NYT Strands #958: 'Quite the Crush' Theme and 'Fall in Love' Spangram

Key points

• The puzzle theme is 'Quite the crush,' focusing on physical signs or behaviors associated with developing romantic feelings.
• The spangram is 'Fall in Love,' which spans the grid vertically, starting with the letter F in the top row.
• The six non-spangram theme words are Blush, Babble, Fidget, Giggle, Stumble, and Perspire.
• CNET notes that the number of theme words can vary, correcting a common misconception that there are always eight.
• Lifehacker describes the spangram hint as a three-word phrase describing a crush developing into something more meaningful, while Mashable provides a direct hint: 'My sweetheart.'
• PC Guide’s secondary source appears to be a technical error page or bot challenge, offering no usable content for this puzzle.

Background

NYT Strands is a daily word-search game launched by the New York Times in 2024, following the popularity of Wordle. Players must find theme words and a spangram within a letter grid, with words able to change direction. Recent puzzles, such as #952 and #951, have been rated moderate in difficulty, while #947 featured the theme 'Changing course.' The game provides partial hints, including initial letters and directions, to assist solvers.

How outlets are covering it

Mashable, CNET, and Lifehacker all agree on the theme, spangram, and word list for Strands #958. Mashable provides a direct hint ('My sweetheart') and lists the words in a specific order. CNET emphasizes that the number of theme words can vary, not always being eight, and provides a list of non-theme words used to unlock in-game hints. Lifehacker offers a more oblique hint for the spangram, describing it as a three-word phrase related to a crush developing. PC Guide’s source is a technical error page and provides no relevant information. The outlets differ in their approach to hints, with Mashable being more direct and Lifehacker more cryptic, but all confirm the same final answers.

Why it matters

NYT Strands has become a popular daily puzzle, with multiple outlets providing hints and solutions to help players. The consistency of the answers across sources ensures that players can verify their solutions. The game’s mechanics, including the spangram and theme words, are designed to challenge players while providing a sense of accomplishment upon completion.

What to watch

The next Strands puzzle, #959, is scheduled for October 18, 2026. CNET and Lifehacker have already published hints for this upcoming puzzle. Players can expect a new theme and spangram, with the usual mix of direct and oblique hints from various outlets.