Today's NYT Strands is live for Thursday, January 8, 2026 (Puzzle #676). 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: "That's just reality (TV)"
What It Really Means
This theme points to a popular reality TV competition show where contestants form alliances, betray each other, and vote players out of the game.
Think About...
- Game mechanics like voting, alliances, and eliminations
- Key terms from competitive reality shows
- Elements of strategy and deception in television competitions
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Top to Bottom
Letter Count: 11 letters
Starting Zone: Third row
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): The title of a reality competition show about deception and strategy
Hint 2 (Warmer): A show where players can be "faithful" or secretly work against the group
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is T, last letter is S
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THETRAITORS
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: Something that provides protection
Closer: A defensive item in medieval combat
Letter Clue: Starts with S, 6 letters total
Answer
SHIELD
Word 2
Vague: A fortified structure
Closer: A medieval stronghold with towers and walls
Letter Clue: Starts with C, 6 letters total
Answer
CASTLE
Word 3
Vague: A form of punishment
Closer: What happens to eliminated players in the game
Letter Clue: Starts with B, 10 letters total
Answer
BANISHMENT
Word 4
Vague: A quality of loyalty
Closer: Players who aren't secretly working against the group
Letter Clue: Starts with F, 8 letters total
Answer
FAITHFUL
Word 5
Vague: An assignment or objective
Closer: A task given to contestants in the game
Letter Clue: Starts with M, 7 letters total
Answer
MISSION
Full Answers
Spangram: THETRAITORS
Theme Words:
- SHIELD
- CASTLE
- BANISHMENT
- FAITHFUL
- MISSION
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Trickiest Word: BANISHMENT (10 letters with less common usage in modern vocabulary)
Our Take: A clever tie-in to the popular reality competition show "The Traitors." The medieval-themed words create an interesting juxtaposition with the modern TV show concept. The spangram orientation from top to bottom adds a nice visual element to the puzzle layout.
