NYT Strands puzzle #311, dated Wednesday, January 8, 2025, uses the theme “Time for an upgrade.” The spangram is KITCHENREMODEL. Start with the clues below if you want help without seeing every answer; the full solution is farther down.
Theme clue
Time for an upgrade
Extra words for an in-game hint
Find three non-theme words to earn an in-game hint, according to the game descriptions summarized by Parade and Try Hard Guides. TechRadar lists these extra words for this puzzle:
- VIOLA
- SANE
- SHINE
- NOTE
- BACON
- LANCE
Spangram clue and position
The spangram clue is Cookery refit. TechRadar reports that KITCHENREMODEL touches the left edge at row 2 and the right edge at row 3. Parade describes its path as horizontal.
How Strands hints work
Strands is a word-search-style puzzle: connect letters on the board to find words connected to the day’s theme. The spangram captures the theme and reaches two opposite sides of the board; it may consist of two words. Found theme words are highlighted. As summarized by Parade from the New York Times’ rules, finding three non-theme words earns a hint that reveals letters of a theme answer. If a hint is already active, another hint shows that answer’s letter order.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFull answers for Strands #311
Spoiler warning: the complete solution is below.
- OVEN
- SINK
- ISLAND
- BACKSPLASH
- COUNTERTOP
Spangram: KITCHENREMODEL (also styled as “KITCHEN REMODEL”)
Quick Recap
Sources
- TechRadar, published January 8, 2025, for the puzzle number, clues, board position, answer set, and game description.
- Try Hard Guides, which independently confirms the answer set and summarizes the hint mechanic; its page displays a January 7, 2025 publication timestamp.
- Parade, for the answer set, horizontal spangram path, initials, and rules summary attributed to the New York Times.
- Strands Hint’s January 2025 archive, which lists the date, theme, and spangram.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
