NYT Strands Introduces New Daily Puzzle for Word Lovers

New York, NY — The New York Times has expanded its puzzle offerings with the latest game, NYT Strands, enhancing its lineup of brain teasers for fans. Launched on May 19, 2025, this daily puzzle invites players to uncover themed words and a special Spangram on a letter grid.

Today’s Strands puzzle is themed ‘Taking the bait,’ featuring words such as TROUT, SALMON, and HALIBUT. The Spangram for the day, which is a word or phrase that includes every letter of the alphabet at least once, is ‘SomethingsFishy.’

The New York Times first introduced its crossword puzzle on February 15, 1942. Created by Charles Erlenkotter and edited by Margaret Farrar, it was a milestone in puzzle history, marking the paper as the first major newspaper to feature a crossword. Over the years, the Times has developed other popular games, including the Mini Crossword, Spelling Bee, Letter Boxed, and Connections.

Strands combines elements from these well-loved puzzles, offering players a grid of 48 letters arranged in a 6 x 8 configuration. The gameplay includes dragging your mouse or fingers to connect letters in various directions—horizontally, vertically, or diagonally—to form words related to the day’s theme. Identifying the central theme word can unlock clues to unravel the puzzle.

With creativity at its core, NYT Strands has quickly resonated with puzzle enthusiasts looking for a fresh challenge. Today’s game encapsulates the fun and complexity that word game fans have come to expect from the New York Times.

For players still working through the puzzle, today’s hints and the answer are readily available through trusted sources, but caution is advised to avoid spoilers.