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.
Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc’s Wordle today page for the original viral word game.
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 #557) – hint #1 – today’s theme
What is the theme of today’s NYT Strands?
• Today’s NYT Strands theme is… Take a break
NYT Strands today (game #557) – hint #2 – clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
- TOWER
- TRAP
- CHASE
- THESE
- STREET
- MICE
NYT Strands today (game #557) – hint #3 – spangram letters
How many letters are in today’s spangram?
• Spangram has 6 letters
NYT Strands today (game #557) – hint #4 – spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today’s spangram touches?
First side: left, 3rd row
Last side: right, 3rd row
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #557) – the answers
The answers to today’s Strands, game #557, are…
- EXERCISE
- SHOWER
- REST
- READ
- PAINT
- STRETCH
- MEDITATE
- SPANGRAM: ME TIME
- My rating: Easy
- My score: Perfect
Some questions I’m just putting out there: If you are single and live alone, is all time “ME TIME”? Since when does a SHOWER qualify as a ”ME TIME” activity? Surely it’s something you just do in order to keep clean. Is brushing one’s teeth also ME TIME? Sleeping? Going for a pee?
I’m surprised “puzzling” didn’t make the cut as a prime ME TIME activity – especially considering the audience. Instead we had some very worthy pastimes. I always aligned ME TIME with something a bit selfish – like eating an entire bag of M&Ms as you binge-watch a season of Slow Horses while your partner is at work. Or maybe that’s just me?
Anyway, I digress. The letter X in EXERCISE gave us a particularly easy start, which continued thanks to the plain words, a basic left-to-right spangram and minimal twists and turns. A day off for the Strands compilers so they could enjoy more “ME TIME” perhaps?
Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Wednesday, September 10, game #556)
- MUSIC
- MATH
- SCIENCE
- ENGLISH
- LUNCH
- RECESS
- SPANGRAM: SCHOOL SCHEDULE
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.