Today’s Strands puzzle is steeped in suspense, turning the grid into a miniature mystery novel.
The spangram IT’S A MYSTERY cuts across the board, binding suspects and sleuths alike.
A thrilling challenge for solvers who love the intrigue of whodunits, complete with lovers, rivals, and a detective on the case.
It’s August 22nd, and the day seems to have been ripped out of a thriller novel. The letters pile up, deadlines approach, and articles fight for notice in the news cycle. Hidden in the quieter spots of the morning is NYT Strands today, an element of respite wrapped in suspense. The theme this time is unmistakable: Whodunit?
There’s something ageless about the whodunit. With a sealed room, a group of suspects, motives hiding behind placid faces, and an investigator unraveling the clues, it’s a genre that has never lost its appeal. Today’s Strands perfectly evokes that ambiance, transmogrifying the grid into a small mystery just waiting to be unraveled.
If you don’t know, Strands is the NYT’s daily word puzzle on a 6x8 grid. Each puzzle includes a common theme. Words related to that theme are embedded throughout the grid, and as you discover one, it blinks in blue. The centerpiece, however, is the spangram, a word or phrase boldly slicing through the grid in yellow. That’s the golden thread that binds all the words together.
And if the grid baffles you, there’s assistance: discover three dead four-letter words, and you get a hint. But similar to the sleuth in a mystery, the actual excitement lies in the pursuit, testing hunches, chasing clues, and enjoying the feeling of satisfaction when everything falls into place.
Also Read: NYT Strands Hints and Answers for August 20, 2025
For August 22, the spangram is IT’S A MYSTERY, a phrase which not only serves as an anchor for the puzzle but also mirrors the very nature of the whodunit tradition.
This puzzle gathers together a group of characters one would find in the pages of a mystery novel. Today’s words are:
STRANGER – The mysterious outsider, usually shrouded in suspicion.
DETECTIVE – The reliable hand leading us to the truth.
SPOUSE – The dearest friend, sometimes concealing the darkest secret.
HEIR – Wealth’s beneficiary, with clear and concealed motives.
LOVER – Romance and deception are deeply connected.
RIVAL – The enemy waiting to pounce at the right moment.
Like any good whodunit, the puzzle builds layer by layer. The shorter names, HEIR, RIVAL, fall into place first. Soon, the DETECTIVE steps in, connecting the pieces, and then the full spangram stretches across the board: IT’S A MYSTERY. By the end, the grid feels less like a word game and more like a case solved.
Today’s NYT Strands clues and answers are more than a distraction; it’s a tight little mystery that reminds us of the pleasure of following clues, uncovering suspects, and enjoying the ultimate reveal.
Also Read: NYT Strands Hints and Answers for August 21, 2025