NYT Strands game #318, from Wednesday, January 15, 2025, has the theme “Thar she blows!” The spangram is WHALES. Start with the spoiler-free clue below, or open the answer section for the word lists—two published guides disagree about which theme words appeared.
Hints for Strands #318
Theme: “Thar she blows!”
Spangram clue: Marine mammals.
According to TechRadar’s guide, the spangram touches the left edge at row 5 and the right edge at row 4. Its listed non-theme words for unlocking in-game hints are CALM, BLUSH, PLEA, LACK, CLAY and CLUE.
Spangram for January 15, 2025
The spangram is WHALES. TechRadar gives its route as crossing from the left side at row 5 to the right side at row 4.
Answers for NYT Strands #318
Spoilers below.
The two dated guides agree on WHALES as the spangram and on BLUE, GRAY, HUMPBACK, ORCA, BALEEN and RIGHT as answers. Their remaining lists do not match: Try Hard Guides also includes BELUGA and SPERM, while TechRadar does not. Because the original NYT puzzle record was not available to verify the discrepancy, neither guide’s list can be treated here as a confirmed complete inventory.
- BALEEN
- BELUGA — listed by Try Hard Guides, not TechRadar
- BLUE
- GRAY
- HUMPBACK
- ORCA
- RIGHT
- SPERM — listed by Try Hard Guides, not TechRadar
- WHALES — spangram
TechRadar contributor Johnny Dee wrote, “ORCA was the key to unlocking today’s theme, with BALEEN coming last for me.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How hints work in Strands
Try Hard Guides describes Strands as a themed word-search-style game: letters can be connected in any direction without reusing or crossing them, and the spangram describes the theme while touching opposite sides of the board. Its guide says finding three qualifying non-theme words of at least four letters earns a hint. These mechanics are described by that secondary guide; they were not confirmed against the official NYT page.
Quick Recap
Sources
- TechRadar: NYT Strands hints and answers for January 15, 2025, by Johnny Dee with contributions from Marc McLaren, published January 15, 2025.
- Try Hard Guides: NYT Strands answers, by Christine Mielke, published January 14, 2025 for the January 15 puzzle.
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