NYT Strands Hints and Answers for May 20, 2025 (#443)

This is the answer guide for NYT Strands puzzle #443, from Tuesday, May 20, 2025—not a live “today” puzzle. The theme is “Oh, of course!” Use the clues below before revealing the spangram and theme words.

Theme hint for May 20, 2025

The theme is “Oh, of course!” Think about the courses and dishes you might expect at a restaurant meal.

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A gentler clue

Consider a fish from the previous day’s puzzle, small plates served at the start of a meal, and a chocolate mousse served at the end.

In-game hint words

Finding non-theme words can unlock hints in Strands. The six words that unlock in-game hints for this puzzle are:

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• SLIPPERS
• ZIPPERS
• DIPPERS
• DUETS
• STRESS
• POET

Spangram clue

The spangram has 10 letters and stretches from the left side of the grid to the right, with its endpoints in row three.

Spoilers: full Strands answer for May 20

The spangram is FINE DINING. The six theme words are:

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• DESSERT
• SOUP
• SALAD
• CHEESE
• APPETIZERS
• ENTREE

How Strands works

Strands is a New York Times word-search-style game. Trace theme words through the letter grid; the spangram summarizes the theme and spans opposite sides of the board. You can also find non-theme words to earn in-game hints.

Quick Recap

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