NYT Strands puzzle #494, dated Thursday, July 10, 2025, has the theme clue “Nap time!” If you want help without spoiling the board, start with the progressive hints below; the spangram and all six theme words are revealed in the spoiler section.
Hints for Strands #494
- Theme clue: “Nap time!”
- Words that can earn an in-game hint: DECK, TIES, SWOT, WORK, SPRAY, GUIDE.
- Spangram length: 10 letters.
- Spangram route: It starts at the left edge on row four and finishes at the right edge on row five.
A guide to Strands describes the puzzle as a 6×8 grid containing theme words and a spangram that describes the theme and touches opposite edges. It says that finding three valid words outside the theme earns a hint that highlights an unsolved theme word. These are the guide’s descriptions of the game’s mechanics, not a direct quotation from the New York Times. Play Strands NYT
Spoiler: the full answer
Stop here if you want to solve the puzzle using hints only. The complete answer for July 10, 2025, follows.
Spangram
SLEEPYHEAD
Theme words
- DROWSY
- SPENT
- WEARY
- FATIGUED
- TIRED
- KNACKERED
The dated answer guide identifies this as game #494 and gives the theme clue, spangram, word list, and spangram’s edge positions. A separate answer archive agrees on the solution. TechRadar’s July 10 Strands guide; Strands answer archive
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