If you’re visiting this page, you may require some help with Strands, the New York Times‘ refined word-search game.

Strands offers a distinct twist on the classic word search, challenging players to form words from adjacent letters in any orientation — upward, downward, sideways, or diagonally, with the ability to shift direction, leading to unexpected shapes and patterns. Every letter within the grid contributes to a solution. Each answer is tied to a common theme, along with the “spangram,” an exclusive word or phrase that embodies the day’s theme and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

By providing a vague clue and excluding the word list, Strands creates a demanding experience that often requires more time to finish compared to games like Wordle and Connections.

If you find yourself at an impasse or if you lack 10 or more minutes to address today’s puzzle, we offer all the NYT Strands hints you need to advance at your own speed.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Gradually retreat

The terms are connected to animals.

Today’s NYT Strands theme succinctly summarized

The words correspond to animal movements.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

This day’s NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram solution today

The spangram for today is Warning.