NYT Strands uses a themed grid to test logic, vocabulary, and pattern recognition.
Today’s theme focuses on hearing and ear anatomy, led by the spangram “HEAR HEAR”.
The puzzle suits shared play, rewarding discussion and attention over speed.
Long hours of recovery often come with enforced stillness and an excess of time. As a friend recuperates from a broken leg, shared activities have become a way to break the monotony without demanding physical effort. Among them, NYT Strands has stood out, not merely as a pastime but as a thoughtful exercise in focus and collaboration. Today’s theme, “The ears have it!”, brings anatomy and wordplay together, asking players to listen closely to clues hidden in plain sight.
Part of The New York Times’ expanding Games portfolio, Strands builds on the popularity of daily puzzles such as Wordle and Connections, while offering a slower, more analytical alternative.
Each day, the puzzle presents a 6×8 grid of letters. Players must uncover a set of words linked by a common theme, guided by a short hint. When a correct theme word is found, it remains highlighted in blue.
At the centre of every puzzle is the spangram, a defining word or phrase that explains the theme. The spangram always stretches across at least two sides of the grid and appears in yellow once solved. Every letter in the grid is used exactly once, leaving no room for excess guesses.
Letters can be connected horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, with direction changes allowed mid-word. On touchscreens, players submit a word by double-tapping the final letter. Finding three valid non-theme words of four letters or more unlocks a hint, which reveals the letters of one undiscovered theme word.
Theme hint: The ears have it!
Extra clue: Listen in
The spangram for today’s puzzle is HEAR HEAR, pointing clearly to hearing and ear anatomy.
The complete set of theme words is:
CARTILAGE
LOBE
STIRRUP
HAMMER
DRUM
ANVIL
CANAL
Today’s NYT Strands, which is centered on listening and anatomy, reflects the essence of the game perfectly. Strands grants points for paying attention rather than for fast moves, which makes it ideal for quiet group play during such times. It becomes a slow but sure distraction in the waiting and recovering moments, just enough for the minds to stay sharp, the talks to go on and the boredom to be kept away for good.