Strands

Drag to trace themed words — find the spangram to reveal the theme!

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Theme: ???
Spangram = yellow · Theme words = blue

About Strands

Strands is a word-search puzzle game launched by The New York Times in March 2024 as their newest daily puzzle alongside Wordle, Connections, and the Mini Crossword. Unlike a traditional word search where words are found independently, every word in Strands is connected by a shared theme — and finding the theme is half the puzzle.

The grid is 6 columns by 8 rows (48 letters total). Hidden within the grid are several theme words and one special word called the spangram — a word or phrase that touches both sides of the board and encapsulates the day's theme. Once found, the spangram reveals what all the other words have in common, turning the remaining search into a satisfying verification process.

Our browser version generates thematic puzzles fresh each session. Words can snake in any direction — horizontally, vertically, diagonally, backward — and each letter is used exactly once. The puzzle tests not just your vocabulary but your ability to see patterns and think thematically across a group of related words.

How to Play Strands

  • Click and drag across adjacent letters to trace out a word in the grid
  • Letters can connect in any direction — up, down, diagonal, backward, snaking
  • A correctly found theme word highlights in blue and stays on the board
  • Find the spangram — a theme word that spans the full board edge to edge — it highlights in yellow
  • All letters in the grid are used exactly once across all theme words
  • Complete the puzzle by finding every theme word including the spangram

Strategy Tips

  • Find the spangram first: It spans the full board and instantly reveals the theme
  • Think in categories: Once you see the theme (e.g. "types of fish"), brainstorm all members and hunt for them
  • Look for clusters: Theme words tend to cluster in areas — if you find one word, search nearby for another
  • Long words first: Longer theme words take up more space and leave fewer letters to confuse you
  • Letter density: Dense vowel clusters usually contain a word — trace through them systematically

Strands vs Word Search

  • Traditional Word Search: Words go in straight lines only, words are given in a list
  • Strands: Words snake in any direction, you must deduce the words from the theme
  • Harder in: Finding words without a word list — you must think of the words yourself
  • Easier in: Once theme is known, the search becomes logical and satisfying
  • Unique mechanic: Every letter is used exactly once — letters already claimed can't be reused

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