<img alt="A game being played on a smartphone." src="https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/05L1CHyGs1TGGwiR8vlZ58M/hero-image.jpg" /><p>Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're easily bored.</p><p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/games/strands" target="_blank">Strands</a>, the <em>New York Times</em>' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters &mdash; up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.</p><div class="flex mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-3xl font-sans text-lg leading-normal md:text-xl md:leading-7"> <span class="font-bold text-primary-400">SEE ALSO:</span> <a class="flex items-center text-secondary-300" href="https://games.mashable.com/"> <span class="ml-1">Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable</span> <svg class="ml-1 w-4 h-4 font-normal fill-current" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><use></use></svg> </a> </div> <p>By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like <a href="https://mashable.com/category/wordle" target="_blank">Wordle</a> and <a href="https://mashable.com/category/connections" target="_blank">Connections</a>.</p><p>If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.</p><div class="flex mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-3xl font-sans text-lg leading-normal md:text-xl md:leading-7"> <span class="font-bold text-primary-400">SEE ALSO:</span> <a class="flex items-center text-secondary-300" href="https://mashable.com/article/wordle-today-answer-february-7-2026"> <span class="ml-1">Wordle today: Answer, hints for February 7, 2026</span> <svg class="ml-1 w-4 h-4 font-normal fill-current" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><use></use></svg> </a> </div> <div class="flex mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-3xl font-sans text-lg leading-normal md:text-xl md:leading-7"> <span class="font-bold text-primary-400">SEE ALSO:</span> <a class="flex items-center text-secondary-300" href="https://mashable.com/article/nyt-connections-hint-answer-today-February-7-2026"> <span class="ml-1">NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 7, 2026</span> <svg class="ml-1 w-4 h-4 font-normal fill-current" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><use></use></svg> </a> </div> <h2>NYT Strands hint for today&rsquo;s theme: Boo-o-o-o-ring</h2><p>The words are related to free time. </p><h2>Today&rsquo;s NYT Strands theme plainly explained</h2><p>These words describe a lack of excitement. </p><h2>NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?</h2><p>Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.</p><h2>NYT Strands spangram answer today</h2><p>Today's spangram is <strong>Watching Paint Dry</strong></p><h2>NYT Strands word list for February 7</h2><ul><li><p>Watching Paint Dry</p></li><li><p>Dreary</p></li><li><p>Dull</p></li><li><p>Mundane</p></li><li><p>Tiresome</p></li><li><p>Humdrum</p></li></ul><p><strong><em>Looking for other daily online games? <a href="https://mashable.com/category/games" target="_blank">Mashable's Games page</a></em></strong><strong><em> has more hints, a<a href="https://games.mashable.com/" target="_self">nd if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!</a></em></strong><strong><em> </em></strong></p><p><strong><em>Check out our <a href="https://games.mashable.com/" target="_self">games hub</a></em></strong><strong><em> for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.</em></strong></p><p><strong>Not the day you're after? </strong><a href="https://mashable.com/article/strands-nyt-hint-february-6-2026" target="_blank">Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.</a></p>