Today’s Strands puzzle is a Marvel-ous escape, superheroes stitched together in a word grid instead of a comic strip.
The spangram SUPERHEROES streaks across the board, uniting STORM, WOLVERINE, ROGUE, DAREDEVIL, HULK, and more.
A cinematic challenge for solvers who enjoy cracking codes and celebrating the legends of Marvel lore.
It’s August 21st, and already the week is flying along at a superhero’s pace. The inbox is humming, the news cycle won’t quit, and deadlines are gathering like villains in the wings. Amidst it all, NYT Strands today acts as a pause button disguised in plain view.
This one is no ordinary puzzle. The topic is superheroes. A theme as splashy as a comic book splash page, filled with names, powers, and legends that have shaped pop culture over generations. Today’s grid honors the heroes who jump off the page and into our minds: mutants to vigilantes, cosmic storms to impenetrable claws.
For newbies, Strands is the New York Times’ daily word game played on a 6x8 grid. Words are there in plain sight, all tethered to a common theme. Find one, and it shines in blue. But that’s only the setup.
At the very center of the puzzle is the spangram, that one big word or phrase that is the hub of the entire theme. It slices across the grid in bold yellow, the golden thread that tethers all the clues together.
Need a hand? The game lets you discover three discard four-letter words, and it rewards you with NYT Strands clues. A part of the excitement is flying without parachutes, the satisfaction of learning, and the small thrill when the grid flashes on recognition.
For August 21, the spangram is SUPERHEROES, the anchor word that names the puzzle and establishes the day’s challenge.
Seven names shine bright in the puzzle today, each a reference to Marvel’s finest legends:
STORM: Mistress of the weather, queen of thunder and lightning.
WOLVERINE: Snares on claws, healing fury, and unyielding will.
ROGUE: The Southern mutant who steals powers with a mere touch.
DAREDEVIL: The blind attorney who stalks Hell’s Kitchen at night.
THING: The rock-hided bruiser of the Fantastic Four.
HULK: The green behemoth, unadulterated fury and strength embodied.
The shortest names crack first. STORM flashed onto the board first, her letters sparkling in their locations. Then HULK, a thunderous and unmistakable presence, and the spangram SUPERHEROES shouted itself out once those anchors were set.
The others followed in turn, like the pages of a well-drawn comic strip: WOLVERINE, ROGUE, DAREDEVIL, and THING stepping into the light.
Today’s NYT Strands hints and answers indulge in wordplay, but are also a tightly packed homage to Marvel’s mythos. For the people ready for the crunch of routine, it’s a reminder that a bit of heroic energy can turn even a Thursday into an adventure.
Also Read: NYT Strands Hints and Answers for August 19, 2025