NYT Strands celebrates famous trademarked brand names on June 3
The spangram TRADEMARKED ties together classic brand words across the grid
Find well-known words like KLEENEX, JACUZZI, POPSICLE, CHAPSTICK, and VELCRO in this clever word challenge
We’ve all hit that yawning, brain-fog moment where scrolling through the same old stuff just isn’t enough. So why not take a break and treat your mind to something a little sweeter? It’s National Chocolate Macaroon Day, a day to celebrate those chewy, chocolaty delights that make life a little better.
And while you’re at it, why not snack on some wordplay too? The New York Times Strands puzzle is set to dish out a serving of trademarked words that have infiltrated our language so completely, you may not even know that they began life as brand names. Let’s get started and banish boredom with some delicious brain exercises!
Today’s puzzle is all about words that began as brands but have since become household fixtures. Think of Kleenex for tissues, Jacuzzi for hot tubs, and Popsicle for frozen snacks. These terms have become so comfortable in our lexicon that we use them like common nouns, whether or not we own the brand!
Strands drop a 6x8 matrix of linked letters onto your screen. Your task? Identify all the theme words associated with trademarked names, they’ll become blue when found. And there’s one spangram (in yellow) crossing two borders of the grid, beautifully encapsulating the theme.
Start by discovering any three words with four or more letters somewhere on the board to release hints. Watch out for words such as TRADE, RAIT, TICS, and STICK, some are clues, some are placed there to mislead you. Use these hints as a secret recipe for you, combine and substitute them until those trademarked words begin to appear like your favorite treats!
The spangram TRADEMARKED is the pièce de résistance here, navigating through the grid and stitching together all those well-known brand names into a tidy bundle.
Here’s the delicious list of trademarked goodies to find:
KLEENEX – The tissue brand that’s become the tissue
JACUZZI – The hot tub everyone desires
POPSICLE – The frozen treat on a stick
CHAPSTICK – Lip balm royalty
VELCRO – The adhesive fastener you never knew you adored
So, whether you’re nibbling on a chocolate macaroon or just here for the word fun, today’s Strands puzzle is a sweet little treat for your brain. These trademarked words remind us how brands sneak into our daily speech and take over, because, well, they’re just that good. Take a break, enjoy some clever wordplay, and treat yourself. Because boredom doesn’t stand a chance against chocolate, macarons, and a good puzzle!