NYT Strands May 18 2025 Hints, Spangram and Answer

18 May 2025
9 Words

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

Today's Theme

"Riding the wind"

Spangram

8 letters

Theme Words

8 words

What is NYT Strands?

NYT Strands is The New York Times' captivating word puzzle that combines elements of word search with thematic word finding. Each day presents a 6×8 grid of letters where you must discover all theme words related to a specific clue, plus find the special "spangram" that spans across the grid.

Unlike traditional word searches, Strands words can change direction, creating unique shapes and paths through the grid. The challenge is not just finding words, but understanding how they all connect to the daily theme.

Today's Theme

"Riding the wind"

Find 8 theme words and 1 spangram related to this clue

NYT Strands Grid for 18 May 2025

S
T
I
G
I
R
A
N
B
G
L
M
M
G
L
O
E
H
S
A
I
U
A
T
E
L
H
D
L
L
E
R
E
D
U
R
K
S
T
T
I
L
N
R
E
R
E
L

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

Step-by-Step Hints for 18 May 2025

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

Today's Theme Hint

"Riding the wind"

All theme words relate to this clue. Think about different meanings and related concepts!

Spangram Hints

Length & Position

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

Letter-by-Letter Reveal

S______T

Theme Words (8 words)

All of these words relate to: "Riding the wind"

4 letters: H __ M
4 letters: H __ L
4 letters: K __ L
4 letters: M __ T
7 letters: R _____ G
6 letters: R ____ R
5 letters: S ___ N
6 letters: T ____ R

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!

Frequently Asked Questions

Complete Solution for 18 May 2025

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

🎯 Spangram Answer

SAILBOAT

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

📝 Theme Words: "Riding the wind"

HELM
HULL
KEEL
MAST
RIGGING
RUDDER
STERN
TILLER

🔍 Bonus Words Found in Grid

These 949 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

ADDER
ADDERS
ADHERE
ADHERES
ADULT
AGAS
AGAST
AGILA
AGILAS
AGILE
AGILER
AGILEST
AGIO
AGLU
AGMA
AGMAS
AHED
AHEM
AHULL
AIDE
AIDED
AIDER
AIDERS
AIDES
AIGA
AIGAS
AILED
AILETTE
AILETTES
AILS
AIOLI
ALDER
ALDERS
ALEE
ALERT
ALERTED
ALERTER
ALERTS
ALES
ALGA
ALGAS
ALGID
ALGIN
ALGINS
ALGOID
ALIGN
ALIGNS
ALLUDE
ALLUDED
ALLUDES
ALOE
ALOUD
ALUDEL
ALUDELS
ALULA
ALULAE
AMAH
AMAS
AMATING
ANGA
ANGAS
ANGLO
ANLAS
ANTI
ANTS
ATIGI
AUDIAL
AUDILE
AUDILES
AUDIO
AULA
AULAS
AULD
AULDER
AULDEST
AULOI
BIGG
BING
BINGS
BINS
BINT
BINTS
BITS
BLAE
BLAER
BLAES
BLAG
BLAGS
BLAH
BLAHED
BLAM
BLAMS
BLASE
BLOAT
BLOG
BLOGGING
BLOGGINGS
BLUDE
BLUDES
BLUE
BLUET
BLUID
BOAT
BOATEL
BOET
BOGGING
BOGGLE
BOGLE
BOIL
BOILED
BOILER
BOILERS
BOILS
BOLA
BOLAS
BOLE
BOLIDE
BOLIDES
BOULDER
BOULDERS
BOULT
DAHL
DALT
DATE
DAULT
DEDAL
DELE
DELES
DELI
DELS
DERE
DERES
DERHAM
DERHAMS
DESERT
DESERTER
DESK
DETER
DETERS
DETEST
DHAL
DHALS
DIAL
DIALED
DIALER
DIALERS
DIALOG
DIALOGING
DIALS
DIEL
DIET
DIETED
DIETER
DIETERS
DIGS
DILL
DILUTE
DILUTED
DILUTER
DILUTERS
DILUTES
DIOL
DIRE
DIRER
DIREST
DIRL
DIRT
DIRTED
DIRTS
DITE
DITED
DITES
DITT
DITTED
DITTS
DUAL
DUDE
DUDES
DUEL
DUET
DUIT
DULE
DULIA
DULIAS
DULL
DULLER
DULLIER
EALE
EALES
EASLE
EASLES
EATH
EDILE
EDILES
EDIT
EELS
EGGING
EIDE
EIDER
EIDERS
ELHI
ELIDE
ELIDED
ELIDES
ELITE
ELITES
ELOIGN
ELOIGNS
ELSE
ELUDE
ELUDED
ELUDER
ELUDERS
ELUDES
ELUTE
ELUTED
ELUTES
EMIR
ERED
ERES
ERKS
ERNS
ERST
ESKER
ESTER
ETHAL
ETUDE
ETUDES
ETUI
EUOI
GAES
GAID
GALE
GALERE
GALERES
GALES
GALETTE
GALETTES
GALILEE
GALILEES
GALS
GAMA
GAMAS
GAMS
GANS
GANT
GANTS
GASMAN
GAST
GATS
GEAL
GEAT
GEOID
GEOIDAL
GETA
GIBLI
GIDDIER
GIGLET
GILA
GILAS
GILET
GILETS
GIMEL
GIMLET
GING
GINGAL
GINGALS
GINGS
GINS
GIRL
GITS
GLAM
GLAMS
GLEG
GLIA
GLIAL
GLIAS
GLID
GLIDDER
GLIDDEST
GLIDE
GLIDED
GLIDER
GLIDERS
GLIDES
GLIM
GLIME
GLOAT
GLOB
GLOBI
GLOBIN
GLOBING
GLOBINS
GLOGG
GLUE
GNAT
GNATS
GOAD
GOADED
GOAL
GOAT
GOEL
GOLE
GOLEM
GOLIAS
HADDEST
HADDIE
HADE
HADED
HADES
HAEM
HAERES
HAES
HAET
HAGS
HAIL
HAILED
HAILER
HAILERS
HAILS
HALE
HALED
HALER
HALERS
HALES
HALEST
HALID
HALIDE
HALIDES
HALL
HALO
HALOID
HALSE
HALSER
HALSERS
HALT
HAMS
HAOLE
HASLET
HASLETS
HATE
HAUD
HAUL
HAULD
HAULT
HEAD
HEADED
HEADER
HEADERS
HEAL
HEALD
HEALDED
HEAT
HELE
HELES
HELIO
HELO
HERE
HERES
HERL
HERLS
HERS
HERSE
HEST
HETE
HETES
HETS
HIDDER
HIDDERS
HIDE
HIDED
HIDER
HIDERS
HIDES
HILA
HUDUD
HUIA
HUIAS
HULA
HULAS
IDES
IGGING
IGLU
ILEA
ILEAL
ILLER
ILLUDE
ILLUDED
ILLUDES
INLAID
INTAGLI
INTAGLIO
IRES
ITAS
KEELED
KEELER
KEELERS
KEELS
KEREL
KERELS
KEST
KESTREL
KESTRELS
KREESE
KREESED
LADDER
LADDERS
LADDIE
LADE
LADED
LADER
LADERS
LADES
LADETTE
LADETTES
LAER
LAERED
LAERS
LAGAN
LAGANS
LAGS
LAID
LAIDED
LALDIE
LAMA
LAMAS
LAMS
LASE
LASER
LASERS
LATE
LATH
LATHE
LAUD
LAUDED
LAUDER
LAUDERS
LEAD
LEADED
LEADER
LEADERS
LEAL
LEAM
LEAMS
LEAS
LEAT
LEEK
LEEKS
LEER
LEERED
LEERS
LEES
LEESE
LEGGIN
LEGGING
LEGGINGS
LEGGINS
LEGIT
LEGITS
LEHR
LEHRS
LEHUA
LEIR
LEKS
LERE
LERED
LERES
LEST
LESTED
LETHAL
LETS
LETTED
LETTER
LETTERER
LETTERERS
LETTERN
LETTERNS
LETTERS
LETTRE
LETTRES
LEUD
LEUDES
LIAS
LIER
LIGAN
LIGANS
LIGASE
LIGGE
LIGGING
LIGGINGS
LIGS
LILO
LIME
LIMEADE
LIMEADES
LIRE
LITE
LITED
LITER
LITERS
LITES
LITRE
LITRES
LITTER
LITTERS
LITU
LOAD
LOADED
LOADER
LOADERS
LOATH
LOATHE
LOBI
LOBING
LOBINGS
LOGE
LOGGING
LOGGINGS
LOGIN
LOGINS
LOID
LOIDED
LOUD
LOUDER
LOUDEST
LOUDHAILER
LOUDHAILERS
LUDE
LUDES
LUIT
LULL
LULLER
LULU
LURID
LURIDER
LURIDEST
LUTE
LUTED
LUTER
LUTERS
LUTES
MAELID
MAES
MAGALOG
MAGI
MAGS
MAHUA
MAID
MAIDED
MAIL
MAILE
MAILED
MAILER
MAILERS
MAILES
MAILS
MALE
MALES
MALI
MALIGN
MALIGNS
MALS
MANG
MANGA
MANGAL
MANGALS
MANGAS
MANGS
MANI
MANS
MASE
MASER
MASERS
MASTING
MATIN
MATING
MATINGS
MATINS
MATS
MEAD
MEAL
MEAT
MEATH
MELOID
MEOU
META
METAL
METH
MIGG
MIGGLE
MILE
MILO
MNAS
NAGA
NAGAS
NAGS
NAMS
NATS
NGAIO
NGATI
NIGGLE
NITS
OATH
OBIT
OBITS
OBLIGANT
OBLIGANTS
OBLIGATI
OGGIN
OGGINS
OGLE
OILED
OILER
OILERS
OILGAS
OILS
OLEA
OLID
OULD
OULDER
OULDEST
REAL
REALES
REALEST
REALIGN
REALIGNS
REALO
REALS
REAM
REAMS
REDATE
REDD
REDDIER
REDIA
REDIAE
REDIAL
REDIALS
REDIAS
REDUIT
REEK
REEKS
REEL
REELED
REELS
REES
REEST
REESTED
REITER
REITERS
RELAID
RELET
RELETS
RELETTER
RELETTERS
RELIDE
RELIT
RESAID
RESAIL
RESAILED
RESALE
RESALES
RESEDA
RESEE
RESEES
RESET
RESETTED
RESETTER
REST
RESTED
RESTER
RETE
RETELL
RETES
RETEST
RETESTED
RETIE
RETILE
RETIRE
RETIRER
RETIRERS
RETIRES
RETREE
RETREES
RETS
RETTED
RIDDER
RIDDERS
RIDE
RIDER
RIDERS
RIDES
RIEL
RIGG
RIGGINGS
RIGOL
RILE
RILL
RILLE
RILLET
RILLETTES
RIME
RITE
RITES
RITT
RITTED
RITTER
RITTERS
RITTS
RUDD
RUDDERS
RUDDIER
RUDE
RUDER
RUDES
RUDEST
RUDIE
RULE
RULER
RULIER
RUTILE
RUTTED
RUTTER
RUTTERS
SAGA
SAGAS
SAGS
SAID
SAIDEST
SAIGA
SAIGAS
SAIL
SAILED
SAILER
SAILERS
SALE
SALES
SALET
SALETS
SALOL
SALUE
SAMA
SAMAN
SAMANS
SAMAS
SAMS
SANG
SANGA
SANGAS
SANGS
SANT
SATI
SATIN
SATING
SEAL
SEALED
SEALER
SEALERS
SEAM
SEAMAN
SEDATE
SEDILE
SEEK
SEEKS
SEEL
SEELED
SEELS
SEER
SEERS
SEES
SELAH
SELE
SELES
SELS
SERE
SERED
SERES
SEREST
SERK
SERKS
SERS
SETT
SETTER
SETULE
SKEE
SKEER
SKEERED
SKEES
SKER
SLAE
SLAG
SLAID
SLAM
SLED
SLEE
SLEEK
SLEEKS
SLEER
SLEEST
SLID
SLIDDER
SLIDDERS
SLIDE
SLIDED
SLIDER
SLIDERS
SLIDES
SNAG
SNAGS
SNIB
SNIG
SNIGGLE
SNIGLET
SNIT
STAG
STAGS
STANG
STANGS
STED
STEDD
STELA
STELAE
STELAI
STELE
STELES
STERE
STERES
STERILE
STET
STING
STINGS
STREAM
STREAMS
STREEK
STREEL
STREELED
STREELS
STRIDE
STRIDER
STRIDULATE
TADDIE
TAEL
TAGMA
TAGS
TALL
TAMAL
TAMALE
TAMALES
TAMALS
TAMS
TANG
TANGA
TANGAS
TANGI
TANGS
TANS
TAULD
TEAD
TEADE
TEADES
TEAL
TEDDIE
TEDIER
TEGG
TEHR
TEHRS
TEIL
TELA
TELAE
TELE
TELES
TELESM
TELIA
TELIAL
TELL
TELLURIDE
TELLURIDES
TELOI
TELS
TEREK
TEREKS
TERES
TERETE
TERETES
TERN
TERNS
TERSE
TERSER
TERTS
TEST
TESTE
TESTED
TESTER
TESTERN
TESTRIL
TESTRILL
TETE
TETES
TETRI
TETS
THAE
THEM
TIDE
TIDED
TIDES
TIER
TIGE
TILE
TILER
TILL
TING
TINGS
TINS
TIRE
TIRES
TIRL
TREDILLE
TREE
TREES
TREK
TREKS
TRES
TREST
TRET
TRETS
TRIDE
TRIE
TRILL
TRITE
TRITER
TRITES
TUILLE
TULADI
TULE
TULLE
UDAL
UDDER
UDDERS
ULAMA
ULAMAS
ULNA
ULNAS
ULULATE
URITE
URITES
UTERI
UTES
UTILE
UTTER
UTTERS
949
Bonus Words
4
Shortest Word
11
Longest Word
958
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!

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