Today's Strands clue is " Quite the crush". Use the hints below to find the theme words and the spangram.
Ready for today’s grid? Take your time and let the pattern guide you.
FAERSRELLIPELMIHSPBUNLULGSTOVBGIGFIELBELDGEABBTE
Theme nudge: What to look for
Look for words about those fluttery, nervous reactions around someone you like.
Hint 1: How many words to find
There are 6 theme words plus one spangram.
Hint 2: The spangram
The spangram has 10 letters, starts with F, and runs from one side of the board to the other.
Hint 3: Theme word lengths and first letters
- 6 letters, starts with B
- 5 letters, starts with B
- 6 letters, starts with F
- 6 letters, starts with G
- 8 letters, starts with P
- 7 letters, starts with S
Show the spangram
FALLINLOVE
Show all theme words
BABBLE, BLUSH, FIDGET, GIGGLE, PERSPIRE, STUMBLE
About this puzzle
- Made by Tracy Bennett
- Edited by Tracy Bennett
Strands deep dive
More about today's puzzle. Everything in this section can include the answer.
The solved board
FAERSRELLIPELMIHSPBUNLULGSTOVBGIGFIELBELDGEABBTE
Gold squares are the spangram, green squares are theme words.
What the theme words mean
- BABBLE: (intransitive) To talk too much; to chatter; to prattle.
- BLUSH: (intransitive) To become red or pink in the face (and sometimes experience an associated feeling of warmth), especial...
- FIDGET: (intransitive) To wiggle or twitch; to move the body, especially the fingers, around nervously or idly.
- GIGGLE: To laugh gently in a playful, nervous, or affected manner.
- PERSPIRE: (ambitransitive) To emit (sweat or perspiration) through the skin's pores.
- STUMBLE: (intransitive) To trip or fall; to walk clumsily.
Play today's Strands at The New York Times
More hints for October 17, 2026
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