Today's NYT Strands is live for Sunday, March 22, 2026 (Puzzle #749). 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: "Trademarked no more"
What It Really Means
You're looking for brand names that became so ubiquitous they're now used as generic terms for entire product categories.
Think About...
- Everyday products you use by a specific brand name
- Brands that lost their trademark protection through common usage
- Household items named after their original manufacturers
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Diagonally to lower right then diagonally back to the upper left
Letter Count: 11 letters
Starting Zone: First letter of the third row
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): The category that describes all the theme words
Hint 2 (Warmer): Two words that mean "common name" or "non-branded term"
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is G, last letter is M
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GENERICTERM
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: Clothing fastener
Closer: Invented by Gideon Sundback in 1913
Letter Clue: Starts with Z, 6 letters total
Answer
ZIPPER
Word 2
Vague: Moving staircase
Closer: Otis Elevator Company's original trademark
Letter Clue: Starts with E, 9 letters total
Answer
ESCALATOR
Word 3
Vague: Vacuum-insulated container
Closer: German company's brand for vacuum flasks
Letter Clue: Starts with T, 7 letters total
Answer
THERMOS
Word 4
Vague: Pain reliever
Closer: Bayer's original trademark for acetylsalicylic acid
Letter Clue: Starts with A, 7 letters total
Answer
ASPIRIN
Word 5
Vague: Large waste container
Closer: Dempster Brothers' waste collection system
Letter Clue: Starts with D, 8 letters total
Answer
DUMPSTER
Full Answers
Spangram: GENERICTERM
Theme Words:
- ZIPPER
- ESCALATOR
- THERMOS
- ASPIRIN
- DUMPSTER
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Trickiest Word: DUMPSTER (Many solvers might not realize this was originally a trademarked brand name)
Our Take: A clever linguistics puzzle that explores trademark genericide. The theme connects everyday language with corporate history. ZIPPER and ESCALATOR are classic examples, while DUMPSTER might stump players who don't know its origins. Solid Sunday challenge with educational value.
