Introducing the New Daily Word Game: Strands
Move over, Wordle, Connections, and Mini Crossword—there’s a new favorite among word game enthusiasts. The New York Times has introduced a fresh daily challenge called “Strands,” which is quickly gaining popularity as a must-try activity for fans of language-based puzzles. Available on the NYT website and app, Strands offers a unique blend of theme words and spangrams that keep players engaged every day.
The game features daily themes and hidden spangrams that add an extra layer of excitement. As players uncover the theme words, they also work toward finding the spangram, which ties the entire puzzle together. This makes Strands a compelling addition to any daily routine, offering a new challenge each day.
How to Play Strands
To get started with Strands, players need to identify theme words that fill the board. These theme words remain highlighted in blue once found. Users can either drag or tap letters to form words, and if tapping, they should double-tap the last letter to submit their answer. It’s important to note that theme words completely fill the board, and no two theme words will overlap.
In addition to the theme words, players must find the “spangram.” This special word describes the puzzle’s theme and connects two opposite sides of the board. It may consist of two words and highlights in yellow when discovered. For example, a spangram could be “PEAR,” while the theme words might include “FRUIT,” “BANANA,” and “APPLE.”
If players are stuck, they can look for non-theme words to earn hints. Every three non-theme words found provides a hint, which reveals the letters of a theme word. If there is already an active hint on the board, the hint will show the correct order of the letters in that word.
Today’s Strands Puzzle: “Pet Store Purchase”
Today’s Strands puzzle focuses on words related to what you might wear when it’s warm. Players are tasked with finding eight theme words, including the spangram. Here are the first two letters of each theme word:
- FI
- PU
- TA
- PL
- RO
- FI
- TH
- AQ (SPANGRAM)
Players looking for clues about the direction of the spangram can note that it is mostly vertical.
Spangram Answer for Tuesday, July 22
The spangram for today’s puzzle is AQUARIUM. This word connects the theme of the puzzle and spans two opposite sides of the board.
Full List of Answers for Today’s Puzzle
Alongside the spangram, here are the theme words that players should look for:
- FISH
- PUMP
- TANK
- PLANTS
- ROCKS
- FILTER
- THERMOMETER
- SPANGRAM: AQUARIUM
Strands continues to captivate players with its clever design and engaging gameplay. Whether you’re a longtime fan of word games or just looking for a new daily challenge, Strands is definitely worth trying. With its mix of theme words and spangrams, it offers a fresh and exciting way to test your vocabulary and problem-solving skills.
