NYT Strands provides a daily puzzle, challenging players to discover hidden words within a grid, highlighted by a Spangram that defines the core subject.
The New York Times’ initial crossword puzzle debuted on February 15, 1942, in its Sunday Magazine, with the creation by Charles Erlenkotter and editing by Margaret Farrar. This marked the beginning of a series of innovative games by the NYT, like the Mini Crossword in 2014 and subsequently Spelling Bee, Letter Boxed, and Tiles. Wordle was a major hit in 2022, followed by Connections and Strands.
If you’re stuck on today’s NYT Strands puzzle, here are clues and answers to help you succeed.
Theme for August 31, 2025: ‘Up the hill’.
Warning: The following reveals the hints, answers, and Spangram. Consider this spoiler alert as you read on.
Spangram Hint: A pair who take on a shared mission, often mentioned in a familiar children’s verse.
Word Hints:
1. A vessel for carrying liquids or materials.
2. The act of going to retrieve something.
August 31, 2025 Answers:
* PAIL
* FETCH
* BROKE
* CROWN
* AFTER
* WATER
* TUMBLING
Today’s Spangram:
‘JackAndJill’ is the Spangram for today’s NYT Strands puzzle.
Understanding NYT Strands
Strands combines gameplay from Connections, Spelling Bee, and traditional crosswords. The user is presented with a 6 x 8 board with 48 letters and a daily theme. Your task is to solve the Spangram and find all the theme words.
How to Play:
* Connect letters on the grid to build words by using your mouse or fingers on a touch screen. Drag your mouse to connect letters horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
* Identify the core theme word or Spangram that will assist in understanding the Strands theme.
* Search for other theme words within the puzzle. The puzzle is considered solved when all are found.
Hints for Success:
* Uncover the theme words to completely fill the table with themed answers, marked in blue, with no overlaps.
* Find the Spangram, a vital clue that touches opposite edges of the board, summarizing the topic. It will be highlighted in yellow upon discovery.
* Seek hints by identifying off-topic words. Every 3 non-theme words revealed will highlight letters, providing a clue to find a themed word without revealing the word directly.