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For readers looking for a nudge before the reveal: the theme is “Westminster assembly.” It points to dog-show groups. This is Strands game #342, dated Saturday, February 8, 2025.
Try the clue words NUDE, GOING, SPOON, RIDER, KING, and DROWN to unlock in-game hints. The spangram clue is “Well bred.”
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Spoiler warning: The full answers and spangram appear below.
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →NYT Strands #342 answers for February 8, 2025
Spoiler alert: full solution below.
- WORKING
- HOUNDS
- HERDING
- TOYS
- TERRIERS
- SPORTING
Spangram: DOG GROUP
TechRadar’s dated answer guide describes the puzzle as moderate and says its author used two hints. That is the writer’s own assessment, not an objective difficulty rating or an independent test. A separate WordsRated archive records the spangram as DOGGROUP, without a space; the answer guide uses DOG GROUP.
How the “Westminster assembly” theme fits
The theme refers to dog-show groups. The six puzzle answers correspond to Westminster Kennel Club group names, with HOUNDS, TOYS, and TERRIERS appearing in plural form. The Club’s current explanation says that dogs selected as Best of Breed or Variety advance to compete in an AKC-recognized group: Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting, Herding, Sporting, Working, and Terrier.
The puzzle gives six of those seven groups; it does not include Non-Sporting. The Club’s judging records also note that the Herding Group was added in 1983: Westminster group-judging records.
Spangram hint and position
The spangram is DOG GROUP. The answer guide’s “Well bred” clue points toward dogs, and it reports that the spangram touches the left edge at row four and the right edge at row five.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsAbout this date’s puzzle
This answer set is for game #342, Saturday, February 8, 2025—not another year’s puzzle on February 8. The answers and clue details are reported by TechRadar’s February 8, 2025 guide and cross-checked against the WordsRated Strands archive. The New York Times’ dated original puzzle page was not available for confirmation here.
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