Strands Puzzle: One of the Hardest Puzzles Yet
If you’ve been tackling The New York Times’ Strands puzzle, you’ll know it’s no walk in the park. Today’s challenge, however, might just take the crown as one of the most difficult puzzles ever—borderline incomprehensible. Here’s everything you need to know about Strands, how to play, and today’s answers to help you along the way.
What is Strands?
Strands is a creative twist on the classic word search. The puzzle is currently in beta testing, meaning its future depends on how many people play it daily.
The goal of Strands is to find a group of theme-related words in a six-by-eight grid. You’ll also need to uncover a special word called the spangram, which connects two opposite sides of the board and ties the theme together. Unlike the theme words, the spangram can be a proper noun.
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How to Play Strands
- Identify Theme Words: Using the provided clue, find theme-related words in the grid. Theme words remain highlighted in blue.
- Find the Spangram: The spangram links two opposite sides of the grid and is highlighted in yellow when discovered.
- Valid Guesses: Words must be at least four letters long. If you find three valid but unrelated words, the Hint button unlocks, showing letters for a theme word.
- Connect Letters: You can form words by connecting letters horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Switching directions mid-word is allowed.
Pro Tip: On touchscreens, double-tap the last letter to submit your guess.
Today’s Strands Hint
The official hint for today’s puzzle is: “Crossed Words.”
An additional helpful clue is: “Combos.”
Answers to Today’s Strands Puzzle
Today’s spangram is: PORTMANTEAUX
Here’s the full list of answers, along with their meanings:
- ATHLEISURE – A mix of athletics and leisure.
- ZORSES – A hybrid of zebras and horses.
- ANKLET – A combination of ankle and bracelet.
- BRUNCH – A blend of breakfast and lunch.
- SPORK – A utensil combining a spoon and a fork.
- SMOG – A mix of smoke and fog.
Why Was Today’s Puzzle So Hard?
This Strands puzzle was particularly challenging because many of the words, like “Zorses” and “Athleisure,” are uncommon or niche. Unless you’re familiar with these terms, deciphering them can feel impossible.
Despite the difficulty, solving today’s puzzle can be incredibly rewarding. If you missed some answers, don’t worry—this one was a true brain-buster. Daily play will improve your skills and strategies for tackling Strands.
Happy puzzling!
