The New York Times’ popular word puzzle game Strands continues to challenge and delight players with its daily themed puzzles. Today’s edition, Strands #390 for March 28, 2025, centers around the concept of wisdom and those who possess it. Let’s dive into the details of this enlightening puzzle and explore strategies to solve it.
What is NYT Strands?
NYT Strands is a word puzzle game that presents players with a 6x8 grid of letters. The goal is to find theme-related words that fit together to fill the entire board, leaving no letter unused. Each puzzle has a central theme, with one special word called the “spangram” that touches two opposite sides of the board and encapsulates the theme.
Today’s Theme: Wise Ones
For Strands #390, the theme revolves around wisdom and those who embody it. Players are tasked with finding words related to sage individuals and concepts of enlightenment.
Hints to Get You Started
If you’re struggling to uncover the theme words, here are some hints to point you in the right direction:
- Think about terms associated with wisdom, intelligence, and guidance
- Consider roles or titles given to those known for their knowledge
- Reflect on individuals who might share stories or predict the future
Strategies for Solving
To tackle this puzzle efficiently, try these approaches:
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Start with common prefixes: Look for letter combinations like “PH” or “SA” that might begin wisdom-related words.
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Consider word length: The grid’s dimensions can give clues about the length of theme words. Look for longer words that might span significant portions of the board.
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Use non-theme words for hints: Remember that finding three non-theme words will unlock a hint that highlights the letters forming one of the main theme words.
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Think abstractly: Some theme words might not be literal descriptions of wise people, but rather concepts or qualities associated with wisdom.
The Spangram: Tying It All Together
The spangram is the key to understanding the puzzle’s theme fully. In this case, it’s a two-word phrase that describes an overarching concept related to wisdom and guidance. When you find it, it will span from one side of the board to the other, either horizontally or vertically.
Beyond Today’s Puzzle
NYT Strands offers a new puzzle each day, always with a unique theme. While today’s focus is on wisdom, future puzzles might explore topics ranging from nature and science to pop culture and history. Regular play can help improve your vocabulary, pattern recognition, and lateral thinking skills.
Whether you’re a seasoned Strands player or trying it for the first time, today’s wisdom-themed puzzle offers an engaging mental workout. Remember, the joy of these puzzles lies not just in solving them, but in the journey of discovery along the way. Happy puzzling!