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The article clearly explains today’s NYT Strands theme, answers, and spangram in simple terms.
Step-by-step hints help readers solve the puzzle without immediately revealing full answers.
Practical solving tips make the article useful for both new and experienced Strands players.
The New York Times Strands puzzle for Wednesday, January 21, delivers a lighthearted but thoughtful theme focused on everyday behavior. The grid of today dares the contestants to find the behaviors that are commonly corrected in infancy, making the whole process easy to relate to and enjoyable at the same time. With clear patterns and a clever spangram, this edition rewards careful observation and logical grouping.
Today's NYT Strands official theme for today’s puzzle is “That’s Not Very Polite.” All the hidden words describe actions that are generally discouraged in polite society, especially during childhood. These behaviors are easy to recognize, which helps solvers connect the theme words quickly once the pattern becomes clear.
Here are gentle hints to guide the solution without giving everything away. Each hint includes the starting letters and word length:
ST (5 letters): Looking too long at someone
SH (5 letters): Speaking far too loudly
TE (5 letters): Mocking or making fun
GL (5 letters): Taking pleasure in someone else’s failure
IN (9 letters): Cutting into a conversation
PO (5 letters): Using fingers to single someone out
BU (4 letters): An unfiltered table habit
All non-spangram answers for today’s puzzle are listed below:
STARE
SHOUT
TEASE
GLOAT
INTERRUPT
POINT
BURP
Each word fits neatly within the theme of impolite or socially discouraged actions.
The spangram for January 21 is DONT BE RUDE. This saying goes from one end of the grid to the other and is also an impeccable characterization of the behavior of all theme words. If one identifies the spangram at the very beginning, then the rest of the puzzle can be solved with a lot less effort.
Start by interpreting the theme broadly before searching for specific words.
Look for common acts, words, or groups that match the hint.
Finding the spangram first cuts down the number of possible answers.
Scan the grid for unusual letter groupings that may signal longer words.
The NYT Strands puzzle of January 21 is an excellent example of a mix between the two extremes, the accessibility and the clever wordplay. It has a distinct theme, uses simple words, and makes you think quite a bit, all the while developing your skills in recognizing patterns. Daily puzzles like this continue to sharpen logic, expand vocabulary, and keep wordplay fans coming back for more.
