How to play NYT Strands?

NYT Strands is a word-finding puzzle where you connect letters on a grid to form words. Find all the theme words that relate to the given clue, plus the special "spangram" word that spans from one side of the grid to the opposite side. Words are formed by connecting adjacent letters (including diagonally).

What is a spangram in NYT Strands?

A spangram is a special word that spans from one side of the grid to the opposite side. It's usually longer than the theme words and often provides a hint about the puzzle's theme. Finding the spangram can help you identify the other theme words.

How many theme words are there?

NYT Strands typically has 6-8 theme words plus the spangram. All theme words relate to the given clue. Once you find all theme words and the spangram, any remaining letters should form additional valid words.

What are the best strategies for solving NYT Strands?

Start by looking for the spangram as it often reveals the theme. Look for common word patterns and endings. Think about the theme clue both literally and figuratively. Use the hint system if you find non-theme words. Work systematically from corners and edges.

NYT Strands#698

Saturday, August 16, 2025

Medium Daily Puzzle

NYT Strands August 16 2025 Hints, Spangram and Answer

Find all theme words and the spangram in today's letter grid. Need help? Use our step-by-step hints below!

Game Type

NYT Strands

Answer Length

7 words

Play Official

Play NYT Strands

NYT Strands Grid for 16 August 2025

💡 Connect adjacent letters (including diagonally) to form words. Words can change direction!

Step-by-Step Hints for 16 August 2025

Need help? Reveal hints gradually to solve the puzzle at your own pace

Today's Theme Hint

"Think on it!"

Find 6 theme words and 1 spangram related to this clue

Spangram Hints

Length & Position

9 letters - spans from one side of the grid to the opposite side

Letter-by-Letter Reveal

L_______N

Theme Words (6 words)

All of these words relate to: "Think on it!"

8 letters: A ______ S

8 letters: L ______ E

5 letters: L ___ C

7 letters: N _____ S

5 letters: O ___ R

6 letters: R ____ N

Pro Tips for Solving Strands

Getting Started

• Look for the spangram first - it reveals the theme
• Start from grid corners and edges
• Think about the theme clue literally and figuratively

Advanced Strategy

• Words can change direction mid-word
• Look for common prefixes and suffixes
• Use non-theme words to unlock hint system

Spoiler Alert!

The complete answers are below. Only scroll down if you want to see the full solution!

Complete Solution for 16 August 2025

Here are all the answers for today's NYT Strands puzzle

🎯 Spangram Answer

LEFTBRAIN

This word spans across the grid and summarizes today's theme

📝 Theme Words: "Think on it!"

ANALYSIS

LANGUAGE

LOGIC

NUMBERS

ORDER

REASON

🔍 Bonus Words Found in Grid

These 836 additional words can also be formed from the grid letters

Click to reveal all bonus words

Non-theme words that help unlock hints in the game

All Bonus Words

AALS

ABLE

ABROGABLE

ABUNE

ABUSE

ABUSED

ABUSER

ABUSERS

ABUSES

ACID

ACIDER

ACIDNESS

ACYL

ACYLS

AEGIS

AEON

AEONS

AERO

AGAR

AGARIC

AGEN

AGER

AGERS

AGILA

AGIO

AGORA

AGORAE

AGUE

AIDE

AIDER

AIDERS

AIDES

AIGA

AIOLI

AIOLIS

AIRED

AIRER

AIRERS

AIRN

AIRNED

AIRNS

ALAE

ALAN

ALANE

ALANG

ALANYL

ALANYLS

ALAR

ALAY

ALAYS

ALBA

ALBATA

ALEF

ALEFT

ALEGAR

ALFA

ALNAGE

ALTAR

ANAL

ANATA

ANEAR

ANEROID

ANGA

ANGER

ANGERS

ANGORA

ANGULAR

ANLAGE

ARABIN

ARABLE

ARBA

AREA

ARED

AREG

ARENA

ARENOSE

ARES

ARGOL

ARGOLS

ARID

ARIDER

ARIDNESS

ARNA

AROID

ASSURE

AUGER

AUGERS

AULA

AUNE

BAEL

BAGARRE

BAGARRES

BALE

BALU

BALUN

BANAL

BANE

BANG

BANGALAY

BANGALAYS

BANGER

BANGERS

BARB

BARBAL

BARE

BARER

BARN

BEAN

BEANBAG

BEAR

BEARABLE

BEGAN

BEGAR

BEGAT

BEGO

BEGOES

BEGORED

BEGORRA

BEGULF

BEGUN

BEIN

BENS

BERG

BIEN

BIER

BIERS

BLAE

BLAG

BLAGUE

BLARE

BLAT

BLAY

BLAYS

BLEAR

BLEARED

BLEARER

BLEAT

BLEY

BLEYS

BLUE

BLUEY

BLUEYS

BLUNGE

BLUNGER

BLUNGERS

BRAE

BRAG

BRAIN

BRAN

BRAT

BREI

BREN

BRENS

BRER

BRERS

BROG

BROGAN

BROGUE

BROIDER

BROIDERS

BRRR

BUNS

BUNSEN

BUNSENS

BURN

BURNER

BURNERS

BURNS

BURS

BURSA

BURSAE

BURSE

BURSERA

BURSES

BUSED

BUSERA

BUSES

BUSS

BUSSED

CAGANER

CAGANERS

CAGE

CAGER

CAGERS

CAGEY

CAGILY

CAGOUL

CAGOULE

CAGY

CAID

CAIRD

CAIRN

CAIRNED

CAIRNS

CARD

CARDER

CARDERS

CARDI

CARDIGAN

CARDIO

CARE

CARED

CARER

CARERS

CARES

CARESS

CARESSER

CARGO

CARN

CARNOSE

CARNS

CARR

CARRS

CAUL

CIAO

CIDE

CIDER

CIDERS

CIDES

CIGAR

CIRE

CIRES

CISSY

CLOG

COIL

COILS

COIR

COLS

CYAN

DENS

DENSE

DENSER

DERIG

DERN

DERNS

DERO

DERRO

DESSE

DIGRESS

DIGRESSER

DIOL

DIOLS

DIRE

DIRER

DRAC

DRACO

DRAG

DRESS

DRESSER

DROGER

DROGERS

DROGUE

EAGER

EAGERS

EAGRE

EAGRES

EALE

EARD

EARED

EARN

EARNED

EARNER

EARNERS

EARNS

EASE

EASED

EASER

EASERS

EASES

EATABLE

EATAGE

EGAL

EGIS

EGRESS

ELAN

ENABLE

ENGAGE

ENGORE

ENGORED

ENGORES

ENGUARD

ENGULF

ENOSES

ENRAGE

ENRAUNGE

ENSURE

ENSURES

ENURE

ENURES

ENURESES

EONS

ERBIA

ERGO

ERIC

ERICA

ERNE

ERNS

ERRED

ERROR

ERRORS

ERRS

ERSES

ESES

ESNE

ESNES

ESSE

EUGE

EUOI

FAAN

FANAL

FANALS

FATAL

FEAL

FEAT

FLAB

FLAG

FLAN

FLANGE

FLANGER

FLANGERS

FLARE

FLAT

FLAUNE

FLAY

FLAYS

FLEA

FLEG

FLEY

FLEYS

FLUE

FLUEY

FLUNG

FLUOR

FLUORIC

FLUORID

FLUORIDE

FLUORIDES

FLUORS

GABLE

GAGA

GAGE

GAGER

GAGERS

GAID

GAIR

GALA

GALAGE

GALAGO

GALANGA

GALE

GALEA

GALEAE

GALS

GANE

GARB

GARBLE

GARDEN

GARDENS

GARE

GARI

GARIGUE

GARNER

GARNERS

GARRE

GARRED

GARRES

GAUGE

GAUGER

GAUGERS

GAULT

GAUN

GAYS

GEAL

GEALS

GEAN

GEAR

GEARE

GEARED

GEARES

GEAT

GEBUR

GEBURS

GELT

GENA

GENAL

GENRE

GENRES

GENRO

GENS

GENU

GENUA

GENUS

GENUSES

GEYAN

GIGA

GIGUE

GILA

GIRD

GIRDER

GIRDERS

GIRN

GIRNED

GIRNER

GIRNERS

GIRNS

GIRO

GIRR

GIRRS

GNAR

GNAT

GOER

GOERS

GOES

GORA

GORE

GORED

GORES

GORGIA

GORGIO

GORI

GORSE

GORSES

GOUGE

GREIN

GREN

GRENS

GRESE

GRESES

GRID

GRIDE

GRIDES

GRIG

GROG

GUACO

GUAN

GUANA

GUANGO

GUAR

GUARD

GUARDER

GUARDERS

GUGA

GULA

GULAG

GULAR

GULE

GULF

GUNG

GUNGE

GYAL

GYALS

GYNAE

ICILY

IDES

IGUANA

IMBAR

IMBURSE

IMBURSED

IMBURSES

IRED

IRES

LABRA

LAGENA

LAGER

LAGERS

LAGUNA

LAGUNE

LALANG

LANA

LANAI

LANE

LANG

LANGAR

LANGER

LANGERS

LANGUE

LANGUOR

LANGUORS

LANUGO

LARE

LARN

LAYS

LEAF

LEAL

LEAN

LEANER

LEANERS

LEANLY

LEANY

LEAR

LEARE

LEARED

LEARES

LEARN

LEARNED

LEARNER

LEARNERS

LEARNS

LEAT

LEFT

LEGACY

LEGAL

LEGALS

LEYS

LIGAN

LIGULA

LIGULAE

LIGULAR

LIGULE

LILO

LILY

LOCA

LOCI

LOGIA

LOID

LOIR

LUGE

LUGER

LUGERS

LUNA

LUNAR

LUNE

LUNG

LUNGE

LUNGER

LUNGERS

LYNAGE

LYSIS

MIEN

MIENS

MINBAR

MUNS

MURE

MURES

MUSE

MUSED

MUSER

MUSERS

MUSES

MUSS

MUSSE

MUSSED

NABE

NABLA

NAGA

NAGARI

NAGOR

NAGORS

NAIN

NALA

NARE

NATAL

NAYS

NEAR

NEGRESS

NEGRO

NEGROES

NEGROID

NERAL

NERD

NESS

NGAIO

NIMB

NIMBUS

NIMBUSED

NIMBUSES

NOES

NOESES

NOSE

NOSED

NOSER

NOSERS

NOSES

NUBIA

NUGAE

NUMB

NUMBER

NUMBERABLE

NURS

NURSE

NURSED

NURSER

NURSERS

NURSES

NYALA

OARED

OASES

OGRE

OGRES

OGRESS

OILS

OILY

ONER

ONERS

ONES

ORACY

ORBIER

ORDERS

ORES

ORGAN

ORGANA

ORGIA

ORGIAC

ORGIC

ORGUE

ORIGAN

ORRA

OSES

RABI

RACILY

RACY

RAGA

RAGE

RAGER

RAGERS

RAGI

RAGIS

RAID

RAIDER

RAIDERS

RAIN

RALE

RANA

RANG

RANGE

RANGER

RANGERS

RANULA

RATA

RATAL

RATAN

RATANY

RAUN

RAUNGE

REAN

REAR

REASONED

REASONER

REASONERS

REBAR

REBUS

REBUSES

REDIA

REDIAE

REGAL

REGALE

REGAR

REGARD

REGARDER

REGARDERS

REGAUGE

REGNA

REGNAL

REGO

REGRESS

REGULA

REGULAE

REGULAR

REIMBURSE

REIMBURSED

REIMBURSER

REIMBURSERS

REIMBURSES

REIN

RENAGUE

RENAL

REND

RENGA

RENS

REOS

RERAN

RERIG

RESEASON

RESEND

RESES

RICY

RIDE

RIDER

RIDERS

RIDES

RIGOL

RIGOLS

ROAR

ROARED

ROARER

ROARERS

ROED

ROES

ROGER

ROGERS

ROGUE

RORE

RORES

RORIC

RORID

ROUE

ROUGE

ROUL

ROULE

RUBAI

RUBE

RUBIER

RUBIN

RUMBA

RUNE

RUNS

RUSE

RUSES

RUSSE

SEAS

SEASE

SEASED

SEASON

SEASONED

SEASONER

SEND

SENS

SENSA

SENSE

SERA

SERAC

SERAI

SERGE

SERGER

SERGERS

SERIC

SERR

SERRA

SERRAE

SERRE

SERRS

SERS

SERUM

SESE

SILAGE

SILO

SLAE

SLAG

SLAY

SLILY

SLOG

SLOID

SNEB

SNED

SNUB

SONDE

SONDER

SONDERS

SONDES

SONE

SONERI

SONES

SUBA

SUBANGULAR

SUBER

SURE

SURES

SYLI

SYLIS

TAAL

TAALS

TABLA

TABLE

TABLEAU

TAEL

TALA

TALAR

TALE

TALEA

TALEAE

TANA

TANE

TANG

TANGA

TANGO

TANGOED

TARA

TARE

TARN

UEYS

UGALI

UGALIS

ULAN

UMBER

UMBERS

UMBRE

UNABLE

UNABUSED

UNAI

UNBAG

UNBALE

UNBAN

UNBAR

UNBARE

UNBE

UNBEAR

UNBEARABLE

UNBEGUN

UNGAG

UNGEAR

UNGORD

UNGORED

UNREASON

UNREASONED

UNRED

UNREIN

UNSEASON

UNSEASONED

UNSENSE

UREA

UREAS

UREASE

UREASES

URES

URESES

URNS

URSA

URSAE

URSON

USED

USER

USERS

USES

USNEA

YAGI

YAGIS

YALE

YEAN

YEAR

YEARD

YEAREND

YEARN

YEARNED

YEARNER

YEARNERS

YEARNS

YELT

836

Bonus Words

Shortest Word

Longest Word

843

Total Words

💡 Pro Tip

In NYT Strands, finding 3 non-theme words unlocks a hint that highlights letters for a theme word. Use these bonus words strategically when you're stuck!

What is NYT Strands?

NYT Strands is a word puzzle where you find words that fit the theme hidden in a grid of letters. Find the spangram - a word that uses letters from one side of the grid to the other and describes the theme.

Welcome to NYT Strands! Ready to uncover today's theme and find all the hidden words? Whether you're looking for hints about the spangram or need help finding theme words, our guide will help you solve today's letter grid puzzle.

NYT Strands Tips & Strategies

Start by trying to identify the theme from the clue
Look for the spangram first - it spans the grid and describes the theme
Find words that relate to the theme, not just any words in the grid
Words can go in any direction including diagonally
Theme words are usually related nouns, verbs, or proper nouns

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