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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchSunday, August 24, 2025, is NYT Strands game #539. Its theme clue is “Plug your ears.” Need a nudge before the solution? Start with the spoiler-free hint below; the full answer list follows a clear spoiler warning.
Theme clue for Strands #539
The clue is “Plug your ears.” Think of words associated with noise.
Spoiler-free spangram hint
The spangram has six letters and runs horizontally across row five, touching the left and right edges of the board. Its meaning points to a noisy commotion.
How Strands hints work
In Strands, select letters by dragging across them or tapping them to form a word; double-tap the final letter to submit. Theme words do not overlap. Finding three non-theme words earns an in-game hint that reveals the letters of a theme word. Theme words turn blue, while the spangram turns yellow. These mechanics are described in Parade’s August 24 guide.
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Spoilers: all answers for August 24
Stop here if you want to solve the puzzle yourself.
The spangram is HUBBUB.
The six theme words are:
- BLASTING
- LOUD
- BOOMING
- NOISY
- STRIDENT
- BOISTEROUS
The date, game number, clue, spangram, and word list are consistent across TechRadar’s August 23 preview and Parade’s August 24 guide. The original NYT puzzle page was not available for direct archival verification.
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