Today's Strands puzzle from the NYT is a tough one – or at least that was my experience. You may well disagree, but if not there are hints below.
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 #161) - hint #1 - today's theme
What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?
• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Home stretch?
NYT Strands today (game #161) - hint #2 - clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
- MOOT
- TOME
- RUNS
- SANDY
- OVER
- PAINT
NYT Strands today (game #161) - hint #3 - spangram
What is a hint for today's spangram?
• Outdoor living
NYT Strands today (game #161) - hint #4 - spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?
First: left, 5th row
Last: right, 6th row
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #161) - the answers
The answers to today's Strands, game #161, are…
- DECK
- PATIO
- VERANDA
- BALCONY
- SUNROOM
- TERRACE
- SPANGRAM: BONUSSPACES
- My rating: Hard
- My score: 4 hints
I really, really struggled with today's Strands. I struggled to get started, and needed a hint to find the first word. That was DECK, and I struggled then to see the relationship to the theme clue, 'Home stretch?', and so needed another hint. That gave me PATIO, at which point I realized what I needed to do. However, I then struggled to think of – or find – any other words. Eventually I needed hints for BALCONY and SUNROOM, and by that stage there were very few words that could still be formed, so I did manage to find the others. Even so, the spangram, BONUSSPACES, still took me an age to uncover. Not a good day.
How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday 10 August, game #160)
- HOCKEY
- CONTROL
- LICORICE
- MEMORY
- SWIZZLE
- CINNAMON
- SPANGRAM: STICKS
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.
