Past puzzleJul 31, 2025Puzzle #685

Strands hints: Jul 31, 2025

Revisit the NYT Strands puzzle from Jul 31, 2025 (2025-07-31) with the theme clue, deeper hints, the spangram, and the solved grid all in one place.

Theme clue

Half-baked

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Puzzle #685 · 2025-07-31

Step through today’s Strands hints

Start with the theme clue, then open the structure hints, starting letters, full theme words, the spangram, and finally the solved grid only when you want them.

7 theme wordsSpangram 11 letters

Layer 1

Hint 1 – theme clue

Reveal this layer only when you want the next level of help.

Half-baked

Layer 2

Hint 2 – board structure

Reveal this layer only when you want the next level of help.

This board is built around 7 themed answers plus a 11-letter spangram that ties the whole set together. Touches the left and right edges.

7 theme wordsSpangram: 11 letters

Use this layer when you want the structure of the board without seeing any exact answer paths yet.

Layer 3

Hint 3 – starting letters

Reveal this layer only when you want the next level of help.

Here are the opening letters and broad board regions for each hidden answer, plus the opening letter of the spangram.

Theme word 1

Starts with B • top-left quadrant

Theme word 2

Starts with C • bottom band

Theme word 3

Starts with F • top-left quadrant

Theme word 4

Starts with F • top-right quadrant

Theme word 5

Starts with L • bottom-left quadrant

Theme word 6

Starts with P • bottom-left quadrant

Theme word 7

Starts with S • bottom band

Spangram

Starts with P • Touches the left and right edges

Layer 4

Hint 4 – theme words

Reveal this layer only when you want the next level of help.

Here are the exact theme answers without the board paths yet.

BUNDTCHEESEFRUITFUNNELLAVAPOUNDSPONGE

Layer 5

Hint 5 – spangram

Reveal this layer only when you want the next level of help.

PIECEOFCAKE

Path: (5, 1) → (4, 2) → (3, 3) → (2, 4) → (1, 5) → (1, 6) → (2, 6) → (3, 6) → (4, 6) → (5, 6) → (6, 6)

Layer 6

Hint 6 – solved grid

Reveal this layer only when you want the next level of help.

Blue cells = theme wordsGold cells = spangram

BUNDT

(4, 1) → (3, 2) → (2, 3) → (1, 4) → (1, 3)

CHEESE

(5, 4) → (6, 4) → (7, 5) → (7, 4) → (8, 5) → (8, 6)

FRUIT

(2, 2) → (3, 1) → (2, 1) → (1, 1) → (1, 2)

FUNNEL

(7, 6) → (6, 5) → (5, 5) → (4, 5) → (3, 5) → (2, 5)

LAVA

(4, 3) → (5, 2) → (6, 1) → (7, 1)

POUND

(8, 1) → (8, 2) → (7, 3) → (8, 3) → (8, 4)

SPONGE

(3, 4) → (4, 4) → (5, 3) → (6, 3) → (6, 2) → (7, 2)