Strands is the NYT’s newest word game, following Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it’s a lot of fun. It can be difficult though, so read on for my Strands tips.
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 today’s NYT Strands is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.
NYT Strands today (game #288) – hint #1 – today’s theme
What is the theme of today’s NYT Strands?
• Today’s NYT Strands theme is… Crossed Words
NYT Strands Today (Game #288) – Hint #2 – Clue Words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hint system.
- CERTAINLY
- SIZES
- TANK
- RATHER
- HURT
- NEAT
NYT Strands today (game #288) – hint #3 – spangram
What’s a hint for today’s spangram?
• Word banger
NYT Strands today (game #288) – hint #4 – spangram position
What are the two sides of the board that today’s spangram comes into contact with?
First side: top, 4th column
Last side: bottom, 4th column
Okay, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands Today (Game #288) – The Answers
The answers to today’s Strands, game #288, are…
- SMOG
- SPORT
- BRUNCH
- ZORSE
- ATHLEISURE
- ONE-WAY
- SPANGRAM: PORTMANTEAUX
- My rating: Moderate
- My score: 2 tips
In honor of today’s Spangram, I invented my own portmanteaux. Stranesia describes that moment when you’re playing Strands and your memory and brainpower completely elude you. Today I experienced this all-too-common sensation when, even though I had only five letters left, I still couldn’t get the last word in and was left dumbfounded.
In my defense, ZORSE is definitely not the most common word. But again, none of my numerous attempts (Orzes – spicy Oreos?, etc.) made any sense.
According to Google, there are only about 100 Zorses (a hybrid between zebra and horse) in the world. A few years ago a breeder called the zorse “the horse of the future”. But there’s one problem: zorses can’t reproduce, which makes their future bleak.
Zorse is also rumored to be the name of a puzzle game that the NYT tested, so this portmanteaux company could be a sly piece of marketing. Zorse: the puzzle of the future. Or maybe it doesn’t exist at all.
How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.
Yesterday’s NYT Strands Answers (Sunday, December 15, Game #287)
- FULL
- TO DECREASE
- WAXING
- GIBBOUS
- QUARTER
- CRESCENT
- SPAN RAM: MOON PHASE
What is NYT Strands?
Strands is the NYT’s new word game, after Wordle and Connections. It is now out of beta so is a full member of the NYT’s stable of games and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
I have a full guide to playing NYT Strands, complete with troubleshooting tips, so give that a read if you’re struggling to beat it every day.