theme: “The cutting edge”
Before revealing specific hints, let’s explore what “The cutting edge” might mean. This phrase could have multiple interpretations:
- Technology or innovation (cutting-edge technology)
- Sharp objects or blades
- Athletic movements involving blades or edges
- Modern or advanced concepts
For today’s puzzle, think about activities where “cutting edge” has a literal meaning—where actual edges cut through a surface as part of the performance or sport.
General Hints (No Spoilers)
Hint 1: Theme Category
Today’s theme relates to a winter sport that’s both athletic and artistic. It’s an Olympic event that combines technical skill with graceful performance.
Hint 2: Performance Elements
The theme words describe specific maneuvers, techniques, and movements performed in this sport. Each word represents an action that athletes execute during their routines.
Hint 3: Technical Vocabulary
These are terms you’d hear from commentators during competitions, especially during major events like the Winter Olympics or World Championships. Some words are general athletic terms, while others are more specific to this particular discipline.
Hint 4: Ice Connection
All theme words relate to movements performed on ice using special footwear with metal blades. The “cutting edge” refers literally to the blades cutting through ice.
Spangram Hint (Mild Spoiler)
Hint 5: Spangram Category
The spangram is a two-word compound phrase (written as one word in the puzzle) that names the sport itself. It consists of 13 letters total and directly identifies the winter Olympic discipline.
Hint 6: Spangram Structure
The spangram combines a word describing artistic movement with a word describing the sport’s venue or technique. Together, they name one of the most popular winter Olympic sports.
Progressive Theme Word Hints
Let’s break down hints for the individual theme words without revealing them yet:
Theme Word Hint Set 1: Movement Types
- One word describes a rotational aerial movement (4 letters)
- Another word describes circular motion on ice (4 letters)
- A third word describes an aerial leap (4 letters)
Theme Word Hint Set 2: Technical Elements
- One word describes launching an object or performing a dramatic movement (5 letters)
- Another word describes an elevation movement or partnered maneuver (4 letters)
- A word describing a mixed combination of elements (5 letters)
Theme Word Hint Set 3: Advanced Technique
- One word describes a transition or blending movement between styles or categories (9 letters)
Letter Count Breakdown
Here’s how many letters each theme word contains:
- Four 4-letter words
- Two 5-letter words
- One 9-letter word
- One 13-letter spangram (two words combined)
Detailed Word Hints (Major Spoilers Ahead)
If you want more specific guidance, here are detailed hints for each theme word:
4-Letter Word #1:
This describes a rotational movement in the air. Athletes perform this by leaving the ice, rotating their body, and landing. It’s one of the most basic yet essential elements in the sport.
4-Letter Word #2:
This describes a circular edge pattern traced on the ice. It’s performed on one foot and creates a perfect circle or series of circles. This element demonstrates control and edge quality.
4-Letter Word #3:
This is perhaps the most recognizable aerial element, where the athlete leaps into the air. Different types include toe and edge varieties, named after the skaters who invented them.
4-Letter Word #4:
This describes rotational movement while staying in contact with the ice, balanced on one or both feet. Skaters build speed during this movement, creating a blurring visual effect.
5-Letter Word #1:
This describes a projectile action or a complex movement. In pairs skating, it’s a dramatic element where one partner launches the other into the air.
5-Letter Word #2:
In pairs skating, this describes when one partner raises the other above their head. It’s one of the most dramatic and difficult partnered movements.
5-Letter Word #3:
This word describes a blended sequence that mixes different elements together. In singles skating, it often refers to a jump sequence that combines multiple jumps.
9-Letter Word:
This term describes a specific type of jump that uses a transition between edges. It’s one of the six standard jumps in the sport and often appears in high-level programs.
NYT Strands 715 Answers for February 16, 2026
Today’s Theme: The cutting edge
Theme Words:
- JUMP – Aerial movements where skaters leap off the ice
- SPIN – Rotational movements performed on the ice
- LOOP – Circular patterns or a specific jump type
- THROW – Pairs element involving one partner launching the other
- LIFT – Pairs element where one partner raises the other
- COMBO – Combination of multiple elements in sequence
- CROSSOVER – Edge transition technique used for speed and turns
SPANGRAM: FIGURESKATING
Detailed Answer Explanations
FIGURESKATING (Spangram)
Figure skating is the elegant winter Olympic sport that combines athletic prowess with artistic expression. Athletes perform on ice wearing specialized boots with metal blades—the literal “cutting edge” referenced in today’s theme. The sport includes disciplines such as singles (men’s and women’s), pairs, and ice dance.
Figure skating originated in the 19th century and became an Olympic sport in 1908, making it one of the oldest winter Olympic events. The term “figures” originally referred to the compulsory figures skaters had to trace on the ice, though this requirement was eliminated from competitive skating in 1990.
Theme Word Explanations
JUMP:
Jumps are essential elements in figure skating where skaters launch themselves into the air, rotate, and land on one foot. There are six standard jumps: toe loop, Salchow, loop, flip, Lutz, and Axel. Jumps are classified by their takeoff edge and whether they use a toe pick assist. The Axel is unique as the only jump that takes off while moving forward.
SPIN:
Spins involve rotating rapidly on one spot while balanced on one foot (or occasionally both). There are three basic positions: upright, sit, and camel (horizontal position). Advanced skaters perform combination spins that transition between positions and flying spins that begin with a jump into the spinning position. Centrifugal force and proper technique allow skaters to achieve remarkable rotational speeds.
LOOP:
In figure skating, “loop” has two meanings. Historically, it referred to the circular patterns skaters traced as compulsory figures. In modern skating, the loop jump is one of the six standard jumps, taken off from a back outside edge and landing on the same edge. Loop jumps don’t use the toe pick, making them edge jumps.
THROW:
Throw jumps are spectacular pairs elements where the male partner assists the female partner into the air, creating greater height and distance than a solo jump. The female partner performs rotations in the air before landing independently. Throw jumps include throw Axel, throw Salchow, throw loop, throw flip, throw Lutz, and throw toe loop.
LIFT:
Lifts are pairs skating elements where one partner (traditionally the male) raises the other (traditionally the female) above their head in various positions. There are several types including overhead lifts, one-hand lifts, and press lifts. Lifts are judged on difficulty, execution, and how seamlessly they’re integrated into the program.
COMBO:
A combination (combo) in figure skating refers to multiple elements performed in immediate succession. Jump combinations involve two or more jumps with no steps between them, only using the landing edge of one jump as the takeoff edge of the next. Spin combinations transition between different spin positions. Combinations demonstrate technical skill and stamina.
CROSSOVER:
Crossovers are fundamental skating techniques used to build speed and navigate curves. The skater crosses one foot over the other while maintaining edge control and flow. Forward crossovers involve crossing the outside foot over the inside foot, while backward crossovers work in reverse. Mastering crossovers is essential for powerful stroking and efficient movement around the rink.
Why This Theme Works for Strands
Today’s “The cutting edge” theme cleverly plays on the literal meaning of ice skate blades cutting through ice while also referencing figure skating as a sport at the forefront of athletic artistry. The theme words progress from basic elements (jump, spin, loop) to more complex techniques (throw, lift, combo, crossover), creating a natural difficulty curve.
The spangram FIGURESKATING perfectly encapsulates the theme, as it’s the sport where all these cutting-edge movements occur. The puzzle’s timing in mid-February is appropriate, as it falls during the winter sports season when figure skating receives heightened attention.
Solving Strategy for Today’s Puzzle
Start with shorter words: The 4-letter words (JUMP, SPIN, LOOP) are typically easier to spot in the grid and help establish patterns.
Look for the spangram early: FIGURESKATING is long and spans the grid, so identifying it can help you understand the theme and locate remaining words.
Think about word connections: Once you identify the theme as figure skating, brainstorm related technical terms to guide your search.
Use the hint system: If stuck, find three non-theme words to unlock a theme word hint.
Consider word categories: Group your thinking around types of moves—aerial (jumps), rotational (spins), partnered (lifts, throws), and transitional (crossovers, combos).
Tips for Future Strands Puzzles
Today’s puzzle demonstrates several Strands strategies:
Theme interpretation matters: “The cutting edge” could mean multiple things, so stay flexible in your thinking until the pattern becomes clear.
Technical vocabulary: Strands often uses specialized terminology from specific fields—sports, science, arts, etc.
Compound words: Spangrams frequently combine two words into one, like FIGURESKATING.
Varying difficulty: Theme words range from common (JUMP, SPIN) to specialized (CROSSOVER), requiring both general and specific knowledge.
Letter efficiency: Every letter in the grid belongs to at least one theme word, so finding one word often reveals letters for adjacent words.
Figure Skating in Popular Culture
Figure skating enjoys immense popularity, particularly during Olympic years. The sport has produced legendary athletes like Sonja Henie, Michelle Kwan, Yuzuru Hanyu, and more recently, Nathan Chen and Kamila Valieva. The combination of athletic difficulty and artistic expression makes it compelling viewing.
Movies like “I, Tonya” (2017) and “The Cutting Edge” (1992—note the thematic connection!) brought figure skating stories to mainstream audiences. The sport’s technical elements—the very words featured in today’s puzzle—have become familiar to casual viewers who might not skate themselves but recognize a triple Axel or quad jump when they see one.
Did You Solve It?
How did today’s Strands puzzle treat you? The figure skating theme provides a good mix of accessible words (if you’re familiar with the sport) and challenging terminology (if you’re not). The spangram FIGURESKATING is satisfying to find, as it literally spans the grid while perfectly describing all the theme words.
If you solved it quickly, you likely have experience with figure skating either as a participant or enthusiastic viewer. If it challenged you, you’ve now learned technical vocabulary for one of the Winter Olympics’ most popular sports!
More Daily Puzzle Challenges
Keep your puzzle-solving streak going with these other daily games:
- Wordle – Today’s five-letter word challenge awaits. Check our Wordle Today 1703 Hints and Answer guide.
- Globle – Test your geography knowledge with today’s mystery country. Try our Globle February 16, 2026 Hints and Answer.
- Bandle – Identify songs from limited instruments. See our Bandle Hints and Answer for February 16, 2026.
Conclusion
NYT Strands 715’s “The cutting edge” theme celebrates figure skating’s technical elements while cleverly referencing the literal blade edges that make the sport possible. From basic jumps and spins to complex throws and lifts, today’s puzzle vocabulary encompasses the movements that make figure skating both athletically challenging and artistically beautiful.
Whether you’re a figure skating fan who recognized these terms immediately or learned new vocabulary today, Strands continues to educate while entertaining. Come back tomorrow for Strands 716 and another themed word challenge. Until then, keep those mental blades sharp and your puzzle-solving edge cutting!