October 17, 2026#958archive
NYT Strands — October 17, 2026
Hints — one at a time
Hint 1 of 5
Today's grid is full of nervous reactions you might have around someone you like.
Hint 2 of 5
Every non-spangram word describes an awkward or giddy physical response to attraction.
Hint 3 of 5
One entry is talking too fast and incoherently; another is turning red in the cheeks.
Hint 4 of 5
The spangram describes the giddy experience of developing strong romantic feelings.
Hint 5 of 5
Look for BABBLE, BLUSH, FIDGET, GIGGLE, PERSPIRE and STUMBLE, all spanned by FALLINLOVE.
The answer — spoilers!
Reveal the full answer
Quite the crush
FALLINLOVE
BABBLE · BLUSH · FIDGET · GIGGLE · PERSPIRE · STUMBLE
This puzzle by the numbers
- 10 letters
- 6
Counted from our own archive of NYT Strands answers — not published anywhere else.
