If you find yourself here, you may be in need of some assistance with Strands, the New York Times‘ intricate word-search puzzle.

Strands puts players to the test with a twist on the conventional word search. Words can be created from adjacent letters in any orientation, including diagonal, and can shift direction, resulting in distinctive patterns. Each letter in the grid contributes to a solution. There is always a theme that links each response, along with the “spangram,” a unique word or phrase that embodies the day’s theme and stretches across the grid either horizontally or vertically.

By providing an ambiguous hint and leaving out the word list, Strands presents a challenging mental puzzle that requires more time to complete compared to other games like Wordle and Connections.

If you find yourself at a standstill or pressed for time, we have all the NYT Strands hints for today’s challenge to aid you in progressing at your own speed.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Half-baked

The words are related to food.

Today’s NYT Strands theme simply clarified

These terms are varieties of desserts.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today’s NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today’s spangram is Piece of Cake.

NYT Strands word list for July 31

• Fruit

• Bundt

• Piece of Cake

• Lava

• Sponge

• Pound

• Cheese

• Funnel

Searching for other daily online games? Mashable’s Games page offers more hints, and if you’re on the hunt for additional puzzles, Mashable’s got games available!

Explore our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword puzzles, and more.

Not the date you’re looking for? Here’s the answer for yesterday’s Strands.