Looking for a different day?
A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing ‘today’s game’ while others are playing ‘yesterday’s’. If you’re looking for Tuesday’s puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, December 16 (game #653).
Strands is the NYT’s latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it’s great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.
NYT Strands today (game #654) – hint #1 – today’s theme
What is the theme of today’s NYT Strands?
• Today’s NYT Strands theme is… Out of line
NYT Strands today (game #654) – hint #2 – clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
- ROOT
- SLOT
- ROCKED
- PLATE
- WIRE
- DENT
NYT Strands today (game #654) – hint #3 – spangram letters
How many letters are in today’s spangram?
• Spangram has 10 letters
NYT Strands today (game #654) – hint #4 – spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today’s spangram touches?
First side: top, 3rd column
Last side: bottom, 6th column
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #654) – the answers
The answers to today’s Strands, game #654, are…
- ASKEW
- ASLANT
- CROOKED
- LOPSIDED
- UNEVEN
- TILTED
- SPANGRAM: ALITTLEOFF
- My rating: Hard
- My score: 1 hint
A lovely synonym game that reminded me of several pop culture items.
The first is Lopsided Charlie, a cartoon character a late friend of mine developed in the UK. The second is a pop song that has more than lasted the test of time – Tilted by Christine & The Queens from 2014, which is best experienced with a video featuring a highly ASKEW dance routine.
These distractions aside, I did struggle to begin today and needed a hint in the form of ASKEW. After that it was a circular journey around the board, pausing when I thought that the letters O-F-F must belong to the spangram.
Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Tuesday, December 16, game #653)
- FUNNY
- CHARMING
- BEAUTIFUL
- SMART
- KINDHEARTED
- SPANGRAM: HIGHPRAISE
What is NYT Strands?
Strands is the NYT’s not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It’s now a fully fledged member of the NYT’s games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
I’ve got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you’re struggling to beat it each day.