Monday has rolled in, bringing with it a fresh wave of puzzles to tackle as we dive into the brand-new week. For puzzle lovers, NYT Strands the NYT’s Strands is the perfect daily brain teaser—a delightful twist on the classic word search formula with clever themes, hidden patterns, and the ever-elusive spangram.
Whether you’re a veteran puzzler or just jumping into Strands for the first time, today’s challenge is a real catch. Let’s dive right in!
What Is Strands?
Strands is one of the latest additions to The New York Times’ growing lineup of word games, joining the likes of Wordle, Connections, and Spelling Bee. The objective is simple in concept but tricky in practice: uncover all the words on the board that match the day’s theme. Somewhere among those words lies a spangram—a word or phrase that stretches across the board and ties the whole theme together.
Each day offers a different theme, and part of the fun is figuring out what exactly that theme points to.
Also read: Today’s NYT Connections Hints And Answers for May 19, 2025
Today’s Strands Hints
Let’s take a look at today’s hints to get your puzzle-solving brain warmed up:
Today’s Theme: Taking the bait
Need a few nudges before diving into the grid? Here are three helpful clues:
- Hint #1: Yesterday we went out on a sailboat. Maybe today we’re casting a line into the water.
- Hint #2: Think of something that’s both a sport and a source of food.
- Hint #3: These creatures are often caught, cooked, and served.
Still stuck? Let’s break it down even further.
Here are the first two letters of each word you’ll find in the grid today:
- TR
- SN
- HA
- MA
- SA
- SO
Now for the big reveal…
Today’s Strands Answers
Spangram: SOMETHINGSFISHY
This cheeky phrase perfectly ties today’s theme together. It also hints at suspicion, which adds a playful double meaning to the puzzle’s fishing theme.
Here’s the complete list of today’s words:
- TROUT
- SNAPPER
- HALIBUT
- MACKEREL
- SALMON
- SOLE
All these are types of fish commonly caught while fishing—and yes, they’re all edible (and delicious, depending on how you prepare them!).
Puzzle Commentary
Today’s puzzle felt smoother than usual, though the spangram SOMETHINGSFISHY was deceptively tricky. I stumbled upon FISH and then FISHY early, which gave me a clue, but the full phrase didn’t come together until I had almost all the other words uncovered.
Thematic consistency made this one fun. From SNAPPER to MACKEREL, it’s clear the puzzle was diving deep into the world of fishing and seafood. The inclusion of SOLE as a double entendre was a nice touch—both a fish and a homophone for “soul,” which adds a poetic layer if you’re feeling philosophical about your word puzzles.
Related:
A Note on Difficulty
Compared to other Strands puzzles, today’s felt moderately easy. The six main words are all well-known types of fish, and the spangram, while a bit of a challenge, is a phrase many of us have heard. Still, some players may get tangled in the grid looking for that one elusive fish name—HALIBUT, anyone?
Also read: Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Clues and Answers for Monday, May 19
Final Thoughts
Another day, another puzzle in the books. Strands continues to impress with its thoughtful themes and clean wordplay. I wouldn’t be surprised if tomorrow’s puzzle involves recipes or cooking methods for all the fish we caught today. Fried trout? Grilled salmon? Sushi, maybe?
How did you do with today’s Strands? Did you figure out the spangram early, or did it reel you in at the end? Drop your thoughts in the comments or find me on social media.