Screenshot of nytimes.com captured 2026-10-30.
Strands is a daily word search from The New York Times with a twist: every letter on the board belongs to a themed word, and one special word, the spangram, stretches from one side of the grid to the other and names the theme.
| Type | Word games |
|---|---|
| Time per game | 5-10 minutes |
| Publisher | The New York Times |
| Platform | Web browser, no install needed |
| Play on DLE Arena | No, official site only |
| Official site | nytimes.com |
How to play Strands
- Read the theme clue at the top; it is usually a pun.
- Drag through adjacent letters (including diagonals) to spell words.
- Theme words turn blue; the spangram turns yellow and touches two opposite sides.
- Finding non-theme words of four or more letters fills a hint meter that highlights a theme word.
Strands tips
- Find the spangram early; it tells you the theme in plain words.
- Corners have few neighbors, so words starting in a corner are easier to trace.
- Every letter is used exactly once, so leftover letters must form the remaining words.
Who will like Strands
Strands fits in our word games collection. Word games are the heart of the daily puzzle boom. If you play several dailies each morning, Strands takes about 5-10 minutes, so it pairs well with a quick word game and a knowledge game like Arena Rank.
Games like Strands
- Wordle Guess the hidden five-letter word in six tries.
- Connections Sort sixteen words into four hidden groups of four.
- Spelling Bee Make as many words as you can from seven letters.
- The Mini Crossword A tiny daily crossword you can finish in about a minute.
- Letter Boxed Chain words around a square to use all twelve letters.
- ▶ Play here Quordle Solve four Wordles at once in nine guesses.
Frequently asked questions
What is Strands?
Strands is a daily word search from The New York Times with a twist: every letter on the board belongs to a themed word, and one special word, the spangram, stretches from one side of the grid to the other and names the theme.
Where can I play Strands?
Strands is played in the browser on its official site, nytimes.com. It does not allow other sites to embed it, so DLE Arena links there directly.
How long does a game of Strands take?
Most players finish a round in about 5-10 minutes.
What games are like Strands?
If you enjoy Strands, try Wordle, Connections, Spelling Bee, or play Arena Rank, our own daily ranking puzzle on DLE Arena.
Strands is a trademark of its owner. DLE Arena is an independent guide and is not affiliated with Strands. Details were checked on 2026-10-30; rules can change, so the official site is the final word.