A new NYT Strands puzzle is released at midnight each day, so players may be tackling different games depending on their time zone. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle, you can find it here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, January 14 (game #682).
Strands is the latest word game from the NYT, following popular titles like Wordle and Connections. While it's entertaining, it can also be quite challenging, so here are some hints to help you out.
If you're interested in more word games, check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for additional hints and answers, as well as Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: The answers for today's NYT Strands game are provided below, so proceed with caution if you wish to avoid spoilers.
NYT Strands today (game #683) - hint #1 - today's theme
What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?
• Today's theme is… The ears have it!
NYT Strands today (game #683) - hint #2 - clue words
Use any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system:
- CARB
- CHEAT
- PASTE
- DUEL
- LAND
- BOIL
NYT Strands today (game #683) - hint #3 - spangram letters
How many letters are in today's spangram?
• The spangram consists of 8 letters.
NYT Strands today (game #683) - hint #4 - spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?
First side: top, 1st column
Last side: bottom, 4th column
Now, if you wish to see the answers, scroll down at your own risk.
NYT Strands today (game #683) - the answers
The answers for today's Strands, game #683, are:
- DRUM
- CANAL
- LOBE
- ANVIL
- HAMMER
- CARTILAGE
- SPANGRAM: HEARHEAR
- My rating: Hard
- My score: 2 hints
After identifying the more straightforward ear-related words like DRUM, CANAL, and LOBE, I encountered difficulties and had to rely on hints to finish the game.
Even with hints, I struggled with ANVIL, mistakenly thinking it was something else before finally figuring it out; I wish I had spent more time examining ear anatomy.
During my search for non-game words, I found HEAR but overlooked its repetition. I hope I wasn't the only one!
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Wednesday, January 14, game #682)
- EAGER
- ENTHUSIASTIC
- ZEALOUS
- EXCITED
- FERVENT
- SPANGRAM: LETSDOTHIS
What is NYT Strands?
Strands is the NYT's word game that has gained popularity, following in the footsteps of Wordle and Connections. It has been a part of the NYT games lineup for a year and can be played on the NYT Games site on both desktop and mobile. For tips on how to play, check out my guide to NYT Strands.