Today’s New York Times Strands puzzle (#627) centers around the concept of busybody buzz – specifically, gossip and spreading information. The theme references characters like Gladys Kravitz from Bewitched, known for their nosy and talkative nature.
Decoding the Hints
The primary hint provided is “Did you hear?” This directly ties into the puzzle’s focus on rumors, hearsay, and the act of sharing news (or mis-news). To unlock in-game hints, players must discover at least three words with four or more letters. Examples used in the solution include DATE, SCUTTLE, BUTT, CUTS, PORT, PORTS, WORD, and HEAR. Any valid words of that length will trigger a theme clue.
The Full Solution
The non-spangram answers for today’s puzzle are:
- GOSSIP
- SCUTTLEBUTT
- RUMOR
- REPORT
- HEARSAY
The spangram, which spans the entire board, is SPREADTHEWORD. To locate it, begin at the “S” two rows up from the bottom on the far-right side and follow the winding path across the grid. When all words are found, every letter on the board will be used.
Challenging Past Puzzles
Strands puzzles vary in difficulty. Some of the most challenging recent themes include:
- Dated slang (Jan. 21) : This required familiarity with outdated terms like “PHAT.”
- Thar she blows! (Jan. 15) : This nautical theme tested knowledge of marine terminology (BALEEN or RIGHT).
These puzzles demonstrate that Strands occasionally leans into niche or historical references, making them particularly tough for casual players. The puzzle’s design often forces players to explore less common word combinations to succeed.
