Strands: today’s spangram hints and answers for Friday, August 15
Strands, the New York Times’ daily word game, continues to draw players with its mix of theme words and a cross-board spangram. For Friday, August 15, the puzzle centers on a labor-themed push, with seven theme words to uncover, including the spangram itself.
How to play Strands (quick refresher)
– Find theme words to fill the board; once found, theme words stay highlighted in blue.
– Drag or tap letters to form words; if tapping, double-tap the last letter to submit.
– The spangram describes the puzzle’s theme and touches two opposite sides of the board; it may be two words and will highlight in yellow when found.
– If you’re stuck, you can search for non-theme words to earn hints: for every three non-theme words you find, you get a hint that reveals letters from a theme word (if a hint is already active, it shows that word’s letter order).
Today’s Strands hints and spangram
– Theme hint: The puzzle theme for today is described as “Honest-to-goodness,” with the puzzle leaning into labor-intensive tasks.
– There are seven theme words to find, including the spangram.
– First two letters for each word (as given in today’s hints): DI, GA, LA, GR, VA, WH (SPANGRAM).
– Spangram orientation: today’s spangram is described as mostly vertical.
Today’s Strands spangram answer
– WHATACHORE
Today’s Strands theme words and answers
– DISHES
– GARBAGE
– LAUNDRY
– GROCERIES
– VACUUMING
– SPANGRAM: WHATACHORE
Note on accuracy
– The list above reflects the words and spangram identified for today’s puzzle as described in today’s coverage. If you’re solving live, you’ll want to verify on the NYT Strands page or app to see the exact board layout and confirm the current day’s theme words.
What this means for players
– The theme ties together common household chores and tasks, with the spangram “WHAT A CHORE” capturing the overall mood of a busy day spent tackling chores.
– The vertical spangram hint suggests focusing on letters that run along a column rather than a row, which can help those who are aiming to unlock the yellow-highlighted spangram quickly.
Summary
– Friday’s Strands brings a labor-themed challenge with seven total theme words, including the spangram. The spangram answer for today is WHATACHORE, and the non-spangram theme words include DISHES, GARBAGE, LAUNDRY, GROCERIES, and VACUUMING. Use the hints wisely to uncover letters and accelerate your progress.
A hopeful note
– Strands continues to evolve as a daily brain teaser that rewards pattern recognition and strategic clue hunting. If you enjoy word-building puzzles with a new twist each day, this game offers a satisfying daily ritual and a sense of accomplishment as you uncover both theme words and the spangram.