Strands
Strands is a daily word search with a twist. A short clue hints at the theme, and you trace words through a grid of letters until every letter is used.
Opens the real game on nytimes.com. Free, in a new tab.
Strands rules in short
- Read the theme clue
Each puzzle starts with a short, often playful clue. It points to what all the answers have in common.
- Trace a word
Drag or tap through letters that touch, in any direction, including diagonals. Theme words turn blue when you find one.
- Find the spangram
One answer names the theme itself and stretches across the grid from side to side or top to bottom. It turns yellow.
- Use every letter
The puzzle is done when all letters belong to a found word. No letter is left over.
Strands at a glance
- Made by
- The New York Times
- Board
- A grid of letters, every letter belongs to one answer
- Special word
- The spangram, which runs from one side of the grid to the other
- Hints
- Earned by finding other real words that are not theme words
- New puzzle
- Every day
- Price
- Free in the browser and the NYT Games app
- Category
- Word games, word grids
Spangram first
Strands from The New York Times hides themed words in a grid of letters, and every letter belongs to exactly one answer. The spangram is the special word that names the theme and stretches from one side of the grid to the other. Finding it early tells you what the other words are about and splits the grid into smaller areas.
Earning hints
Strands does not give hints for free. You earn them by finding real words that are not theme words. Each set of non theme words fills the hint meter, and a hint then highlights the letters of one theme word.
- Early in the game, trace any real word you see to build hints.
- Use a hint when you are stuck, not right away. It is more useful once you have a few theme words.
- Read the clue at the top again. It is often a pun on the theme.
Strands vs Connections
Both are free daily puzzles from the NYT. Connections is about sorting given words into groups. Strands is about finding the words in the first place. Players who like word searches tend to prefer Strands.
Where spangrams hide
- They touch two opposite sides of the grid
- They often run through the middle row or column
- They name the theme, so think of a phrase that sums it up
Questions people ask about Strands
What is a spangram in Strands?
It is the one answer that describes the theme and touches two opposite sides of the grid. Every puzzle has exactly one.
How do hints work in Strands?
Find real words that are not theme words. After a few of them the hint button fills, and using it highlights the letters of one theme word.
Is Strands free?
Yes. The daily Strands puzzle is free to play in the browser and the NYT Games app.
How do I get a Strands hint today?
Find three real words that are not theme words. That fills the hint meter and highlights a theme word's letters.
Where are the Strands answers?
On the Strands answers today page, behind hints for the spangram. This guide keeps them out so you can read it without spoilers.
Ways to get better at Strands
- Start in the corners. Corner letters have few neighbors, so the word that uses them is easier to spot.
- Any real word of four or more letters still helps. Find a few and you earn a hint that lights up a theme word.
- The spangram is often the best first target, because once you know the theme the other words come faster.
- If the clue is a pun, say it out loud. Many Strands themes are wordplay rather than a plain topic.
- Corner letters have few neighbours, so the words using them are easier to trace.
Facts checked on 2026-11-03. Strands belongs to The New York Times. Megadle is not linked to it.