Today's NYT Strands is live for Thursday, January 15, 2026 (Puzzle #683). 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: "The ears have it!”
What It Really Means
Today's puzzle focuses on ear anatomy - all the theme words are parts of the human ear.
Think About...
- Different sections of the outer, middle, and inner ear
- Bones and structures that help with hearing
- Cartilage and soft tissue components
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Top to Bottom
Letter Count: 8 letters
Starting Zone: First row
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): A phrase expressing agreement or approval
Hint 2 (Warmer): What you might say when you agree with someone's statement
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is H, last letter is R
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HEARHEAR
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: A passage or channel
Closer: Part of the ear that sound travels through
Letter Clue: Starts with C, 5 letters total
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Answer
CANAL
Word 2
Vague: A musical instrument component
Closer: The thin membrane that vibrates in response to sound
Letter Clue: Starts with D, 4 letters total
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Answer
DRUM
Word 3
Vague: Something related to horseback riding
Closer: The smallest bone in the human body
Letter Clue: Starts with S, 7 letters total
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Answer
STIRRUP
Word 4
Vague: A tool for pounding
Closer: One of the three tiny bones in the middle ear
Letter Clue: Starts with H, 6 letters total
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Answer
HAMMER
Word 5
Vague: A blacksmith's tool
Closer: Another of the three ossicles in the middle ear
Letter Clue: Starts with A, 5 letters total
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Answer
ANVIL
Word 6
Vague: Flexible connective tissue
Closer: The flexible tissue that gives shape to the outer ear
Letter Clue: Starts with C, 9 letters total
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Answer
CARTILAGE
Word 7
Vague: A rounded projection
Closer: The fleshy lower part of the outer ear
Letter Clue: Starts with L, 4 letters total
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Answer
LOBE
Full Answers
Spangram: HEARHEAR
Theme Words:
- CANAL
- DRUM
- STIRRUP
- HAMMER
- ANVIL
- CARTILAGE
- LOBE
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Trickiest Word: STIRRUP (Many solvers might not immediately connect this equestrian term to ear anatomy)
Our Take: A clever anatomy puzzle that tests both medical knowledge and word association. The spangram "HEARHEAR" perfectly ties the ear theme to a common expression. The inclusion of all three ossicles (hammer, anvil, stirrup) shows thoughtful puzzle construction. Solid Thursday challenge that's educational without being overly obscure.
