The NYT's Strands puzzle is back with another letter grid that hides more than meets the eye. Unlike regular word searches, you're not just finding random words; you're uncovering mystery words connected by a clever theme while ensuring no letter goes unused.

When that combination proves too tricky and this mobile-friendly puzzle game has you frustrated, this guide offers a helping hand. If you need something more than the single clue that Strands has given you, you can find a whole bunch of clues in the article below.

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How to Play the New York Times Games Strands

Strands is a short daily word game that pits you against a grid of seemingly random letters that contains a whole bunch of related words.

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#412 April 19, 2025: ___ a ___

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The Strands puzzle for today has the clue ___ a ___. It has eight things to find: the Spangram and seven themed words.

NYT Strands Spangram Tips and Theme Hints

In need of help but don't like the in-game hints? In the three sections below, you will find themed hints that won't spoil any words. They are just little nudges in the right direction instead of full-on spoilers for this difficult puzzle game.

General Spangram Hint 1

General Spangram Hint 2

General Spangram Hint 3

Spoilers for Today's New York Times Strands

Need a spoiler for this mind-boggling puzzle game? In the two sections below, you will find a single spoiled word along with a screenshot of where to put that word in the grid. Open them up with the "Read More" button below each one.

Spoiler 1

Spoiler 2

The Answer to the NYT ___ a ___ Strands

If you need the answer for today's Strands puzzle, you can find it below. Open up the section to see all the themed words and a screenshot of where all those words go in this puzzle game's letter grid.

Today's Strands Explained

If you want more of an explanation for this browser game, look into the expandable section below. It houses a breakdown of what the clue, the theme, and the themed words all have in common and how it all makes sense.

Want to play? Check out the New York Times Games Strands website available on almost any device with a browser.

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strands game

Strands
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Puzzle
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Released
March 4, 2024
Developer(s)
The New York Times Company
Publisher(s)
The New York Times Company
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

Genre(s)
Puzzle