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Today’s NYT Strands theme clue is “When you don’t take your time.” The puzzle is game #673, dated Monday, January 5, 2026. If you want another nudge before the solutions, the answers split between words about speed and words about making a mess.
Hints for Strands #673
- Theme: Slapped together.
- Word pattern: Three answers mean quick or fast; three describe something dirty or marked.
- First two letters: BR, SW, SP, GR, FI, ST, QU.
- In-game hint words: QUIP, SWIPE, BRAND, STAY, RISKY, DEEP. Finding three non-theme words earns a hint.
Today’s Strands answers
The spangram is QUICK AND DIRTY. The six other theme words are:
- BRISK
- SWIFT
- SPEEDY
- FILTHY
- GRUBBY
- STAINED
Where to find the spangram
The spangram runs from the right edge of the board at row three to the bottom at column four. Its path combines vertical and diagonal moves.
How Strands hints work
Connect letters by dragging or tapping to form theme words; the words fill the board without overlapping, and found theme words highlight in blue. Each three non-theme words you find unlocks a hint. A hint reveals the letters of a theme word, or its order if a hint is already active. The spangram describes the theme, touches two opposite sides of the board, and may contain two words; it highlights yellow when found.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Why some pages date this puzzle differently
TechRadar’s guide appeared on January 4, while Parade’s was published January 5. TechRadar notes that a new Strands puzzle appears at midnight in each time zone, so publication dates can differ even when coverage refers to the same game.
Quick Recap
Rank #3
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