NYT Strands puzzle #438 for Thursday, May 15, 2025, has the theme “Animal drives.” The answers connect animal names with automobile models, and the spangram is AUTOMOBILES. Start with the clues below; the complete solution is farther down.
Hints for May 15’s Strands puzzle
Use these from top to bottom for increasingly direct clues without revealing the full word list.
- The theme label is “Animal drives.”
- Think of cars and other motorized vehicles used for transport.
- One answer is both an insect and a classic car model. Another is both a wild horse and a Ford sports car.
Words that unlock in-game hints
In TechRadar’s guide, the non-theme words listed for unlocking in-game hints are BILE, MUSE, STAGE, BOOT, POEM, and PEEL. Finding three non-theme words earns a hint that highlights letters for a theme answer.
Spangram placement
The 11-letter spangram touches the left side of the grid at row four and the right side at row five.
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How Strands works
Strands is a daily themed letter-grid puzzle. Connect letters horizontally, vertically, or diagonally to find theme answers and a spangram; the spangram stretches between opposite sides of the board. The puzzle appears at midnight in each player’s time zone, so “today’s” puzzle can vary by location. TechRadar published its guide on May 14 while covering the May 15 puzzle.
Spoiler warning: full answers below
The following list reveals every theme word and the spangram.
Theme words
- BEETLE
- BRONCO
- MUSTANG
- RABBIT
- IMPALA
- JAGUAR
Spangram
AUTOMOBILES
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why these words fit the theme
Each theme answer is an animal name also used for an automobile model: Beetle, Bronco, Mustang, Rabbit, Impala, and Jaguar. Together, the words point to the broader vehicle category named by the spangram, AUTOMOBILES.
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