New York Times Strands Hints and Answers for February 18, 2025

Strands has been around almost a whole year now, and every day it gives fans a brand-new grid filled with a secret theme and a bunch of themed words. It can be a struggle to figure out what all those words are, even if you already know how to play Strands well.

This article is here to help you out. In the sections below, you can find general hints and individual word spoilers too. And for those who are completely stuck, you can even find the full answer to today’s puzzle at the bottom.

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The NYT Games Strands Ouch! Puzzle #352 February 18, 2025

The Strands puzzle for today has the clue Ouch! It has six things to find: the Spangram and five themed words.

New York Times Games Strands Clues

If you need a hand with today’s puzzle but don’t like the in-game hint system, you should check out the three sections below. Each one has a little, spoiler-free hint to help you get closer to the theme of this mobile puzzle game.

General Hint 1

Hint 1: Things that make you go “Ouch!”

General Hint 2

Hint 2: “Ouch! That ____!”

General Hint 3

Hint 3: Animals and plants with pointy defenses designed to hurt.

Spoilers for Two of the Words in Today’s Strands

If you want a spoiler or two, but aren’t interested in using the in-game hint system, check out the sections below. Each one contains a different word along with a screenshot of where that word goes in this mind-bogglingly difficult puzzle game.

Spoiler 1

Spoiler 2

The Answer to Today’s New York Times Games Strands Ouch!

For the full answer to today’s New York Times Strands puzzle, head to the expandable section below. Be warned; opening it will reveal the Spangram, all the themed words, and their positions in the grid.

The category for today is Stingers. The words are Jellyfish, Scorpion, Hornet, Bumblebee, and Platypus.

Today’s Strands Explained

If you’re struggling to understand today’s puzzle, the section below is here to help. It explains how the themed words, Spangram, and clue all align in harmony.

Each of the themed words are animals that have defensive or offensive stingers on them to protect themselves or to hunt. If you come in contact with one of these, and they sting you, you will definitely say “Ouch!“

Want to play? Check out the New York Times Games Strands website, available on almost any device with a browser.

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Released

March 4, 2024

Developer(s)

The New York Times Company

Publisher(s)

The New York Times Company