For fans of word puzzles, today’s New York Times Strands challenge presents an engaging theme: “On key.” If you’re looking for hints or the complete list of answers, you’re in the right place. The Strands puzzle can be particularly tricky, with some scrambled answers that may require a little extra thought.
The objective of the Strands puzzle is to uncover hidden words that align with the day’s theme. If you find yourself stuck, it’s beneficial to look for any words of four letters or more. Whenever three such words are identified, you receive a hint towards revealing one of the theme words. Some helpful words to look for include: RISE, TEAR, RILE, DESIRE, BRAT, and HASH, among others.
For today’s round, the theme directly ties into special characters, with the puzzle hiding words related to this concept. After careful investigation, the answers pertinent to the theme include CARET, TILDE, BRACKET, HASHTAG, ASTERISK, and UNDERSCORE. Additionally, today’s Strands spangram is SYMBOL, which can be located by starting from the letter ‘S’ that appears five letters down on the far-left row and weaving through the puzzle.
The Strands puzzles are known for their varying difficulty levels, and some past topics have been notably challenging. For instance, puzzles focusing on dated slang or marine biology have tested even the most seasoned solvers.
Keep your eyes peeled for today’s hints, and remember, every puzzle completed contributes to the delightful challenge that keeps word enthusiasts coming back for more!