Today's NYT Strands is live for Saturday, January 24, 2026 (Puzzle #692). 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: "A work of art"
What It Really Means
You're looking for words related to specific, well-known paintings or artistic masterpieces. Think iconic artworks that have become cultural touchstones.
Think About...
- Famous paintings by renowned artists
- Specific artwork titles or elements within them
- Classic masterpieces that everyone recognizes
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Up then right and down then left
Letter Count: 13 letters
Starting Zone: First letter of fourth row
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): This describes what all the theme words have in common - they're all elements from a particular category of creative work.
Hint 2 (Warmer): Think about visual art that hangs in museums and has become iconic through reproduction and cultural recognition.
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is F, last letter is G
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FAMOUSPAINTING
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: Something you might see in the sky on a clear evening
Closer: A descriptive word often paired with "night" in a famous artwork
Letter Clue: Starts with S, 6 letters total
Answer
STARRY
Word 2
Vague: The opposite of day
Closer: The time when stars become visible
Letter Clue: Starts with N, 5 letters total
Answer
NIGHT
Word 3
Vague: A social gathering with guests
Closer: What you might have for a celebration or special occasion
Letter Clue: Starts with P, 5 letters total
Answer
PARTY
Word 4
Vague: An activity on water
Closer: What you do with a rowboat or sailboat
Letter Clue: Starts with B, 7 letters total
Answer
BOATING
Word 5
Vague: A clear liquid essential for life
Closer: What covers most of Earth's surface
Letter Clue: Starts with W, 5 letters total
Answer
WATER
Word 6
Vague: Flowers that grow in ponds
Closer: Aquatic plants with large floating leaves
Letter Clue: Starts with L, 6 letters total
Answer
LILIES
Full Answers
Spangram: FAMOUSPAINTING
Theme Words:
- STARRY
- NIGHT
- PARTY
- BOATING
- WATER
- LILIES
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Trickiest Word: LILIES (The plural form might throw off solvers expecting singular nouns)
Our Take: This puzzle cleverly combines elements from multiple famous paintings into a cohesive theme. The spangram "FAMOUSPAINTING" ties together seemingly disparate words that actually reference specific artworks. It's a satisfying solve that rewards art knowledge while remaining accessible through logical deduction.
