NYT Strands puzzle #351, for Monday, February 17, 2025, has the theme clue “Sun shade.” Its spangram is YELLOW; the six theme words are CANARY, DAFFODIL, GOLDENROD, LEMON, MUSTARD, and SAFFRON. Spoiler-free hints come first, followed by the solutions.
Hints for the February 17 Strands puzzle
Theme clue
“Sun shade.” Think of a color linked to sunshine and the things named by shades of it.
Spangram hint
The spangram is a mellow color. TechRadar reports that it runs horizontally from the left side of the board at row four to the right side at row five. TechRadar’s puzzle guide gives this board-position clue.
First-two-letter clues
For the six theme words and the spangram, Parade gives these starting pairs: LE, CA, MU, SA, DA, and YE. Parade’s hints and answers lists them.
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The theme words are CANARY, DAFFODIL, GOLDENROD, LEMON, MUSTARD, and SAFFRON. The spangram is YELLOW. TechRadar, Parade, and Try Hard Guides agree on the solution list.
How Strands hints and the spangram work
Strands asks players to find theme words that fill the board. You can drag or tap letters to form words; found theme words remain highlighted in blue. The spangram names the theme and connects two opposite sides of the board, highlighting in yellow. As Parade reproduces the New York Times guidance: “The spangram describes the puzzle’s theme and touches two opposite sides of the board.”
Finding three valid non-theme words earns an in-game hint that reveals the letters of a theme word, according to Parade and Try Hard Guides. The theme words fill the board without overlapping; the spangram may consist of more than one word.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the answers fit
YELLOW is the unifying color: canary, daffodil, goldenrod, lemon, mustard, and saffron are each associated with a shade or yellow-toned item. The fit is thematic rather than a strict botanical or standardized color classification; in particular, TechRadar notes that grouping SAFFRON this way can be debated. That is commentary on the categorization, not a definitive ruling.
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