New York Times Strands puzzle hints and solution for Oct. 17, 2026

Mashable published guidance for the New York Times' Strands puzzle dated October 17, 2026. The daily theme was described as "Quite the crush," with the hint that the related words pertain to developing feelings for someone. The spangram – a phrase that spans the entire grid – was indicated to run vertically, and the solution was revealed as "Fall in Love." The accompanying word list included terms such as "Stumble," "Giggle," "Babgle," "Fidget," "Perspire," and "Blush." Mashable noted that Strands differs from other word-search games by allowing words to change direction and requiring every letter in the grid to be part of an answer.

"The words are related to feelings," the site wrote regarding the theme.

"Today's spangram is Fall in Love," the outlet added.

Mashable also referenced its broader gaming coverage, directing readers to its games hub for additional puzzles.