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NYT Strands#838
Saturday, January 3, 2026
Medium Daily Puzzle

NYT Strands Yesterday's Hints 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
6 words
Play Official
Play NYT Strands

NYT Strands Grid for 3 January 2026

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

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

Step-by-Step Hints for 3 January 2026

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

Today's Theme Hint

"I've never seen that before!"

Find 5 theme words and 1 spangram related to this clue

Spangram Hints

Length & Position

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

Letter-by-Letter Reveal

B____________D

Theme Words (5 words)

All of these words relate to: "I've never seen that before!"

5 letters: F ___ H
9 letters: I _______ E
5 letters: N ___ L
8 letters: O ______ L
7 letters: S _____ L

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 3 January 2026

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

🎯 Spangram Answer

BREAKNEWGROUND

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

📝 Theme Words: "I've never seen that before!"

FRESH
INVENTIVE
NOVEL
ORIGINAL
SEMINAL

🔍 Bonus Words Found in Grid

These 1056 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

AGILA
AGILE
AGILER
AGIN
AGIO
AGLARE
AGLEE
AGRIN
AIMER
AIMERS
AINE
AINEE
AKEE
AKEES
AKENE
AKENES
AKIN
AKINESIA
ALAE
ALAN
ALANE
ALANG
ALANIN
ALANINE
ALANINES
ALAR
ALEE
ALEF
ALGA
ALGAE
ALGAL
ALGIN
ALGOR
ALIEN
ALIGN
ALINE
ALINER
ALINERS
ALINES
ALIVE
ALKALI
ALKANE
ALKANET
ALKENE
ALKENES
ALKIE
ALKINE
ALKINES
ALLANITE
ALLANITES
ALLEE
ALLEES
ALLERGEN
ANENT
ANES
ANEW
ANGLE
ANGLER
ANGRIER
ANIL
ANIME
ANIMES
ANIS
ANISE
ANKER
ANKLE
AREA
AREAL
ARENE
ARENITE
ARENITES
ASININE
ASWIM
BRAE
BRAIN
BRAK
BRAKE
BRAN
BRANK
BREAK
BREAKER
BREN
DEFER
DEGERM
DEGREE
DEGREES
DEGS
DERE
DERES
DERM
DERMIS
DERN
DERO
DEROS
DERV
DUNS
DUNSH
DUOMI
DUOS
DURE
DURES
DURO
DUROS
DUSH
EAGLE
EALE
EARN
EASE
EASER
EASERS
EASIER
EDHS
EEVN
EGER
EGERS
EINA
EINE
EISWEIN
ELAIN
ELAN
ELANET
EMOS
ENES
ENEW
ENEWS
ENTIA
ENVEIGLE
ENVIER
ENVIES
ENVIRO
ENVOI
ERED
ERES
EREV
ERGS
ERMINE
ERMINES
ERNE
ERNED
ERNES
EROS
EROSE
ERVEN
ERVIL
ETEN
ETESIAN
EVIL
EVILER
EVILLER
EVITE
EVITES
EWER
EWERS
EWES
FEDS
FEEL
FEEN
FEER
FEERED
FEES
FEESE
FEET
FEGS
FEHS
FEIGN
FEINT
FEIS
FELL
FELLA
FELLER
FENI
FENIS
FENT
FERE
FERER
FERES
FERM
FERMI
FERMIS
FERN
FERVENT
FERVOR
FETE
FETIAL
FEWER
FREE
FREES
FREESIA
FREET
FRERE
FRERES
GAEN
GALA
GALE
GALEA
GALENA
GALENITE
GALENITES
GALILEE
GALILEES
GALL
GEDS
GEEK
GEIT
GEMINAL
GENA
GENAL
GENAS
GENE
GENIAL
GENIE
GENIES
GENITIVE
GENITIVES
GENRE
GENRO
GENT
GENTIAN
GEOS
GERE
GERENT
GERES
GERM
GERMEN
GERMIN
GERMINA
GERMINAL
GERUND
GERUNDS
GIEN
GILA
GILL
GILLER
GILLNET
GIRN
GIRO
GIVE
GIVEN
GIVER
GLAIK
GLAIVE
GLARE
GLAREAL
GLEAN
GLEE
GLEENIE
GLEENIES
GLEES
GLEET
GLEI
GLEN
GLENT
GOIER
GOOIER
GOON
GOOR
GORI
GORIER
GORILLA
GOVERN
GOVERNED
GREE
GREEN
GREENIE
GREENIES
GREES
GREESE
GREET
GREETE
GREIN
GREISEN
GREMIAL
GREN
GRESE
GREVILLEA
GREW
GREWS
GRIEF
GRIEFER
GRIEFERS
GRILL
GRILLE
GRILLER
GRIN
GRONE
GRONED
GRONES
GROOVE
GROOVER
GROOVIER
GROSER
GROUND
GROUNDEN
GROUNDER
GROUNDS
GROUSE
GROUSED
GROUSER
GROVE
GROVEL
GROVELLER
GWINE
HERE
HEREIN
HERES
HERM
HERN
HERO
HEROE
HEROES
HERON
HEROS
HERS
IKAN
ILEA
ILEAL
ILKA
ILLER
INBREAK
INERM
INERMOUS
INFER
INFERE
INFERNO
INFERS
INGLE
INGO
INGROOVE
INIA
INKER
INKLE
INLIER
INRO
INTEGER
INTEGERS
INTI
INTINE
INTINES
INTIS
INVENIT
INVENT
INVITE
INVITEE
INVITES
IRING
ISIT
IWIS
KAAL
KAIE
KAIN
KAINIT
KAINITE
KAINITES
KALE
KALI
KANE
KARN
KEEF
KEEN
KEET
KEIR
KELL
KENT
KENTE
KENTES
KENTIA
KERERU
KERF
KERFED
KERN
KERNE
KERNED
KERNES
KERO
KEVIL
KINA
KINE
KINES
KINETIN
KININ
KITE
KITES
KLANG
KLEAGLE
KNAR
KNEE
KNEEL
KNEES
KNELL
KNEW
KNIT
KNIVE
KNIVES
LAER
LAESIE
LAGOON
LAIK
LAIKER
LAIN
LAITIES
LAKE
LAKER
LAKIN
LALANG
LANE
LANES
LANG
LANK
LANKER
LARE
LARN
LASE
LASER
LASERS
LEAK
LEAKER
LEAL
LEALER
LEAN
LEAR
LEARN
LEES
LEESE
LEET
LEIR
LEIRING
LENES
LENIENT
LENIS
LENITE
LENITES
LENITIES
LENITIVE
LENITIVES
LENT
LENTEN
LENTI
LERE
LERED
LERES
LEVO
LIANE
LIANES
LIAS
LIEF
LIEFER
LIEGE
LIEGER
LIEGERS
LIEGES
LIEN
LIER
LIERNE
LIERNES
LIERS
LIES
LIGAN
LIME
LIMEN
LIMES
LIMN
LIMNER
LIMNERS
LIMO
LIMOS
LIMOUS
LINE
LINER
LINERS
LINES
LION
LIRI
LISENTE
LIVE
LIVEN
LIVER
LIVERED
LIVOR
LIVRE
LIVRES
MEGS
MEIN
MENIAL
MEOU
MEOUS
MERE
MERED
MERER
MERES
MERGE
MERGED
MERGEE
MERGER
MERGES
MERSE
MESA
MESAIL
MESAL
MESE
MESIAL
MESIAN
MEWS
MIEN
MINA
MINAE
MINAS
MINE
MINER
MINERS
MINES
MISE
MISER
MISERE
MISERERE
MISERES
MISERS
MISINFER
MISINFERS
MISWEEN
MISWENT
MNAS
MOER
MOERED
MOERS
MOES
MORE
MORES
MORGEN
MORS
MORSE
MOSE
MOSED
MOSH
MOSHED
MOSHER
MOUND
MOUNDS
MOUS
MOUSE
MOUSED
MOUSER
NAAN
NAEVI
NAGOR
NAIK
NAIL
NAIN
NAIVE
NAIVETE
NAIVETES
NAIVETIES
NAKER
NALA
NALLA
NARE
NEAL
NEAR
NEDS
NEESE
NEGRO
NEGROES
NEGS
NEINEI
NEINEIS
NEIVE
NEIVES
NELLIE
NENE
NERAL
NEREIS
NERVE
NERVINE
NERVINES
NESH
NETE
NETES
NEVI
NEWER
NEWIE
NEWIES
NEWS
NEWSIE
NEWSIER
NIEF
NIES
NIG
NINE
NINES
NINETEEN
NINETIES
NISEI
NISI
NITE
NITES
NOIL
NOIR
NOOGIE
NOVELLA
NOVELLAE
NOVELLE
NUDE
NUDER
NUDES
NURS
NURSE
NURSED
NURSER
OGIVE
OGLE
OGLER
OILER
OMEN
OMER
OMERS
ONER
ONEROUS
ONERS
ONES
OORIE
OORIER
ORES
ORFE
ORFES
ORGAN
ORIEL
ORIENT
ORIGAN
ORIGIN
OUDS
OURS
OVEL
OVEN
OVER
OVERED
OVERFED
OVERGET
OVERGREW
OVERGROUND
RAIK
RAIN
RAINE
RAINES
RAIT
RAKE
RAKEE
RAKEES
RAKER
RAKI
RALE
RALLIER
RANI
RANINE
RANK
RANKE
RANKER
RANKLE
REAGIN
REAK
REAL
REALER
REALIGN
REALLIE
REAN
REDS
REEF
REEFED
REEFER
REEFERS
REEN
REES
REFED
REFEEL
REFEL
REFELL
REFER
REFERS
REGENT
REGES
REGREEN
REGREET
REGREW
REGROOVE
REGROUND
REGS
REHS
REIGN
REIN
REIS
REKNIT
RELIE
RELIEF
RELIER
RELIEVO
RELIVE
RELIVER
RELIVERED
REMISE
REMOUD
RENAIL
RENAL
RENEGE
RENEGED
RENEGER
RENEGERS
RENEGES
RENEW
RENEWER
RENEWERS
RENEWS
RENIES
RENIN
RENK
RENKER
RENT
RENTE
RENTES
RENVOI
REOS
RERENT
RERUN
RERUNS
RESAIL
RESEAL
RESEE
RESEEK
RESEEN
RESENT
RESENTIVE
RESET
RESEW
RESH
RESIN
RESINER
RESIT
RESITE
RESOUND
RESURGE
RESURGENT
RESURGES
REVILE
REVILER
REWET
REWIN
REWS
RIEL
RILE
RILL
RILLE
RING
RIVE
RIVEL
RIVEN
RIVER
RIVERED
RIVO
ROES
ROIL
RONE
RONES
ROON
ROSE
ROSED
ROUND
ROUNDER
ROUNDS
ROUSE
ROUSED
ROUSER
ROVE
ROVEN
ROVER
RUDE
RUDER
RUDES
RUDS
RUND
RUNDS
RUNS
RUSE
RUSH
RUSHED
RUSHEN
RUSHER
SAIL
SAIM
SAIN
SAINE
SALINE
SANE
SANER
SEAL
SEALINE
SEAN
SEEK
SEEL
SEEN
SEER
SEFER
SEGS
SEIL
SEINE
SEINER
SEINERS
SEITEN
SEMI
SEMIE
SEMINA
SENA
SENE
SENITI
SENOR
SENT
SENTE
SENTI
SENTINEL
SERE
SERED
SEREIN
SERENE
SERENES
SERENITIES
SERER
SERES
SERF
SERGE
SERGED
SERGER
SERGES
SERON
SEROUS
SERS
SERVE
SERVIENT
SERVILE
SERVO
SEWEN
SEWER
SEWERED
SEWERS
SEWIN
SHED
SHERE
SHEREEF
SHRED
SHROVE
SIAL
SIEGE
SIEGED
SIEGER
SIEGERS
SIEGES
SIEN
SIENITE
SIENT
SILANE
SIMORG
SIMORGS
SINE
SINEW
SINEWIER
SINK
SINKER
SITE
SITKA
SOME
SOMEWISE
SOMNIAL
SORE
SORED
SORER
SORES
SOUND
SOUNDER
SOUR
SOURED
SOURER
SUNDER
SURE
SURED
SURER
SURES
SURGE
SURGED
SURGENT
SURGER
SURGES
SURMISAL
SURMISE
SWEE
SWEEL
SWEER
SWEERED
SWIM
SWINE
SWINK
SWINKER
SWIVE
TEEK
TEEL
TEEN
TEER
TEERED
TEGS
TENE
TENIA
TENIAE
TEWS
TIAR
TIES
TIKA
TIKE
TINE
TINEA
TINEAL
TINES
TINIES
TINK
TINKER
TINKERED
TINKERER
TINKERERS
TINKLE
TINKLER
TINKLIER
TISANE
UNDE
UNDER
UNDERGROVE
UNDERMEN
UNDERMINE
UNDERMINES
UNDERN
UNDERWENT
UNDERWIT
UNSHED
UREMIA
UREMIAS
URENA
URENAS
URES
URGE
URGED
URGENT
URGER
URGES
USED
USER
USHER
VEAL
VEALIER
VEES
VEIL
VEILER
VEIN
VEINAL
VEINER
VEINERS
VELA
VELAR
VELL
VENA
VENAE
VENAL
VENETIAN
VENEWE
VENEWES
VENIAL
VENIN
VENINE
VENINES
VENITE
VENITES
VENT
VERGE
VERGED
VERGER
VERGERS
VERGES
VIAE
VIAL
VIELLE
VIER
VIES
VIEW
VIEWER
VIEWERS
VIEWIER
VIEWS
VIGA
VIGOR
VILE
VILER
VILL
VILLA
VILLAE
VILLAIN
VILLAINIES
VILLAN
VILLAR
VINA
VINAL
VINE
VINEAL
VINER
VINES
VINEW
VINEWS
VINT
VINTNER
VIRGA
VIRGIN
VIRGINAL
VIRING
VISA
VISE
VISIE
VISIER
VISIERS
VITE
VLEI
VOGIE
VOGIER
VOILA
VOILE
WEEK
WEEL
WEEN
WEENIE
WEENIES
WEER
WEEVIL
WEIL
WEINER
WEISE
WENA
WENT
WERE
WERO
WEROS
WERSH
WERSHER
WIENER
WIENIE
WINE
WINES
WINK
WINKER
WINKLE
WINKLER
WISE
WISENT
WISER
WITE
WITES
WIVE
WIVES
WREN
1056
Bonus Words
3
Shortest Word
10
Longest Word
1062
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

Latest NYT Strands Answers

Search and sort by date, game #, or answer.

Date ▼Game # ↕Answer ↕
Jan 04, 2026839SIXTHSENSE
Jan 03, 2026838BREAKNEWGROUND
Jan 02, 2026829STAYWARM
Jan 01, 2026837COFFEE
Dec 31, 2025836ROUNDANDROUND
Dec 30, 2025835HITSONGS
Dec 29, 2025834SUITYOURSELF
Dec 28, 2025808COLDSYMPTOM
Dec 27, 2025832MYTWOCENTS
Dec 26, 2025831BOXINGDAY
Dec 25, 2025830CHRISTMASDAYS
Dec 24, 2025828SNUGASABUG
Dec 23, 2025827NOTSOHOT
Dec 22, 2025826REGIFTING
Dec 21, 2025825THREELITTLEPIGS
Dec 20, 2025824CHRISTMASTREE
Dec 19, 2025823MAKINGTHECUT
Dec 18, 2025822IMMUNEBOOSTERS
Dec 17, 2025821ALITTLEOFF
Dec 16, 2025820HIGHPRAISE

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Frequently Asked Questions

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