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NYT Strands dives into themes of hiding and deception for today’s puzzle
The spangram FALSEFRONT ties together words like MASK, CAMOUFLAGE, and FACADE
Find words that all relate to things that hide or mislead the eye
It’s Monday, and the week has just started. Perhaps the weather is teasing you with sun and rain in alternating fits, just enough heat to coax you out, just enough rain to send you back in.
Before you settle into a working rhythm, stretch your thinking for a bit. Today’s New York Times Strands puzzle is the ideal combination of fun and challenge, a delightful way to start the week on a high note of mystery.
Today’s puzzle toys with the concept of deception and disguise. It’s a matter of concealing in plain sight, things that masquerade as something else. From subtle disguises to blatant cover-ups, this theme challenges how we employ illusions as a cover for what’s truly there.
You will see a 6x8 grid of letters, and you need to locate words relating to today’s theme of hiding. Every successful word shines blue as you locate it.
One of them is unique, it’s the spangram, an extraordinary word that spans two sides of the board, highlighted in yellow. It indicates the puzzle’s real purpose and holds the others together.
Consider all the ways we conceal things, costumes, coverings, cunning deceptions. Begin with the straightforward and let the words flow. Some will leap right out at you, while others will take a bit of deciphering. And if you need a nudge?
Remember: nothing is quite as it appears.
The spangram FALSEFRONT is your big clue. It ties all the other words together under the idea of pretense and misdirection, perfect for a puzzle about illusions.
Here’s what you’ll uncover in today’s grid:
MASK: Something worn to conceal identity.
CAMOUFLAGE: Designed to blend in and avoid detection.
CLOAK: A metaphor for hiding something, often intentions.
DISGUISE: Anything used to change appearance or identity.
COVER: To conceal or shield from sight.
FACADE: Appearance that is misleading on the surface, concealing the truth.
Deception is the subject of the Strands puzzle today: the very term puts a layer of deception on the question mark-shaped grid with a ‘false front.’ With Tuesday right around the corner, take a moment and enjoy the illusion that reality is already crowing for a piece of you. It can wait; for now, treasures need to be unearthed.
