NYT Strands puzzle #321, for Saturday, January 18, 2025, has the theme clue “O ___! My ___!” The spangram is CAPTAIN. If you want to solve it yourself first, use the hints below before opening the full answer list.
Hints for Strands #321
- Theme clue: “O ___! My ___!”
- Another hint: Think of a person associated with command or authority.
- First letters: The six theme words begin PL, CR, KA, HO, UN and OB. The spangram begins CA.
- Spangram direction: It runs horizontally from left to right.
Spangram and answers
Spoilers below: The spangram is CAPTAIN. The six theme words are:
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- PLANET
- CRUNCH
- KANGAROO
- HOOK
- UNDERPANTS
- OBVIOUS
Together, the words evoke Captain Planet, Captain Crunch, Captain Kangaroo, Captain Hook, Captain Underpants and Captain Obvious. This is the connection suggested by the answer set; it is not a separately stated explanation from The New York Times.
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How to use Strands hints
Strands is a word-search game played on a six-by-eight letter grid. Find words connected to the theme by tracing adjacent letters horizontally, vertically or diagonally; a word’s path can change direction. Theme words turn blue when found, while the spangram turns yellow.
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- Start with the theme clue and look for likely words in the grid.
- If you get stuck, find three valid words of at least four letters that are not theme answers. The game then offers a hint that highlights a theme word.
- Use the highlighted word to narrow down its letters and trace the remaining answers.
Strands is available on the NYT website and in the NYT Games app.
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