NYT Strands May 21 2025 Hints, Spangram and Answer

21 May 2025
7 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

"Three's a crowd"

Spangram

13 letters

Theme Words

6 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

"Three's a crowd"

Find 6 theme words and 1 spangram related to this clue

NYT Strands Grid for 21 May 2025

P
U
M
O
L
E
L
O
E
S
W
B
D
E
C
O
T
U
O
U
B
L
T
O
S
R
W
T
E
R
E
N
H
I
N
S
R
T
C
M
R
P
A
P
T
A
I
A

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

Step-by-Step Hints for 21 May 2025

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

Today's Theme Hint

"Three's a crowd"

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

Spangram Hints

Length & Position

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

Letter-by-Letter Reveal

D___________E

Theme Words (6 words)

All of these words relate to: "Three's a crowd"

6 letters: C ____ E
5 letters: M ___ H
4 letters: P __ R
8 letters: P ______ S
5 letters: T ___ S
7 letters: T _____ E

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 21 May 2025

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

🎯 Spangram Answer

DOUBLETROUBLE

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

📝 Theme Words: "Three's a crowd"

COUPLE
MATCH
PAIR
PARTNERS
TWINS
TWOSOME

🔍 Bonus Words Found in Grid

These 951 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

ACHIER
ACMITE
ACMITES
ACNE
ACNES
ACTA
AIRIER
AIRN
AIRNS
AIRS
AMIA
AMIE
AMIES
AMIN
AMINE
AMINES
AMINS
AMIR
AMIRS
AMNIC
AMRIT
APIARIES
APNEIC
APRES
APSE
APTER
APTEROUS
ARES
ARET
ARETT
ARIA
ARIEL
ARMIES
ARNICA
ARPA
ARSE
ARSENIC
ATES
ATTACH
ATTAP
ATTAR
ATTARS
ATTRAP
BECOME
BECOMES
BECURSE
BEDU
BEES
BELOW
BELOWS
BELS
BLENT
BLERT
BLET
BLEW
BLOC
BLOCS
BLOT
BLOTS
BLOTTER
BLOTTERS
BLOTTIER
BLOTTO
BLOW
BLOWS
BLOWSE
BLOWTUBE
BOLE
BOLERO
BOLES
BOLETI
BOLT
BOLTER
BOLTERS
BOLTS
BOSOM
BOTEL
BOTS
BOTT
BOTTE
BOTTES
BOTTIES
BOTTINE
BOTTINES
BOTTLE
BOTTLER
BOTTLERS
BOTTLES
BOTTS
BOWEL
BOWELS
BOWL
BOWLS
BOWS
BOWSE
BREN
BRENS
BRENT
BRER
BROD
BROS
BROSE
BRUS
BUDO
BUDOS
BURET
BURN
BURNER
BURNET
BURNS
BURNT
BURS
BURSE
BURSERA
BUSERA
BUTE
BUTEO
BUTES
BUTLE
BUTLER
BUTLERS
BUTLES
BUTS
BUTT
BUTTE
BUTTER
BUTTERS
BUTTES
BUTTIES
BUTTLE
BUTTLES
BUTTS
CAIRN
CAIRNS
CARAP
CARAPS
CARIES
CARMINE
CARMINES
CARN
CARNET
CARNIE
CARNIER
CARNIES
CARNS
CARP
CARPI
CARPS
CARS
CARSE
CATMINT
CEES
CELOM
CELOMS
CHIEL
CHIMAR
CHIMARS
CHIN
CHINE
CHINES
CHINS
CHIRM
CHIRP
CHIRPS
CHIT
CHITTER
CHITTERS
CIEL
CIMAR
CIMARS
CINE
CINES
CITE
CITER
CITERS
CITES
CITHREN
CITHRENS
CITTERN
CITTERNS
CLOSE
CLOSEUP
CLOT
CLOTE
CLOTES
CLOTS
CLOTTER
CLOTTERS
CLOTTIER
CLOW
CLOWS
COBLE
COBLES
CODE
COED
COLD
COLE
COLED
COLES
COLEUS
COLT
COLTER
COLTERS
COLTS
COME
COMES
COMOSE
COMS
COSE
COST
COTE
COTES
COTS
COTT
COTTER
COTTERS
COTTIER
COTTIERS
COTTS
COULD
COULEE
COULEES
COUP
COUPLED
COWL
COWLS
COWS
CUBE
CUBED
CUED
CURB
CURBED
CURE
CURER
CURES
CURET
CURN
CURNS
CURS
CURSE
CURSER
DEBT
DEBUS
DECO
DECOS
DEEM
DEEMS
DEES
DELO
DEUCE
DEUCES
DEUS
DOCO
DOCOS
DOCS
DOES
DOEST
DOLE
DOME
DOMES
DOMS
DORB
DORE
DORS
DORSE
DORSER
DOSE
DOSER
DOUBLE
DOUBLER
DOUBLERS
DOUBLES
DOUBLET
DOUBT
DOUBTER
DOUBTERS
DOUC
DOUCE
DOUCEST
DOUCS
DOUM
DOUMS
DOUP
DOUR
DOURER
DOUSE
DOUSER
DUCE
DUCES
DUEL
DUOS
DURE
DURES
DURN
DURNS
DURO
DUROS
ECBOLE
ECBOLES
ECLOSE
ECOD
ECOS
ECUS
EDUCE
EDUCES
ELBOW
ELBOWS
ELSE
ELTS
EMOS
EMULE
EMULED
ENRAPT
ENRICH
ENSUE
ENSUED
ENTRAP
ERNS
ERODE
EROS
ESCOT
ESCUDO
ESCUDOS
ESPRIT
ESTOC
ETCH
ETHIC
ETIC
ETTIN
ETTINS
EURO
EUROS
EWTS
HIES
HINS
HINT
HINTER
HINTERS
HIRSEL
HITTER
HITTERS
ICTERUS
IMARI
IMINE
IMINES
INERT
INRO
INSERT
INSET
INTEL
INTER
INTERS
LEES
LEIR
LEIRS
LENS
LENT
LENTI
LENTIC
LEUCO
LEUD
LOBE
LOBED
LOBUS
LOCO
LOCOED
LOCOES
LOCOS
LOCUS
LODE
LOME
LOMES
LOSE
LOST
LOTE
LOTES
LOTO
LOTS
LOTTE
LOTTER
LOTTERS
LOTTES
LOTTO
LOUP
LOWE
LOWS
LOWSE
LOWT
LOWTS
LUES
LUMS
MACH
MACHI
MACHINE
MACHINES
MAIR
MAIRS
MARA
MARIA
MARIES
MARINE
MARINER
MARINERS
MARINES
MARS
MARSE
MATT
MATTE
MATTER
MATTERS
MATTES
MEED
MEOU
MEOW
MEOWS
MESTO
MICA
MICH
MICHT
MIEN
MIENS
MINE
MINER
MINERS
MINES
MINT
MINTER
MINTERS
MIPS
MIRI
MIRIER
MIRIN
MIRINS
MIRS
MITE
MITER
MITERS
MITES
MITT
MITTEN
MITTENS
MOCS
MODE
MODEL
MODUS
MOES
MOLD
MOLE
MOLS
MOSE
MOST
MOUE
MOUES
MOULD
MOUP
MOWS
MULE
MULED
NETT
NETTS
NICHT
NIES
NITE
NITER
NITERS
NITES
ODOR
ODORS
ODOUR
ODOURS
OLEIC
OLEIN
OLEINS
OLENT
OLEO
OLEOS
OLES
ORBED
ORES
OSETRA
OSMOL
OSMOLE
OSTLER
OSTLERS
OTTER
OTTERS
OTTO
OTTOS
OULD
OURN
OURS
OUTER
OUTERS
OUTLER
OUTLERS
OUTLET
OUTRE
OUTS
OUTSCOLD
OUTSEE
OUTSOLE
OUTSOLES
OWLS
OWSE
OWTS
PAIRS
PARA
PARE
PARENT
PARER
PARERS
PARES
PARIES
PARS
PARSE
PARSER
PART
PARTER
PARTERS
PARTNER
PATCH
PATCHIER
PATE
PATEN
PATENCIES
PATENS
PATER
PATERS
PATES
PATH
PATHIC
PIMA
PIRACIES
PIRN
PIRNIE
PIRNIES
PIRNIT
PIRNS
PIRS
PLEB
PLED
PLOD
PLUE
PLUES
PLUM
PLUME
PLUMES
PLUMOSE
PLUMS
POCO
POEM
POEMS
POLE
POLED
POME
POMES
POMO
POMOS
POMS
POULE
PRAM
PRAT
PRATE
PRATER
PRATERS
PRATES
PRATT
PRENT
PRIER
PRIERS
PRIES
PRIM
PRIMA
PRIMACIES
PRIMI
PRIMINE
PRIMINES
PRINT
PRINTER
PRINTERS
PTARMIC
PULE
PULED
RACH
RACIER
RAIA
RAMI
RAMIE
RAMIES
RAMIN
RAMINS
RAPS
RAPT
RATCH
RATE
RATER
RATERS
RATES
RATH
RATTEN
RATTENS
RATTER
RATTERS
RATTRAP
REIN
REINS
RENS
RENT
RESOD
RESORB
RESORBED
RETCH
RHIES
RHINE
RHINES
RICH
RICHT
RICHTER
RIEL
RIMA
RIMIER
RINE
RINES
RINS
RINSE
RINSER
RIPS
RITE
RITES
RITT
RITTER
RITTERS
RODE
RODEO
ROED
ROES
ROSE
ROSET
ROTE
ROTES
ROTL
ROTO
ROTOS
ROTS
ROTTE
ROTTEN
ROTTENS
ROTTES
ROUBLE
ROUBLES
ROUCOU
ROUE
ROUSE
ROUSER
ROUT
ROUTE
ROUTES
ROUTS
RUBE
RUBEL
RUBLE
RUBLES
RUCS
RUDE
RUED
RUSE
SCOLD
SCOP
SCOT
SCOTER
SCOTERS
SCOTTIE
SCOTTIES
SCOUP
SCOW
SCOWL
SCUD
SCUDO
SCUR
SCURS
SCUSE
SECO
SECURE
SECURER
SECURES
SEED
SEEL
SEELD
SEIR
SENT
SENTI
SERA
SETA
SETOSE
SETOUT
SETOUTS
SETT
SETTS
SLEW
SLOE
SLOW
SMEE
SMOWT
SNIT
SOCLE
SOCLES
SODOM
SODOMS
SOLE
SOLEI
SOLEIN
SOLER
SOLERS
SOLES
SOME
SORB
SORBED
SORBO
SORBOSE
SORE
SORER
SORN
SORNER
SOUCE
SOUCED
SOUCES
SOUR
SOURER
SOWL
SOWLE
SPAR
SPIM
SPIRIC
SPIRIER
SPIRIT
SPRAT
SPRIER
SPRINT
SPRINTER
SPRIT
SPRITE
STOB
STOLE
STOLEN
STOLES
STORE
STORES
STOT
STOTT
STOTTER
STOTTERS
STOTTIE
STOTTIES
STOUT
STOUTEN
STOUTENS
STOUTER
STOW
STUB
STUTTER
STUTTERS
SUBCODE
SUBLET
SUBLOT
SUBLOTS
SUBRENT
SUBTLE
SUBTLER
SUDOR
SUED
SURBED
SURE
SURER
SWOB
SWOT
SWOTTER
SWOTTERS
SWOTTIER
TACH
TACIT
TACT
TAIRA
TAMIN
TAMINE
TAMINES
TAMINS
TARA
TARE
TARES
TARN
TARNS
TARP
TARPS
TARS
TARSEL
TELCO
TELCOS
TELOS
TELT
TENCH
TENS
TENSOR
TENT
TENTH
TERN
TERNS
TETH
THIN
THINE
THINS
THIR
THIRAM
THRO
THROE
THROED
THRU
TICH
TIER
TIERS
TIES
TINE
TINES
TINS
TINSEL
TOCO
TOCS
TOES
TOETOE
TOETOES
TOLE
TOLES
TOLT
TOLTER
TOLTERS
TOLTS
TORE
TORES
TORN
TORS
TORSE
TORSEL
TORT
TORTE
TORTEN
TORTES
TOSE
TOST
TOTE
TOTER
TOTERS
TOTES
TOTS
TOTTER
TOTTERS
TOTTIE
TOTTIER
TOTTIES
TOUT
TOUTER
TOUTERS
TOUTS
TOWEL
TOWELS
TOWS
TOWSE
TOWT
TOWTS
TRAP
TRAPT
TRENCH
TRES
TRET
TROT
TROTS
TROUBLE
TROUT
TROUTLET
TROUTS
TUBE
TUTOR
TUTORS
TUTS
TUTTI
TUTTIES
TWIER
TWIERS
TWIN
TWINE
TWINER
TWINERS
TWINES
TWINSET
TWIRP
TWIRPS
TWOS
UDOS
UPLED
URENT
URES
URNS
USER
UTES
UTTER
UTTERS
WHIM
WHIN
WHINE
WHINER
WHINERS
WHINES
WHINS
WHIR
WHIRS
WHIT
WHITE
WHITEN
WHITENS
WHITEOUT
WHITEOUTS
WHITER
WHITES
WHITLOW
WHITLOWS
WHITTER
WHITTERS
WHITTLE
WHITTLER
WHITTLERS
WHITTLES
WICH
WIEL
WINE
WINES
WINS
WINTER
WINTERS
WINTLE
WINTLES
WITE
WITES
WITH
WITTER
WITTERS
WITTOL
WOES
WOST
WOTS
WOTTETH
WREN
WRENCH
WRENS
WRETCH
951
Bonus Words
4
Shortest Word
9
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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