NYT Strands puzzle #519 for Monday, August 4, 2025, has the theme “Cutting it close.” The spangram is BARBERSHOP, and the other answers are barbering and grooming items. Hints come first below; the complete answer list is behind a spoiler warning.
Hints for Strands #519
Strands is a word-search-style puzzle: connect letters on the board to find words tied to a shared theme. Its spangram captures that theme and reaches two opposite sides of the board.
- Theme clue: “Cutting it close.”
- Think about: objects and tools used in a barbershop or for a haircut and shave.
- Words that can unlock an in-game hint: SLICE, SPORT, STRIP, VEST, PRICE, and FARE. These are clue words, not answers to the puzzle.
- Spangram clue: It has 10 letters. TechRadar reports that it starts at the top and ends at the bottom in column four; Parade describes its route as mostly vertical.
Parade’s description of the game says that finding three valid non-theme words earns an in-game hint showing the letters of a theme word.
Full answers for August 4, 2025
Spoiler warning: The complete solution is below.
- Spangram: BARBERSHOP
- Theme words: CAPE, COMB, RAZOR, TRIMMER, CLIPPERS, AFTERSHAVE
The words fit the barbershop theme through its tools, garments, and grooming products. The theme, spangram, and answer list are independently corroborated by TechRadar, Forbes, and Parade.
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