Archive studyCategories, difficulty, clue trendsPage 9 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 241-270 of 943 themes.

Page 9 of 32

Feb 4, 2026Category ListMedium

For the enthusiast

Theme words

COLLECTIBLEDICEGAMEMINIATUREMODELPUZZLE

Spangram: HOBBYSHOP

Feb 3, 2026Category ListMedium

On key

Theme words

ASTERISKBRACKETCARETHASHTAGTILDEUNDERSCORE

Spangram: SYMBOL

Feb 2, 2026Category ListMedium

Formidable flock

Theme words

CASSOWARYCONDOROSTRICHPELICANPENGUINRHEA

Spangram: BIGBIRDS

Feb 1, 2026Category ListMedium

It's a gift

Theme words

AWARDBONUSDONATIONGRANTOFFERINGPRESENT

Spangram: GENEROSITY

Jan 31, 2026Category ListMedium

It's part of the game

Theme words

BASEBASKETFOOTPADDLEPICKLERACQUETVOLLEY

Spangram: HAVEABALL

Jan 30, 2026Category ListMedium

We're not lost ...

Theme words

ATLASBEACONCOMPASSLANDMARKSEXTANTSTAR

Spangram: FINDYOURWAY

Jan 29, 2026Category ListMedium

Talk of the town

Theme words

CELEBRITYHEROICONPERSONALITYSUPERSTAR

Spangram: CLAIMTOFAME

Jan 28, 2026Category ListMedium

Zen state

Theme words

BREATHEFOCUSLISTENMEDITATENOTICERELAX

Spangram: MINDFULNESS

Jan 27, 2026Category ListEasy

Canine classics

Theme words

BANDITBLUEBUDDYCHAMPROVERSCOUTSCRUFFYSPOT

Spangram: HEREBOY

Jan 26, 2026Category ListMedium

Grape expectations

Theme words

CHARDONNAYMALBECMERLOTSHIRAZZINFANDEL

Spangram: BYTHEBOTTLE

Jan 25, 2026Category ListMedium

The straight and narrow

Theme words

BATONCANEDOWELPICKETPOLEPOSTSTAKE

Spangram: STICKYSITUATION

Jan 24, 2026Category ListEasy

A work of art

Theme words

BOATINGLILIESNIGHTPARTYSTARRYWATER

Spangram: FAMOUSPAINTING

Jan 23, 2026Category ListMedium

None the wiser

Theme words

ARTLESSCALLOWCREDULOUSGULLIBLENAIVE

Spangram: BORNYESTERDAY

Jan 22, 2026Category ListEasy

Ode to joy

Theme words

BLISSECSTASYELATIONEUPHORIARHAPSODY

Spangram: SEVENTHHEAVEN

Jan 21, 2026Category ListMedium

That's not very polite

Theme words

BURPGLOATINTERRUPTPOINTSHOUTSTARETEASE

Spangram: DONTBERUDE

Jan 20, 2026Category ListMedium

Sneak-ing around

Theme words

EYELETHEELLOGOSHOELACESOLETONGUEVAMP

Spangram: JUSTFORKICKS

Jan 19, 2026Category ListMedium

Shaking things up

Theme words

QUAKESWAYTEETERTREMBLEVIBRATEWAVERWOBBLE

Spangram: LETSROCK

Jan 18, 2026Category ListHard

Soft skills

Theme words

APPLIQUECROCHETEMBROIDERKNITQUILTWEAVE

Spangram: TEXTILEART

Jan 17, 2026Category ListMedium

That's putting it mildly!

Theme words

CURSESDRATFIDDLESTICKSPHOOEYTARNATION

Spangram: FOILEDAGAIN

Jan 16, 2026Category ListHard

DC crusader

Theme words

CAPEJOKERJUSTICEMANORPENGUINROBINVENGEANCE

Spangram: BATMAN

Jan 15, 2026Category ListMedium

The ears have it!

Theme words

ANVILCANALCARTILAGEDRUMHAMMERLOBESTIRRUP

Spangram: HEARHEAR

Jan 14, 2026Category ListHard

"Oh boy!"

Theme words

EAGERENTHUSIASTICEXCITEDFERVENTZEALOUS

Spangram: LETSDOTHIS

Jan 13, 2026Category ListMedium

You need to chill

Theme words

PIZZAPOPSICLESSHERBETVEGETABLESWAFFLES

Spangram: FROZENFOOD

Jan 12, 2026Category ListMedium

Appeal to a hire power

Theme words

AWARDSCONTACTEDUCATIONEXPERIENCENAMESKILLS

Spangram: RESUME

Jan 11, 2026Category ListMedium

Yay!!!

Theme words

AWESOMEBOOYAHHOORAYHUZZAHWHOOPEEYIPPEE

Spangram: THATSGREAT

Jan 10, 2026Category ListMedium

If not now, when?

Theme words

EVENTUALLYLATERSHORTLYSOONTOMORROW

Spangram: PROCRASTINATOR

Jan 9, 2026Category ListMedium

For cubs fans

Theme words

BLACKBROWNGRIZZLYPANDAPOLARSPECTACLED

Spangram: BEARSINMIND

Jan 8, 2026Category ListMedium

That's just reality (TV)

Theme words

BANISHMENTCASTLEFAITHFULMISSIONSHIELD

Spangram: THETRAITORS

Jan 7, 2026Category ListMedium

Open wide

Theme words

DRILLFLOSSFLUORIDEMIRRORTOOTHBRUSH

Spangram: DENTISTSOFFICE

Jan 6, 2026Category ListEasy

Look up!

Theme words

AIRPLANEBALLOONBIRDDRONEKITEROCKET

Spangram: DEFYINGGRAVITY

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.