NYT Strands May 28 2025 Hints, Spangram and Answer

28 May 2025
6 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

"Top contenders"

Spangram

12 letters

Theme Words

5 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

"Top contenders"

Find 5 theme words and 1 spangram related to this clue

NYT Strands Grid for 28 May 2025

I
T
H
O
E
R
T
L
E
L
D
V
F
I
N
O
T
I
I
L
I
R
M
C
S
A
S
H
P
A
T
W
D
S
C
H
N
I
E
T
R
O
N
E
R
M
G
N

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

Step-by-Step Hints for 28 May 2025

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

Today's Theme Hint

"Top contenders"

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

Spangram Hints

Length & Position

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

Letter-by-Letter Reveal

F__________G

Theme Words (5 words)

All of these words relate to: "Top contenders"

5 letters: C ___ P
8 letters: M ______ T
11 letters: T _________ R
6 letters: V ____ R
6 letters: W ____ 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 28 May 2025

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

🎯 Spangram Answer

FINISHSTRONG

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

📝 Theme Words: "Top contenders"

CHAMP
MEDALIST
TITLEHOLDER
VICTOR
WINNER

🔍 Bonus Words Found in Grid

These 917 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

ACHROMIC
ACID
ACIDER
ACORN
ACTED
ACTIVE
ACTON
ACTOR
ACTORISH
ACTORS
ACTRESS
ACTS
ADIT
ADITS
AHORSE
AILS
AINE
AIRN
AIRS
AIRT
ALIEN
ALIENOR
ALIENORS
ALIF
ALINE
ALIST
ALIT
AMID
AMIDE
AMIDO
AMIDOL
AMIDONE
AMITROLE
AMOLE
AMORINI
AMORT
AMPS
APHIS
APRON
APROTIC
APSE
ASHINE
ASSERT
ASSET
ASTIR
ATWEEN
AWED
AWEE
AWES
AWNER
AWNIER
AWNIEST
CACTI
CAMO
CAMP
CAMPHINE
CAMPHOR
CAMPHORS
CAMPS
CAMPSHIRT
CAPH
CAPHS
CAPRINE
CAPRIOLE
CAPRIOLED
CAPRIS
CAPS
CHAM
CHAMOIS
CHAMPS
CHAP
CHAPS
CHIA
CHIAS
CHILI
CHILIAD
CHILIADS
CHILIAST
CHILIS
CHIN
CHINE
CHINO
CHIRM
CHIRO
CHIRP
CHIRPS
CHIRT
CHIS
CHOG
CHON
CHROMA
CHROMIC
CHROMIDE
CIDE
CIDER
CITO
CITOLE
CITRIN
CITRINE
CITRON
CIVE
CORM
CORN
CORS
CORSE
CORSET
CROG
DAINE
DAIS
DALI
DALIS
DALS
DASH
DASHI
DAWN
DAWNER
DAWS
DAWT
DAWTIE
DAWTIES
DAWTS
DEEN
DEER
DELE
DELO
DELT
DELTIC
DERE
DERM
DERV
DESHI
DESSIATINE
DETRITAL
DEWIER
DEWS
DICT
DIES
DIET
DIETS
DIMORPH
DIMORPHS
DIMP
DIMPS
DINE
DINER
DINNER
DINT
DINTS
DIRE
DIREST
DIRT
DIRTS
DITA
DITAL
DITALS
DITAS
DITONE
DITS
DIVE
DIVER
DOEN
DOER
DOETH
DOLE
DOLOR
DOLORS
DOLT
DOMIC
DONE
DORIS
DORM
DORP
DORPS
DORS
DORSA
DORSAD
DORSAL
DORSALS
DORT
DWINE
EDHS
EDICT
EDIT
EDITOR
EDITORIAL
EDITORIALIST
EDITORIALS
EDITORS
EDITS
EIDE
EIDER
EINE
ELDER
ELFIN
ELOIN
ENLIST
ENLIT
ENOL
ENORM
ENROL
ENTAIL
ENTAILS
ENTIRE
ENTIRES
ERED
ERES
ESCORT
ESTRIN
ESTRO
ETCH
ETTIN
EVICT
EVICTOR
EVICTORS
EWTS
FIAT
FIATS
FIELD
FIELDER
FILA
FILASSE
FILE
FILET
FILS
FILTH
FINE
FINI
FINIAL
FINIALS
FINIS
FINISH
FINO
FIST
FISTIER
FISTIEST
FITT
FITTE
FLAIR
FLAIRS
FLASH
FLAT
FLATS
FLAW
FLAWED
FLAWIER
FLAWIEST
FLAWN
FLAWS
FLIR
FLIRS
FLIRT
FLIT
FLITE
FLITT
GORM
GORMED
GORSE
HACHIS
HAMPSTER
HAPS
HEIL
HEILS
HELD
HELE
HELED
HELILIFT
HELO
HELOT
HENOTIC
HILA
HILI
HISS
HISSED
HISSER
HOED
HOER
HOLD
HOLDER
HOLE
HOLED
HOLON
HOLT
HONG
HORME
HORMES
HORN
HORS
HORSE
HORSED
HORST
HORSTE
IDEE
IDEM
IDES
IDLE
IDLER
IDOL
ILIA
ILIAD
ILIADS
IMPACT
IMPACTED
IMPACTER
IMPACTOR
IMPACTORS
IMPACTS
IMPS
INERM
INERT
INERTS
INIA
INLET
INNER
INRO
IODIC
IRED
IRES
IRON
IRONE
ISATIN
ISATINE
ISSEI
ITAS
LADE
LADER
LADES
LADIES
LADS
LAIN
LAIR
LAIRS
LAISSE
LASH
LASS
LAST
LATI
LATS
LAWED
LAWER
LAWEST
LAWIN
LAWINE
LAWN
LAWNIER
LAWNIEST
LAWS
LENIS
LENO
LIAS
LIEN
LIFT
LILT
LINE
LINISH
LINO
LION
LIONEL
LIONET
LIROT
LIST
LITE
LITH
LITHE
LITHO
LITHOED
LITTEN
LITTLE
LODE
LOIN
LOIR
LOIRS
LOMA
LONE
LORIS
LORN
LOTI
LOTIC
MACH
MACHI
MACHINE
MACHO
MACHS
MACON
MACRO
MACRON
MACS
MAPS
MEDAL
MEDALS
MEDS
MEER
MEIN
MEINT
MERE
MERI
MERIT
MERITS
MESH
MESS
MESSALINE
MESSIAS
METRE
METRO
METS
MEWS
MICA
MODE
MODEL
MODER
MODI
MODICA
MOIL
MOILS
MOLD
MOLDER
MOLE
MOLT
MONETH
MONIAL
MONIALS
MONIE
MONILIA
MONILIAS
MONISH
MORIA
MORIAS
MORISH
MORN
MORNE
MORPH
MORPHIA
MORPHIAS
MORPHIN
MORPHINE
MORPHO
MORPHS
MORS
MORSAL
MORT
MOTI
MOTIVE
MOTIVED
NEED
NEEDS
NEEM
NEIF
NEREID
NEREIDS
NERTS
NETT
NIDAL
NIDE
NIDES
NIDS
NIED
NIES
NILS
NINE
NISH
NISSE
NITS
NODE
NODI
NOEL
NOIL
NOILS
NOIR
NOIRS
NOLE
NOLO
NOMA
NOMIC
NORI
NORIA
NORIAS
NORIS
NORM
NORMA
NORMED
ODIC
ODOR
ODORS
OILFIELD
OILS
OLDER
OLEIN
OLEO
OMIT
ONIE
ORCA
ORCHIL
ORCHILS
ORCHIS
ORCS
ORMER
ORNIS
ORTS
OTIC
PACO
PACS
PACT
PACTS
PHIAL
PHIALS
PHILISTINE
PHIS
PHOCA
PHON
PRIAL
PRIALS
PRION
PRISS
PRISSED
PROD
PROIN
PROINE
PROLE
PROLED
PROLER
PROM
PRONE
REDO
REDON
REDONE
REDS
REDSHIRT
REED
REEDIT
REEDITS
REEDS
REEN
REES
REEST
REIN
RELET
RENIED
RENIES
RENIN
RENT
RENTAL
RENTALS
RENTS
RESH
RESHINE
REST
RETCH
RETRO
RETS
REWASH
REWIN
REWS
RHACHIAL
RHACHIS
RHAPHIS
RHINE
RHINO
RIAL
RIALS
RIAS
RIDE
RIDES
RIDS
RIEM
RINE
RIOT
RITS
ROCH
ROCS
RODE
RODEO
ROIL
ROILS
ROIN
ROLE
ROMA
ROMP
ROMPS
RONE
RONEO
RONEOED
RONG
ROTI
ROTL
SADE
SADES
SADI
SADS
SAIL
SAILS
SAIN
SAINE
SAIR
SAIRS
SAIS
SAIST
SALINE
SALS
SASH
SASIN
SASINE
SASS
SASSE
SASSED
SATI
SATIN
SATIRE
SATIRES
SAWDER
SAWED
SAWER
SAWN
SAWS
SCAM
SCAMP
SCAMTO
SCHMO
SCHMOE
SCHROD
SCOG
SCORN
SCROG
SDAINE
SDEIN
SEEN
SEER
SEINE
SEINER
SEIR
SERE
SEREIN
SERIN
SERINE
SEWIN
SEWN
SEWS
SHIAI
SHIAIS
SHIN
SHINE
SHIR
SHIRS
SHIRT
SHMO
SHRI
SHRINE
SHRIS
SIAL
SIALS
SIFT
SINE
SLADE
SLADES
SLAIN
SLASH
SLAT
SLATIER
SLATIEST
SLATS
SLAW
SLAWS
SLISH
SLIT
SPAM
SPROD
STADE
STADES
STAIN
STAIR
STAIRS
STASH
STAW
STAWED
STAWS
STED
STEDS
STEEN
STEER
STEIN
STEM
STERE
STEW
STEWIER
STEWS
STIE
STIED
STIES
STIR
STIRE
STIRED
STIRES
STREW
STREWN
STREWS
STRIDE
STRONG
SWAD
SWADS
SWAIL
SWAILS
SWAIN
SWASH
SWAT
SWATS
SWEE
SWEER
SWEERT
SWEIR
SWEIRT
SWIES
SWINE
SWIRE
SWIRES
SWITS
TADS
TAIL
TAILFIN
TAILS
TAIN
TAIS
TAISH
TALI
TALION
TASH
TASS
TASSE
TASSET
TAWED
TAWER
TAWIE
TAWIER
TAWIEST
TAWNIER
TAWNIES
TAWNIEST
TAWS
TEDIER
TEDS
TEEN
TEER
TEIL
TEILS
TELD
TELE
TELOI
TELOMIC
TELT
TENIA
TENIAS
TENOR
TENORS
TERM
TEWIT
TEWITS
TEWS
THEIN
THELF
THEN
THOLE
THOLED
THOLOI
TIDAL
TIDE
TIDES
TIDS
TIED
TIER
TIERED
TIES
TILE
TILS
TILT
TILTH
TIMON
TIMPS
TINE
TINNER
TIRE
TIRED
TIRES
TITE
TITHE
TITI
TITLE
TOEHOLD
TOIL
TOILINET
TOILS
TOLD
TOLE
TOLED
TOLEDO
TONE
TONISH
TONLET
TORI
TORII
TORN
TORS
TORSADE
TORSADES
TORSI
TREE
TREED
TREEN
TREES
TRENTAL
TRENTALS
TRES
TRESS
TREW
TREWS
TRIAD
TRIADS
TRIAL
TRIALIST
TRIALS
TRIDE
TRIE
TRIED
TRIES
TRIN
TRINE
TRIO
TRIODE
TRIOL
TRIOLEIN
TRIOLET
TROCHI
TROCHIL
TROCHILI
TROCHILS
TROD
TRODE
TROG
TROILIST
TROIS
TROMP
TROMPS
TRON
TRONE
TSADE
TSADES
TSADI
TWAIN
TWAL
TWALS
TWAS
TWEE
TWEEN
TWEER
TWIER
TWIN
TWINE
TWINER
TWIRE
TWIRED
TWIRES
VELD
VELDT
VELE
VERD
VERDICT
VERDIT
VICTORIA
VICTORIAS
VICTORINE
VICTORS
VIDE
VIDEO
VITRINE
VITRIOL
VITRIOLED
WADE
WADER
WADES
WADI
WADIES
WADS
WADSET
WADT
WADTS
WAIF
WAIFT
WAIL
WAILS
WAIN
WAIR
WAIRS
WAIRSH
WAIS
WAIST
WALI
WALIS
WASH
WASHIN
WAST
WATS
WEDS
WEEN
WEER
WEID
WEIDS
WEINER
WEIR
WERE
WERT
WEST
WETS
WIDE
WIDER
WIDES
WIDEST
WINE
WINN
WIRE
WIRED
WIRES
WITS
917
Bonus Words
4
Shortest Word
12
Longest Word
923
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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