NYT Strands, the latest puzzle from the New York Times, offers daily thematic challenges. Players must uncover all hidden words within a grid, including a Spangram that spans the board, revealing the overarching theme.
The New York Times first introduced crossword puzzles on February 15, 1942, in its Sunday Magazine, with Charles Erlenkotter creating and Margaret Farrar editing the inaugural puzzle. Since then, the NYT has expanded its gaming offerings, including the Mini Crossword in 2014, followed by Spelling Bee, Letter Boxed, and Tiles. In 2022, the NYT launched the popular Wordle, followed by Connections and Strands.
Struggling with today’s NYT Strands puzzle? Here are some helpful hints and the answers.
Theme for August 31, 2025: ‘Up the hill’.
Spoiler Alert: Below are the hints, answers, and Spangram for today’s NYT Strands. The hints may partially or fully reveal the Strands, so be aware as you scroll down.
Spangram Hint: A duo often associated with a shared endeavor, famously depicted in a nursery rhyme.
Here are some word hints:
1. A container used for carrying liquids.
2. To go and retrieve something.
Answers for August 31, 2025:
* PAIL
* FETCH
* BROKE
* CROWN
* AFTER
* WATER
* TUMBLING
Today’s Spangram:
‘JackAndJill’ is the Spangram for today’s NYT Strands puzzle.
NYT Strands Overview
Strands merges elements of Connections, Spelling Bee, and traditional crosswords. Players are presented with a 6×8 inch board filled with 48 letters and a daily theme. The objective is to solve the Spangram and identify all the themed words.
To Play:
* Connect letters on the grid to form words using a mouse or touch screen. Drag your cursor to link letters horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
* Identify the central theme word or Spangram to better grasp the Strands theme.
* Locate the other themed words within the puzzle. Solving the puzzle means finding all the words.
Tips for Solving
* Uncover Theme Words: Fill out the table with all theme answers, marked in blue when found. They should not overlap.
* Discover the Spangram: Find the Spangram, a key element touching two opposite sides of the board. It sums up the topic, possibly consisting of two words and will be highlighted in yellow.
* Get Hints: Use off-topic words as guidance. After revealing every 3 non-theme words, letters will be highlighted with a clue to help find a themed word without giving it away directly.
