Daily New York Times Puzzle Solution and Clues for Thursday, 13th March, 2025
Hop on over, puzzle solvers! Today's Strands theme is all about cycles and returns. If you're stuck and need a hand, I've got some subtle hints to help you out.
First up, the spangram is a phrase you'd shout when someone makes a comeback from behind, like when they were losing bad and then turn it around at the last second. Give it a whirl: "Nice comeback." Start with the theme words first, as the spangram might seem a bit abstract at first.
The theme words themselves describe an ebb-and-flow motion or when something ends back where it started. Think of a bouncy ball or a rubber band. Got it? Good!
Now, let me avoid giving away too much and steer clear of those pesky spoilers. But if you're up for it, I'll share the spangram and the theme words. Remember, I'll be honest, but this is your warning before diving into the answers:
- Spangram: NICECOMEBACK
- Theme Words: REBOUND, RICOCHET, BOOMERANG, BOUNCE, RETURN
Here, take a peek at the solved board:
[Solved Strands Board]
Solving today's Strands can be a breeze with the right strategy. Here's how I approached it:
When I read the puzzle theme, I thought about karma, but then realized it might be more literal-objects that spin in circles or go out and come back. Like a boomerang or a merry-go-round. Bingo! There's BOOMERANG.
I spotted COMEBACK, but it's not a theme word. Probably part of the spangram. RETURN is in the bottom right, and REBOUND is in the upper left. BOUNCE is in the upper right. The spangram became clear: NICECOMEBACK.
Finally, I found RICOCHET. And there you have it!
Don't forget to test your skills by playing Strands on the New York Times website or the NYT Games app. When you start playing, you'll see a board filled with letters, along with a clue that hints at the puzzle's theme. The most crucial word to find is the spangram, which more explicitly states the puzzle's theme. It's time to dive into the world of Strands and become a puzzle master!
How I Solved Today's Strands:
When I read the puzzle theme, at first, I got lost in thoughts about the general concept of karma, but I soon realized it might be more literal-objects that spin in circles or go out and come back. Perhaps like a boomerang or a merry-go-round. 🌀
Hey look at that, it's BOOMERANG. 🔵
I spotted COMEBACK below BOOMERANG, but it wasn't a theme word. Definitely part of the spangram. RETURN is in the bottom right corner, with REBOUND in the upper left. BOUNCE is in the upper right corner. 🔵🔵🔵
The spangram was becoming clear: NICECOMEBACK. 🔵🔵accoent☓ Nice, so it's more about the action of going out and back, not objects that do so.
REBOUND is lurking in the upper left corner. 🔵
BOUNCE is hidden in the upper right corner. 🔵
Now I could see the spangram: NICECOMEBACK. 🔵🔵accoent☓
Finally, RICOCHET. 🔵
How Strands Works:
You'll find the Strands game on the New York Times website and in the NYT Games app.
When you begin playing, you'll encounter a game board with an assortment of letters, and a clue to help you decipher the puzzle's theme (like "Better with age"). Your objective is to locate the hidden words on the board that match the puzzle's theme.
You'll need to locate the "spangram" first, a word that encapsulates the puzzle's theme the most explicitly. Now, this spangram will traverse the entire board, either from left to right or top to bottom. When you discover the spangram, it will shine bright yellow. Once you've found the spangram, solving the rest of the puzzle should be much easier. 🌟
Words can move in any direction (up, down, left, right, and diagonally) in Strands. You can only use each letter once, and there is only one correct solution. When you correctly identify a puzzle word, it will shine in beautiful blue.
If you find yourself stuck, you can use three non-theme words as hints. When you submit these, the "Hint" button will appear. Click it, and all of the letters in one of the theme words will be highlighted for you. You still have to rearrange these highlighted letters to form a single theme word.
You can't fail Strands. When you make guesses, you'll either correctly identify a word, receive credit toward a hint, or you'll receive a playful shake, indicating that the word you submitted is too short or incorrect. There are no limitations on guesses or time. 🕒
Congratulations! You've solved the puzzle when you've successfully used all the letters on the board and located the spangram and all theme words. Like other NYT games, you'll be rewarded with a sharable card that shows how well you performed that day: blue dots (🔵) indicate the theme words you found, the yellow dot (☓) indicates the spangram, and a lightbulb (💡) shows the words you received a hint for. 🌟🎉
Now it's your turn to dive into the world of Strands and become the puzzle champion! 🚀🌟💪😄🎮🎯👑🏆🥇🥈🥉🌟🚀
Entertainment can often involve cycles and returns, much like today's Strands theme. In March, you might enjoy a nice comeback with a game that revolves around the idea of strands moving in loops, such as a boomerang or a strand of DNA. With hints and strategies, you could potentially solve the strands today, revealing words like rebound, ricochet, and bounce.
