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A thematic nod to all things genuine, this puzzle strings together words that stand for truth in its purest form.
BONAFIDE cuts across the grid, linking plainspoken staples like REAL and TRUE with formal affirmations like LEGITIMATE, AUTHENTIC, and GENUINE.
A puzzle that favors clarity, integrity, and the satisfaction of uncovering the unvarnished truth.
It’s August 14, the week’s latter slope, where Thursday feels close enough to Friday to borrow a little of its light. The coffee’s warm, the inbox is restless, and there’s just enough breathing room for a puzzle before the day tips over into full tilt.
NYT Strands today is a salute to truth in all its shades, unvarnished, straightforward, and standing firm. The subject of today’s game is Honest-to-goodness. This is a theme made of words that stand firm, no matter how messy the day around them.
If you’re new here, Strands is The New York Times’ daily word search with a twist. Each grid hides a cluster of words bound by a theme. Spot one, and it lights up blue, a small victory toward the bigger picture.
In the middle is the spangram, one word running from top to bottom, keeping the theme together. Sometimes it’s blatant; sometimes it doesn’t reveal itself until the final click.
Stuck? Feed the game three random four-letter words, and it’ll give you a hint. But what’s the fun in that?
BONAFIDE, the throughline unifying every truth in the grid.
REAL, plainspoken honesty.
AUTHENTIC, the real article.
GENUINE, honest without facade.
LEGITIMATE, stamped and approved.
KOSHER, by-the-book and above board.
TRUE, the anchor of fact.
Today’s NYT Strands hints and answers were nothing short of earnest. LEGITIMATE announced itself initially, thanks to seeing LEGIT. REAL and TRUE followed in short order, but GENUINE was a tease. KOSHER was the wildcard of the day, known, but not my initial thought in this situation. After BONAFIDE turned up, the rest became apparent.
A solid, rewarding Thursday solve, just the right breather in a day of juggling plates. Then, back into the frenzy, with one small victory to encourage me.
Also Read: NYT Strands Hints and Answers for August 13, 2025
