Today's NYT Strands is live for Sunday, January 4, 2026 (Puzzle #672). 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: "I just know ..."
What It Really Means
Today's theme centers on psychic abilities and extrasensory perception - words related to people who claim to know things beyond normal human senses.
Think About...
- People who claim to see the future or read minds
- Terms for psychic phenomena and abilities
- Synonyms for intuition or sixth sense
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Top to Bottom
Letter Count: 10 letters
Starting Zone: First row
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): This describes an intuitive ability beyond the five traditional senses.
Hint 2 (Warmer): It's often called the "extra" sense that some people claim to possess.
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is S, last letter is E
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
SIXTHSENSE
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: A person who communicates with spirits or the dead.
Closer: Often found at psychic fairs or spiritualist churches.
Letter Clue: Starts with M, 6 letters total
Answer
MEDIUM
Word 2
Vague: A prophetic source of wisdom or prediction.
Closer: Associated with ancient Greek mythology and fortune-telling.
Letter Clue: Starts with O, 6 letters total
Answer
ORACLE
Word 3
Vague: Someone who can see events before they happen.
Closer: Literally means "clear seeing" in French.
Letter Clue: Starts with C, 11 letters total
Answer
CLAIRVOYANT
Word 4
Vague: A person with supposed supernatural abilities.
Closer: Often reads palms, tarot cards, or crystal balls.
Letter Clue: Starts with P, 7 letters total
Answer
PSYCHIC
Word 5
Vague: Someone who can read or transmit thoughts.
Closer: The ability to communicate mentally without speaking.
Letter Clue: Starts with T, 8 letters total
Answer
TELEPATH
Full Answers
Spangram: SIXTHSENSE
Theme Words:
- MEDIUM
- ORACLE
- CLAIRVOYANT
- PSYCHIC
- TELEPATH
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Trickiest Word: CLAIRVOYANT (11 letters with French origin makes it less common)
Our Take: A straightforward psychic-themed puzzle with clear connections. The spangram SIXTHSENSE perfectly captures the theme, while the words cover various aspects of extrasensory perception. TELEPATH might trip up some solvers due to its specific sci-fi/fantasy association, but overall it's a cohesive and logical set.
