Today's NYT Strands is live for Monday, March 23, 2026 (Puzzle #750). Stuck on today's Strands? We've got progressive hints, from gentle nudges to full solutions, so you can solve at your own pace.
How Strands Works (New Players Start Here)
Strands hides themed words inside a 6x8 letter grid. Your mission: find every word connected to the day's theme. Letters link in any direction (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) and words can twist and turn. Every letter gets used exactly once.
The spangram is the key word or phrase that captures the theme and stretches across the entire board, touching opposite edges.
Need a boost? Find any 4+ letter word (even non-theme words) three times, and the game reveals a hint highlighting theme word letters.
Theme Decoder
Today's Theme Prompt: "In pieces"
What It Really Means
You're looking for words that describe things breaking, fracturing, or coming apart. Think verbs and nouns related to destruction or separation.
Think About...
- Verbs for breaking or splitting
- Types of fractures or cracks
- Ways things can shatter or rupture
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Vertical
Letter Count: 9 letters
Starting Zone: Fifth letter of the second row
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): This word describes a complete failure or collapse, often used for systems or relationships.
Hint 2 (Warmer): Think about what happens when something stops functioning properly and needs to be analyzed piece by piece.
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is B, last letter is N
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BREAKDOWN
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: A sudden, sharp sound of something breaking.
Closer: What happens when you break a twig or a pencil.
Letter Clue: Starts with S, 4 letters total
Answer
SNAP
Word 2
Vague: A line of weakness where something might break.
Closer: What appears in glass or ice before it breaks completely.
Letter Clue: Starts with C, 5 letters total
Answer
CRACK
Word 3
Vague: A sudden break or burst.
Closer: What happens to a pipe or blood vessel when pressure gets too high.
Letter Clue: Starts with R, 7 letters total
Answer
RUPTURE
Word 4
Vague: To break violently into many pieces.
Closer: What happens to glass when it hits a hard surface.
Letter Clue: Starts with S, 7 letters total
Answer
SHATTER
Word 5
Vague: A break in something hard like bone or rock.
Closer: A medical term for a broken bone.
Letter Clue: Starts with F, 8 letters total
Answer
FRACTURE
Word 6
Vague: A small, sharp piece broken off something.
Closer: What you might get from wood or glass when it breaks.
Letter Clue: Starts with S, 8 letters total
Answer
SPLINTER
Full Answers
Spangram: BREAKDOWN
Theme Words:
- SNAP
- CRACK
- RUPTURE
- SHATTER
- FRACTURE
- SPLINTER
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Trickiest Word: RUPTURE (Less common than other breaking words, might not immediately come to mind)
Our Take: A cohesive theme with clear connections between all words. The spangram BREAKDOWN perfectly captures the "in pieces" concept. While most words are straightforward, the puzzle requires careful letter placement to avoid overlapping paths in the grid.
