Entertainment
Solve Today’s NYT Strands Puzzle with Hints and Answers

NEW YORK, NY — The New York Times has released its latest puzzle game, Strands, featuring a new theme each day to challenge players. On October 14, 2025, the theme is “This & that,” which requires players to connect words related to both geological and culinary items.
Strands is designed to engage fans of word games. Players form words from linked letters on a 6×8 grid. Each day includes a special word known as the spangram, which sums up that day’s theme and spans the grid. Today’s spangram is “ROCKANDROLL,” cleverly placed across the puzzle’s layout.
Hints suggest that players focus on words relating to types of rocks as well as kinds of rolls. Early finds include words like JELLY, PEBBLE, and STONE. The puzzle encourages creativity by allowing words to twist and turn through the grid, which can add to the challenge.
Tracking the thematic clues can make solving the puzzle easier. Strands offers a refreshing alternative for fans of word games, inviting them to solve daily puzzles that challenge their skills.
“This game turns word searching into an art,” said Sarah Jenkins, a frequent player. “The themes keep it interesting, and today’s puzzle was clever with its divisions. It’s about finding rocks above and rolls below.”
This unique design is one reason why Strands has gained popularity among puzzle enthusiasts since its launch.
For those who want to dive deeper into solving techniques, the New York Times provides guides and tips on its game platform, ensuring players can enhance their Strands experience.