If you're looking for a different day, a new NYT Strands puzzle is released at midnight each day in your time zone. This means some players are tackling 'today's game' while others are still on 'yesterday's'. If you're interested in Monday's puzzle, you can find it here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, January 19 (game #687).
Strands is the latest word game from the NYT, following popular titles like Wordle, Spelling Bee, and Connections. While it's a lot of fun, it can also be quite challenging, so here are some hints to help you out.
For more word-based entertainment, check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, as well as Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: The answers for today's NYT Strands are below, so avoid scrolling further if you don't want to see them.
NYT Strands today (game #688) - hint #1 - today's theme
What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?
• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Sneak-ing around
NYT Strands today (game #688) - hint #2 - clue words
Use any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system:
- LAME
- CASH
- SLOTH
- SPOUT
- TONE
- LOVE
NYT Strands today (game #688) - hint #3 - spangram letters
How many letters are in today's spangram?
• The spangram contains 12 letters
NYT Strands today (game #688) - hint #4 - spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?
First side: top, 1st column
Last side: bottom, 5th column
Now, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #688) - the answers
The answers to today's Strands, game #688, are:
- HEEL
- TONGUE
- VAMP
- SOLE
- SHOELACE
- LOGO
- EYELET
- SPANGRAM: JUSTFORKICKS
- My rating: Easy
- My score: Perfect
For the second consecutive game, I spotted the spangram first. To be honest, I noticed “just” first and then continued to connect JUSTFORKICKS, quickly revealing the theme.
Among the various sneaker parts in today's puzzle, VAMP was a new term for me. I learned that it refers to the area between the toe box and the quarter panel that contains the eyelets.
During my research on sneaker parts, I also discovered that the area above the heel notch, often housing the LOGO, is called a moustache. This is the part that tends to rub when breaking in a new pair, so now I can inform anyone interested that my moustache is rubbing.
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Monday, January 19, game #687)
- VIBRATE
- QUAKE
- WOBBLE
- SWAY
- TREMBLE
- WAVER
- TEETER
- SPANGRAM: LETSROCK
What is NYT Strands?
Strands is the NYT's well-established word game, following Wordle and Connections. It has been a part of the NYT's games lineup for a year and can be played on the NYT Games site on both desktop and mobile.
For a comprehensive guide on how to play NYT Strands, complete with solving tips, check it out if you're having trouble beating it daily.