Archive studyCategories, difficulty, clue trendsPage 5 of 32

Strands Theme Explorer

Study how NYT Strands themes are trending across the archive. This page groups puzzles by category, difficulty, and clue style so you can spot patterns in the way Strands is built.

Browse themes

Search every Strands theme by clue, answer words, or spangram. Filter by category or difficulty when you want to study one slice of the archive.

Showing 121-150 of 943 themes.

Page 5 of 32

Jun 4, 2026Category ListMedium

Smooth moves

Theme words

APLOMBCOMPOSUREEASEGRACEPOISESTYLE

Spangram: POETRYINMOTION

Jun 3, 2026Category ListMedium

By any other name ...

Theme words

BRIARDAMASKHEDGEPRAIRIEWHITEWILDYELLOW

Spangram: ROSEGARDEN

Jun 2, 2026Category ListMedium

Caught in the Net

Theme words

COMMENTFEEDMEMEPOSTREELSTORYTREND

Spangram: EXTREMELYONLINE

Jun 1, 2026Category ListMedium

Shall we gather for lunch?

Theme words

BLACKBERRYCHESTNUTCHICORYMORELNETTLERAMP

Spangram: FORAGING

May 31, 2026Category ListMedium

Places to go

Theme words

BEACHCASTLEMARKETMONUMENTMUSEUMRESTAURANT

Spangram: TOURISM

May 30, 2026Category ListMedium

We'll be there

Theme words

CARINGHELPFULLOYALRELIABLETRUSTWORTHY

Spangram: GOODFRIENDS

May 29, 2026Category ListMedium

E-I-E-I-O

Theme words

CHICKENSCOWSDUCKSGOATSHORSESPIGSSHEEP

Spangram: FARMANIMALS

May 28, 2026Category ListMedium

Talking scents

Theme words

BERGAMOTJASMINEMUSKNEROLIPEARSANDALWOOD

Spangram: FRAGRANCE

May 27, 2026Category ListMedium

Ketchup or mustard?

Theme words

BANGERBRATFOOTLONGFRANKFURTERWEENIE

Spangram: HOTDIGGITYDOG

May 26, 2026Category ListEasy

On the nature trail

Theme words

ACORNDAISYFEATHERMOSSPAWPRINTPUDDLE

Spangram: SCAVENGERHUNT

May 25, 2026Category ListMedium

Thank you

Theme words

HONORPROTECTIONSACRIFICESERVICEVIRTUE

Spangram: MEMORIALDAY

May 24, 2026Category ListMedium

Turn, turn, turn

Theme words

BOBBINCOILREELSCROLLSPINDLESPOOLWINCH

Spangram: TRYTOUNWIND

May 23, 2026Category ListMedium

Staying alive

Theme words

FLINTHATCHETMACHETEPARACORDSHOVELTARP

Spangram: SURVIVALIST

May 22, 2026Category ListMedium

Put down your ruler

Theme words

ASTRONOMICBOUNDLESSEPICIMMENSEVASTWHOPPING

Spangram: ITSBIG

May 21, 2026Category ListEasy

In a material world

Theme words

COTTONDENIMFLEECELINENSATINSILKVELVETWOOL

Spangram: FABRICS

May 20, 2026Category ListMedium

No rush

Theme words

CALMGENTLELEISURELYPLACIDRELAXEDSLOW

Spangram: TAKEYOURTIME

May 19, 2026Category ListMedium

On the rise

Theme words

BUTTEHILLHUMMOCKKNOLLMOUNDRIDGESLOPE

Spangram: HIGHERGROUND

May 18, 2026Category ListMedium

The daily rind

Theme words

CLEMENTINEKUMQUATLIMEORANGEPOMELOTANGERINE

Spangram: CITRUS

May 17, 2026Category ListMedium

Strike one!

Theme words

ARCADEBALLSLANESLOUNGEPINSSCOREBOARD

Spangram: BOWLINGALLEY

May 16, 2026Category ListMedium

Bon appétit!

Theme words

CROISSANTECLAIRMACARONMERINGUEMOUSSE

Spangram: FRENCHBAKERY

May 15, 2026Category ListMedium

Weaselly wascals

Theme words

BADGERFERRETMARTENOTTERPOLECATWOLVERINE

Spangram: MUSTELIDS

May 14, 2026Category ListEasy

Men in tights

Theme words

ARCHERYDISGUISEFORESTFRIAROUTLAWSHERIFF

Spangram: ROBINHOOD

May 13, 2026Category ListMedium

You've got ...

Theme words

FIBERGRITGUMPTIONHEARTNERVEPLUCKSPUNK

Spangram: WHATITTAKES

May 12, 2026Category ListMedium

Quite the pair

Theme words

GAUCHOHAREMPALAZZOSAILORTOREADORTUXEDO

Spangram: FANCYPANTS

May 11, 2026Category ListMedium

A nice medley

Theme words

HODGEPODGEJUMBLEMISHMASHRAGBAGVARIETY

Spangram: ODDSANDENDS

May 10, 2026Category ListEasy

We all saw it

Theme words

BLATANTBRAZENFLAGRANTGLARINGOBVIOUSOVERT

Spangram: CLEARCUT

May 9, 2026Category ListMedium

Garden varieties

Theme words

ARTICHOKEASPARAGUSLETTUCEONIONRADISH

Spangram: SPRINGVEGGIE

May 8, 2026Category ListMedium

Garden variety

Theme words

BASICCOMMONORDINARYPEDESTRIANPROSAIC

Spangram: RUNOFTHEMILL

May 7, 2026Category ListMedium

Go right ahead

Theme words

ALLOWAPPROVEBLESSLICENSEPERMITSANCTION

Spangram: GIVETHENOD

May 6, 2026Category ListMedium

Get-up-and-go!

Theme words

ASCENDCLIMBRADIATESHIMMERSOARSPARKLE

Spangram: RISEANDSHINE

Theme category frequency

Category List

872 puzzles

Food & Drink

26 puzzles

Science & Nature

13 puzzles

Pop Culture

11 puzzles

Sports

8 puzzles

Wordplay

7 puzzles

Language

5 puzzles

History

1 puzzle

Difficulty mix

Medium

674 puzzles

Easy

240 puzzles

Hard

29 puzzles

Theme-word length distribution

5-letter words

1342 total

6-letter words

1204 total

4-letter words

966 total

7-letter words

954 total

8-letter words

578 total

9-letter words

369 total

10-letter words

206 total

11-letter words

83 total

12-letter words

23 total

13-letter words

6 total

14-letter words

1 total

15-letter words

1 total

Theme categories and difficulty bands are classified automatically from each puzzle's clue, spangram, and theme words. They are pattern-finding aids, not official NYT editorial labels.

For active play, open today's Strands hints, use the spangram helper, or compare dates in the Strands archive.

More Strands routes

Switch between today's hints, the archive, and the spangram helper while you study theme patterns.

Today's hintsReveal the clue, spangram, and solved grid at your own pace.Strands archiveBrowse earlier Strands puzzles by date.Spangram helperFocus on the bridge word first without opening the full board.