If you’re here, chances are you’re seeking some assistance with playing [**Strands**](https://www.nytimes.com/games/strands), *The New York Times*’ advanced word-search game.

**Strands** offers a fresh take on the classic word search. In this game, you create words by connecting letters in any direction — upwards, downwards, sideways, or diagonally. However, there’s a catch: words can shift direction, forming distinctive shapes and patterns. Every letter in the grid contributes to a solution, and all solutions are connected by a central theme. Plus, there’s the “spangram” — a specific word or phrase that embodies the daily theme and covers the entire grid either horizontally or vertically.

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### Related Games:
– [**Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable**](https://games.mashable.com/)

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In contrast to other *NYT* games such as [**Wordle**](https://mashable.com/category/wordle) or [**Connections**](https://mashable.com/category/connections), **Strands** does not supply a word list, making this puzzle more difficult and time-consuming. Instead, it provides a subtle hint to assist you. If you’re feeling stuck or lack the time to complete today’s puzzle, we have all the hints necessary to help you progress at your own speed.

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### Related Articles:
– [**Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 16**](https://mashable.com/article/wordle-today-answer-january-16-2025)
– [**NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 16**](https://mashable.com/article/nyt-connections-hint-answer-today-january-16-2025)

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### **Today’s NYT Strands Theme: Bar Association**

The theme of today’s puzzle revolves around the 21-and-over audience. Simply put, all the words represent items you’d generally encounter at a bar.

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### **Spangram Hint: Is it Vertical or Horizontal?**

Today’s spangram is vertical.

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### **Spangram Answer for January 16**

Today’s spangram is **Cocktails**.

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### **NYT Strands Word List for January 16**

Here’s the complete list of words for today’s puzzle:
– **Cosmopolitan**
– **Zombie**
– **Martini**
– **Sidecar**
– **Stinger**
– **Cocktails**

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### **Looking for More Games?**

If you enjoy daily puzzles, visit [**Mashable’s Games page**](https://mashable.com/category/games) for additional hints and solutions. You can also check out our [**games hub**](https://games.mashable.com/) for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crosswords, and more.

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### **Missed Yesterday’s Puzzle?**

If you need the solution to yesterday’s **Strands**, [**click here**](https://mashable.com/article/strands-nyt-hint-january-15-2025).