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 NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.
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 #288) - hint #1 - today's theme
What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?
• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Crossed words
NYT Strands today (game #288) - hint #2 - clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
- SURE
- MATES
- TANK
- RATHER
- HURT
- NEAT
NYT Strands today (game #288) - hint #3 - spangram
What is a hint for today's spangram?
• Word smash
NYT Strands today (game #288) - hint #4 - spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?
First side: top, 4th column
Last side: bottom, 4th column
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #288) - the answers
The answers to today's Strands, game #288, are…
- SMOG
- SPORT
- BRUNCH
- ZORSE
- ATHLEISURE
- ANKLET
- SPANGRAM: PORTMANTEAUX
- My rating: Moderate
- My score: 2 hints
In honor of today’s Spangram I’ve invented my own portmanteaux. Stranesia describes that moment playing Strands where your memory and brain power completely evade you. Today, I experienced this all-too-common sensation when, even though I only had five letters left, I still could not get the final word and was left dumbfounded.
In my defense, ZORSE is hardly the most common of words. But then again, none of my numerous attempts (Orzes – zesty Oreos?, etc) made any sense either.
According to Google, there are only around 100 Zorses (a hybrid between zebra and horse) in the world. Several years ago one breeder called the zorse "the horse of the future". But there is one hitch – zorses cannot breed, making their future bleak.
Zorse is also rumored to be the name of a puzzle game that the NYT has been testing, so this portmanteaux business could be a cunning bit of marketing. Zorse: the puzzle of the future. Or maybe it doesn't exist at all.
How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Sunday, 15 December, game #287)
- FULL
- WANING
- WAXING
- GIBBOUS
- QUARTER
- CRESCENT
- SPANGRAM: LUNAR PHASE
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.
