NYT Strands puzzle #323, dated January 20, 2025, has the theme “Curiouser and curiouser!” The spangram is WONDERLAND; the five theme words are HATTER, RABBIT, CROQUET, DORMOUSE, and CATERPILLAR. Use the progressive hints below before opening the full answer list.
Hints for Strands #323
Theme
“Curiouser and curiouser!”
Spangram clue
Think of a Lewis Carroll fantasy. The spangram runs from the top edge in the fifth column to the bottom edge in the first column.
Two word clues
- A butterfly or moth larva; begins with C and ends with R.
- A small, nocturnal, furry-tailed Old World rodent; begins with D and ends with E.
Full answer for January 20, 2025
Spangram: WONDERLAND
Theme words: HATTER, RABBIT, CROQUET, DORMOUSE, CATERPILLAR.
How Strands works
The Times of India describes Strands as a daily themed word-search game played on a 48-letter grid. Finding three words that are not theme answers earns a letter hint. This gameplay description is attributed to that outlet; it is not a newly verified statement from the New York Times.
Why these words fit
The answers point to the Wonderland setting and its familiar characters and imagery: the Hatter, a rabbit, the Caterpillar, and the Dormouse, alongside croquet. Together they fit the puzzle’s Carroll-inspired theme.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Optional Wonderland reading
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is relevant background for the theme, but reading it is not required to play or solve Strands.
Quick Recap
Rank #3
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