CNET provides daily solutions and hints for The New York Times puzzle lineup, including the Mini Crossword, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition, and Strands.
Strands functions as a word search without a supplied list of words. While the theme can sometimes be spotted immediately, allowing solvers to recognize answers at a glance, others require a different approach. A useful strategy is that Strands allows players to form unlimited words of four letters or more. For every three words discovered, the puzzle highlights one of the theme answers. Solving that highlighted term, however, can remain a difficult task.
For a detailed breakdown of Strands rules, please refer to this guide.
Today’s Strands theme is somewhat challenging, featuring answers that are difficult to decode. Below are the hints and full solutions.
Hint for today’s Strands puzzle
Today’s Strands theme is: Changing course.
If that does not assist you, here is a clue: Not this, but that.
Clue words to unlock in-game hints
Your objective is to locate hidden words that match the puzzle’s theme. If you are stuck, find any words you can. Every time you identify three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to unlock the hints, though any valid words of four letters or longer will work:
- DALE, LEAD, COLE, CLOP, SEER, LORE, TOOL, DATE, ROTE, TREE, TREES
Answers for today’s Strands puzzle
These are the answers that align with the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find all of them, including the spangram, a theme word that stretches from one side of the board to the other. Once all answers are complete (I originally believed there were always eight, though the number can vary), every letter on the board will be utilized. Here are the non-spangram answers:
- FLIP, UNDO, REVERSE, OVERTURN, BACKPEDAL
Today’s Strands spangram
Today’s Strands spangram is THEOLDSWITCHEROO. To find it, begin with the T located three letters to the right on the bottom row, then wind upward and then down.
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