Today's NYT Strands is live for Thursday, January 29, 2026 (Puzzle #697). 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: "Talk of the town"
What It Really Means
You're looking for words related to famous people or those who attract public attention - individuals who dominate conversations and headlines.
Think About...
- Famous people who get media coverage
- Types of celebrities or public figures
- Synonyms for well-known individuals
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Vertical
Letter Count: 10 letters
Starting Zone: Fourth letter of the first row
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): This phrase describes what makes someone famous or noteworthy
Hint 2 (Warmer): It's a common expression for a person's primary reason for being recognized
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is C, last letter is E
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CLAIMTOFAME
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: A famous person
Closer: Someone with widespread recognition
Letter Clue: Starts with C, 9 letters total
Answer
CELEBRITY
Word 2
Vague: An admired figure
Closer: Someone who performs courageous acts
Letter Clue: Starts with H, 4 letters total
Answer
HERO
Word 3
Vague: A symbol or representation
Closer: A widely recognized cultural figure
Letter Clue: Starts with I, 4 letters total
Answer
ICON
Word 4
Vague: A distinctive character
Closer: A person's unique traits and characteristics
Letter Clue: Starts with P, 12 letters total
Answer
PERSONALITY
Word 5
Vague: An extremely famous performer
Closer: A top-tier celebrity in entertainment
Letter Clue: Starts with S, 9 letters total
Answer
SUPERSTAR
Full Answers
Spangram: CLAIMTOFAME
Theme Words:
- CELEBRITY
- HERO
- ICON
- PERSONALITY
- SUPERSTAR
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Easy
Trickiest Word: PERSONALITY (12 letters makes it the longest word to spot)
Our Take: A straightforward celebrity-themed puzzle with clear connections. The spangram "CLAIMTOFAME" perfectly captures the theme, and all words follow a consistent pattern of famous individuals. Good for beginners or anyone wanting a quick solve.
