Unlocking Today’s NYT Strands Puzzle: May 21, 2025

If you’re stuck on today’s New York Times Strands puzzle, you’re not alone. Many players found it challenging, even with some letters already in place. But fear not! We’re here to provide you with insights, hints, and answers that can help you conquer today’s puzzle. Let’s dive into the details.

Strands Theme: Three’s a Crowd

Today’s Strands puzzle features the intriguing theme Three’s a Crowd. This theme revolves around connecting words, and keeping that in mind will greatly help as you search for answers. If you need another hint to guide you, consider this: "You and me." This phrase hints at the connections and relationships intrinsic to the theme.

Clue Words for In-Game Hints

To crack this puzzle, your mission is to uncover hidden words that fit within the theme. Strands encourages players to discover words; for each set of three words comprising four letters or more, you’ll be rewarded with hints that can guide you toward the theme words.

Here are some helpful words that can be used to unlock hints for today’s puzzle:

• PLUM
• MOLE
• SOLE
• COLT
• BLOT
• BOLT
• SOUR
• DOUR
• RUDE
• TINS
• WINS
• TORE
• COUP
• COLD
• BLOW
• BLOWS
• SENT
• TENS

Finding any combination of these words can brighten your chances of revealing the hidden connections.

Answers for Today’s Strands Puzzle

The ultimate goal of the Strands puzzle is to identify all the theme words. Today’s answers tie back into the central concept, and they include the following:

• PAIR
• MATCH
• TWINS
• COUPLE
• TWOSOME
• PARTNERS

In addition to these answers, players should also be on the lookout for what’s known as the spangram, a word that utilizes every letter at least once. For today’s challenge, the spangram is DOUBLETROUBLE. To locate it, begin with the letter D, which is three letters down in the far-left column, and wind your way across and up to find it.

Final Thoughts: Enjoy the Challenge

Puzzles like Strands are not just about finding answers; they also provide an enjoyable way to stretch our brains and linguistic skills. If you love the thrill of word games, remember to explore other puzzles such as the New York Times Mini Crossword and Wordle.

With a little patience and persistence, you’ll soon uncover all the hidden words and enjoy the sense of accomplishment that comes from completing each challenge. Keep honing your skills, and happy puzzling!