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NYT Strands Answer & Hints — “Ouch!”, February 18, 2025

Stuck on the February 18, 2025 NYT Strands puzzle? Here are progressive hints and the full answer for the “Ouch!” puzzle (Strands #49 of 509 in our archive). Every reveal is hidden by default — click to open the ones you need.

Spoiler warning. The answers below are for the February 18, 2025 NYT Strands puzzle. Scroll past this section if you want to solve it yourself first.
Hint 1: The themeReveal

The theme for the February 18, 2025 NYT Strands puzzle is “Ouch!”. Every theme word and the spangram connects back to this phrase, so think about what related words might fit a 6×8 grid of 48 letters before you start scanning.

Hint 2: Spangram length and first letterReveal

The spangram for the “Ouch!” puzzle is 8 letters long and starts with the letter S. It touches two opposite edges of the grid, as every NYT Strands spangram does.

Hint 3: How many theme wordsReveal

Besides the spangram, the February 18, 2025 NYT Strands puzzle has 5 theme words. Together with the spangram, they use every letter on the 6×8 grid exactly once.

Answer: Full spangramReveal

The spangram for the February 18, 2025 NYT Strands “Ouch!” puzzle is STINGERS. It spans two opposite edges of the 6×8 grid and captures the theme directly.

Answer: All theme wordsReveal

Here are the 5 theme words for the February 18, 2025 NYT Strands “Ouch!” puzzle:

  • BUMBLEBEE
  • HORNET
  • JELLYFISH
  • PLATYPUS
  • SCORPION

Plus the spangram STINGERS, that’s every word on the grid — all 48 letters accounted for.

Answers for the February 18, 2025 NYT Strands puzzle. Strands Unlimited is an independent fan archive — today's NYT Strands is free on nytimes.com/games/strands.

About the "Ouch!" NYT Strands puzzle

"Ouch!" — the exclamation mark says it all. This Strands puzzle brings energy and emphasis to its theme, and you can expect the hidden words to carry that same spirit. Exclamatory themes in Strands often reference vivid expressions, dramatic moments, or well-known catchphrases. The spangram ties it all together by naming the concept that makes you want to shout this phrase in the first place.

This puzzle has 5 theme words hidden in the grid — a balanced count that gives you enough to work with without overwhelming the board. With 8 letters, the spangram is mid-length — long enough to stand out in the grid but still requiring careful scanning to trace from edge to edge. Originally published on a Tuesday, Puzzle #49 is from the early days of the Strands archive — one of the original puzzles that established the game's style.

#49
Puzzle Number
5
Theme Words
8
Spangram Letters
Easy
Difficulty

How to approach "Ouch!"

  • The energetic theme title suggests vivid, expressive vocabulary. Look for words that match the theme's bold tone and emotional charge.
  • Start by scanning the grid edges for the spangram — it must connect two opposite sides. Once you find it, the theme becomes clear and the remaining words are easier to spot.
  • Try reading the grid edges clockwise. The spangram's first and last letters will be on opposite edges, and edge letters are the fastest way to identify spangram candidates.
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Strands Unlimited is an independent fan archive of past Strands puzzles. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by The New York Times Company. NYT Strands is a trademark of The New York Times Company. Today's daily puzzle is free at nytimes.com/games/strands.