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TechRadar
Marc McLaren

NYT Strands today — hints, answers and spangram for Sunday, October 20 (game #231)

NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background.

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my Wordle today, NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #231) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

Today's NYT Strands theme is… Make yourself at home

NYT Strands today (game #231) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

  • BELT
  • MELT
  • MEAL
  • SOIL
  • METAL
  • PLIER

NYT Strands today (game #231) - hint #3 - spangram

What is a hint for today's spangram?

Lounging around

NYT Strands today (game #231) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First: bottom, 3rd row

Last: top, 4th row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #231) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #231, are…

  • OTTOMAN
  • RECLINER
  • TABLE
  • SOFA
  • FIREPLACE
  • SHELF
  • SPANGRAM: LIVING ROOM

  • My rating: Easy
  • My score: Perfect

Today's Strands gave me a good reminder not to jump to conclusions, which I guess is a good lesson for life in general. The theme clue of 'Make yourself at home' had already suggested relaxing in some way, so when I spotted OTTOMAN followed by RECLINER I was sure that 'things you sit on' would be the answer. When I followed up with TABLE I was slightly confused – but I figured maybe there was such thing as a table chair, and I just didn't know the term. And then I got SOFA and my hunch seemed all but confirmed.

At that point, however, I stalled. I couldn't find any more words that worked and couldn't see what the spangram could be. So I had another look and tried to think less literally. And there before me, obvious for all to see, was the spangram: LIVINGROOM. Everything made sense now, and I was able to add FIREPLACE and SHELF to complete the set.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.


Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, 19 October, game #230)

  • ZING
  • KICK
  • SPARK
  • PIZZAZZ
  • FIZZ
  • OOMPH
  • VERVE
  • SPANGRAM: EXTRASOMETHING

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

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