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Today’s NYT strands The puzzle is a fun one, and not too difficult. But if you need hints and answers, read on.
I go into depth about strand rules in this story.
If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connect, and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Hardest Puzzles Ever
Hints for today’s Strands puzzle
Today’s Strands theme is: Out, damned spot!
If that doesn’t help, here’s a clue: Think Maytag or Whirlpool.
Clue words to unlock in-game hints
Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you are stuck, find any words that you can. Each time you find three words of four or more letters, Strands will reveal a theme word. These are the words I use to get those hints, but any word you find of four or more letters will work:
- pray, pray, bolt, rule, halt, halts, lace, span, spur, tell, stain, steal, steal,
Answers to today’s Strands puzzle
Answers that tie into this theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have them all (I initially thought there were always eight but learned that number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:
- bLot, soak, scrub, spray, steam, launder, bleach
Today’s strand spangram
NYT Strands Hints
Today’s Strands are spangram stain removal. To find it, start with S four letters down in the far-left row and go up and up.
The hardest Strands puzzle
Here are some of the Strands topics I’ve found most difficult in recent weeks.
#1: Date Slang, January 21. Maybe you didn’t use this lingo when it was cool. Hardest word: PHAT.
#2: Thar he blows! January 15. I think marine biologists can ace it. Hardest word: Balen or correct.
#3: Off the Hook, January 9. Like the 15th Jan puzzle that it helps to know a lot about sea creatures. Sorry, Charlie. Hardest word: BIGEYE or SKIPJACK.