The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →NYT Strands puzzle #75, dated Friday, May 17, 2024, has the theme “Looking for a mate.” Start with the gentle nudge below, then move through clue-word help and the spangram hint; the complete answer list is last, behind a clear spoiler warning.
Theme clue
“Looking for a mate.”
A gentle nudge
Think of things conventionally found as one of two matching counterparts.
Clue words for in-game hints
Finding three non-theme words of at least four letters earns an in-game hint that reveals letters in a theme word. TechRadar lists these possible clue words: PRIME, LIME, PREEN, GOING, CHOPS, and BETTER.
Wordhint gives a different set of accepted clue words: AERO, BODE, CITE, DANG, EARL, GAIN, GAIT, GEAR, GEEK, GENE, GONG, and GORE. These are examples reported by the respective sources, not a single combined or exhaustive list.
#1 Best Overall
Spangram hint and board position
The spangram hint is “Singular vision.” It touches the left edge of the board on row four and the right edge on row three.
Spoiler warning: full answers
The following reveals the spangram and every theme word.
Rank #2
Spangram: PAIRED
Theme words: BOOKEND, CHOPSTICK, EARPLUG, MITTEN, PLIER, TONG, WING.
Each answer connects to the idea of counterparts: bookends support books from opposite sides, while chopsticks, earplugs, and mittens commonly come as pairs. Pliers, tongs, and wings are also associated with counterparts.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
How Strands hints work
Wordhint describes the Strands board as a 6-by-8 grid of 48 letters. Theme words are traced without overlap, and all letters are used. Find three non-theme words of four or more letters to earn a hint that reveals letters belonging to a theme word.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Answer confirmation and date
TechRadar, Wordhint, and Try Hard Guides all report PAIRED and the same seven theme words for puzzle #75. No official NYT answer page was found among the cited reports, so these answers are best described as consistently corroborated by those secondary sources. The puzzle date is Friday, May 17, 2024; May 16 dates shown on two pages are publication metadata, not the date of the puzzle.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
