Today’s NYT Strands: Hints, Answers, and Help for July 21 #140 – CNET

Strands doesn’t get as much attention as its New York Times siblings Wordle and Connections, but it can be just as challenging and entertaining. Strands just came out of beta, so it’s now in the official New York Times Games app, which might just earn it more fans. I’ll go into more detail about the rules for Strands in this story.

Need more answers? Here’s the answer for today’s Wordle , and here are the answers for today’s Connections . And will you solve the NYT Mini Crossword ? Here’s today’s answer for that .

Read more: NYT Connections turns 1: these are the 5 hardest puzzles so far

Tip for today’s Strands puzzle

Today’s Strands theme is: S-words? (a current topic!)

If that doesn’t help you, here’s a tip: the 1998 film Wesley Snipes.

Clue words to unlock hints in the game

Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the theme of the puzzle. If you’re stuck, find all the words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints, but any words of four or more letters you find will work:

• SEAM, MEAT, TEAN, META, SLIM, CUT, FOG, CRAM, MATS, STAB, SADE, CRIM, TEAMS, SLIMS

Answers to Today’s Strands Puzzle

These are the answers that fit the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that extends from one side of the puzzle to the other. Once you have them all (I originally thought there were always eight, but I learned that number can vary), every letter on the board is used. Here are the non-spangram answers:

• KATANA, RAPIER, MACHETE, CUTTING KNIFE, CLAYMORE, SCIMITAR

Today’s Strands Spangram

Today’s Strands spangram is KNIVES. To find it, count down four letters to the far right until B, then count back across the grid.

How to Play NYT Strands

1. Use today’s theme to search for words related to that topic. See one? Drag or click the letters into the correct order. Double-click the last letter to submit your guess. When you find a theme word, it will light up blue and stay that way.

2. Other words you find are considered clue words that will give you clues to the theme words. Find three clue words (they must each have at least four letters) and the game will reward you by showing you a theme word. But if you can’t figure it out, find three more clue words and the game will highlight the letters of the theme word in order.

3. On the hunt for the spangrama special theme word that covers the entire puzzle, although it can also flow from top to bottom. It summarizes the puzzle theme.

4. When you are finished, you will have used every letter on the board in a theme word or spangram. Theme words fill the entire board and do not overlap.