Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Today’s NYT Strands puzzle is game #474, with the theme clue “Just a dusting.” The spangram is POWDERS; the seven theme words are BABY, COCOA, BLASTING, BAKING, CHILI, TALCUM, and ITCHING. Spoilers follow—use the hints below first if you’re still solving.
Hints for Strands #474
Work down this list only as far as you need; the clues become more revealing.
- Theme clue: “Just a dusting.”
- Extra nudge: Think of a kind of snow that’s good for skiing.
- Accepted helper words: BABE, BOAT, MOAT, CHIN, CLING, and SING can help trigger the game’s hint system. These are not theme answers.
- First letters: CO, CH, BA, BA, PO, IT, TA, BL, in the published answer order.
- Spangram placement: The seven-letter spangram runs between the left and right edges, with endpoints in the fifth row on each side.
Full answer list
Spangram: POWDERS
Theme words: BABY, COCOA, BLASTING, BAKING, CHILI, TALCUM, ITCHING.
Why these answers fit
Each theme word forms a familiar phrase when followed by “powder”: baby powder, cocoa powder, blasting powder, baking powder, chili powder, talcum powder, and itching powder. The spangram, POWDERS, ties those phrases together.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
How Strands works
Strands is a themed word-search game played on a 6-by-8 letter board. You trace words through adjacent letters, including diagonal neighbors; every letter belongs to a solution word. The spangram connects opposite sides of the board. Finding three valid words that are not theme answers earns an in-game hint that reveals letters from a theme answer. The game is available on the NYT website and NYT Games app.
Quick Recap
Rank #3
Sources
- TechRadar’s June 20, 2025 Strands hints and answers.
- WordHint’s June 20, 2025 answer guide.
- Forbes’ hints and answers for the June 20 game.
- Dagstuhl Proceedings’ description of NYT game mechanics.
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.
