NYT Strands dives into the world of nonverbal communication
Spangram: GESTURES ties the puzzle together with a theme of silent signals
Theme words showcase diverse gestures from around the globe
It’s Monday morning, and most of us are still waking from the weekend’s rest with sleepy eyes. What better way to wake up your mind gently than with today’s New York Times Strands puzzle? This edition challenges you to shake off the Monday mist by entering the hidden world of body language, the silent cues we all employ to communicate without speaking a word.
As you reveal each word concealed within the grid, you’ll discover yourself increasingly more awake and attuned to the subtle ways people interact.
Today’s puzzle is all about body language, those quiet, universal signals that say more than words ever could. From deferential bows to offhand shrugs, the puzzle shows the gestures that get across without a sound. It’s a reminder of how much communication takes place by movement, posture, and expression alone.
Strands maintains its traditional style: an 8x6 letter grid concealing several theme words. The puzzle’s pièce de résistance is the spangram, a unique word that weaves through the board, exactly expressing the theme of the puzzle. Your mission? Discover all the theme words and uncover the pangram to finish the puzzle.
Start by identifying words that are four letters or longer. Initially, these may look like random discoveries, but before long, they begin to interlink to reveal a theme based on the use of communication without sound. The more you uncover, the more the grid begins to come alive with gestures from various cultures, with each one communicating silently.
The spangram GESTURES is threaded throughout the grid like a thread running through it, encircling all the theme words into a sharp focus on body language. It ties the meaning of the puzzle and brings all of the clues together.
Today’s theme words emphasize a range of famous gestures:
HANDSHAKE: The traditional gesture of greeting and respect
CURTSEY: A courteous bow
KOWTOW: A low, traditional bow showing respect
SALUTE: A dignified gesture of recognition or respect
NAMASTE: A bow of respect that signifies ‘I bow to you’
SHRUG: A hand gesture conveying doubt or don’t care
Every word contributes a nuance to this quiet dialogue, building a rich lexicon of nonverbal cues.
Also Read: Today’s NYT Strands Hints and Answer for 25 May 2025
Well, more than a good old-fashioned word search, our modern-day Strands puzzle is a fun but thoughtful way to see just how much we communicate without words. At the center, GESTURES, and each of the surrounding words contributing to the narrative, you’re not only doing a puzzle, you’re deciphering the interesting language of the body. An excellent way to get going after that Monday morning fog and get your brain working on something entertaining as well as significant.