Importance Score: 10 / 100 🟠
Seeking the latest Strands solution? Find daily Strands clues here, along with our daily solutions and clues for the New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections, and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.
Today’s NYT Strands puzzle might present a challenge. The words are thematically linked, possibly to the NCAA tournament and current baseball games; however, some terms are less common. One word, in particular, leans towards slang and proved difficult to decipher. (Clue: It describes a team winning three consecutive championships.) Continue reading for hints and solutions.
Detailed rules for Strands are available in this guide.
For today’s Wordle, Connections, and Mini Crossword answers, please visit FASTNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read also: NYT Connections Celebrates 1st Anniversary: Remembering the 5 Most Difficult Puzzles
Today’s Strands Hints
Theme: In it to win it
If the theme is unclear, consider this additional hint: “Let’s go, team!”
Unlock In-Game Hints with Clue Words
Your objective is to discover hidden words aligning with the puzzle’s theme. If you encounter difficulty, locate any words you can. Finding three words with four or more letters will prompt Strands to reveal a theme word. Below are words used to obtain hints; any words of four or more letters will serve the same purpose:
- BACK, BACKS, MACE, MACK, MACKS, SLAT, SLATE, TAPE, REGS, WEEP, WEEPS, MOCK, MOCKS, MAKE, COME, GAME, NAPS.
Strands Puzzle Solutions for Today
These are the solutions connected to the theme. The puzzle’s aim is to identify all answers, including the spangram—a theme word spanning the puzzle grid. Upon locating all words (initially thought to be consistently eight, but the number can vary), every letter on the board will be utilized. Here are the non-spangram solutions:
- ROUT, RALLY, SWEEP, UPSET, COMEBACK, THREEPEAT
Today’s Spangram
The completed NYT Strands puzzle for April 5, 2025, #398.
Today’s Strands spangram is GAMECHANGERS. To locate it, begin with the G, positioned five letters down on the far left, and trace across.
Recent Challenging Strands Puzzles
Below are some Strands puzzle themes considered more difficult in recent weeks:
#1: Dated slang, Jan. 21
This lingo may have been unfamiliar even when it was current. Most challenging word: PHAT.
#2: Thar she blows! Jan. 15
Marine biology expertise might be beneficial for this one. Most challenging word: BALEEN or RIGHT.
#3: Off the hook, Jan. 9
Similar to the Jan. 15 puzzle, knowledge of sea creatures is advantageous. Most challenging word: BIGEYE or SKIPJACK.