Today's NYT Strands is live for Thursday, June 4, 2026 (Puzzle #823). 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: "Smooth moves"
What It Really Means
The theme revolves around the qualities and attributes of someone who handles situations with effortless skill and composure. Think words that describe a person who moves through life -- or a dance floor -- with apparent ease and self-assurance.
Think About...
- Qualities you'd use to describe a polished performer or athlete
- Synonyms for elegance, control, and natural ability
- Words that pair with "under pressure" or "under fire"
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Horizontal in a step down manner across the board
Letter Count: 14 letters
Starting Zone: First letter of the third row
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): This phrase describes something beautiful created by fluid, rhythmic movement -- think dance, figure skating, or a perfectly executed routine.
Hint 2 (Warmer): It combines an art form with the concept of graceful physical action. If someone moves like they're composing art with their body, this is the phrase.
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is P, last letter is N
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POETRYINMOTION
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: The absence of difficulty or effort
Closer: What you feel when a task requires little to no struggle
Letter Clue: Starts with E, 4 letters total
Answer
EASE
Word 2
Vague: A quality of controlled elegance in movement or bearing
Closer: Think of a ballet dancer or a cat landing on its feet
Letter Clue: Starts with G, 5 letters total
Answer
GRACE
Word 3
Vague: Composed and dignified self-assurance
Closer: The quality of holding yourself with quiet confidence, especially in challenging moments
Letter Clue: Starts with P, 5 letters total
Answer
POISE
Word 4
Vague: A distinctive and elegant way of doing things
Closer: The characteristic that makes someone's approach look effortlessly cool and refined
Letter Clue: Starts with S, 5 letters total
Answer
STYLE
Word 5
Vague: Complete and confident composure under pressure
Closer: A less common word that means perfect self-control, often used in formal or admiring contexts
Letter Clue: Starts with A, 6 letters total
Answer
APLOMB
Word 6
Vague: Calmness of mind and manner
Closer: The state of being collected and untroubled, even when things go wrong
Letter Clue: Starts with C, 9 letters total
Answer
COMPOSURE
Full Answers
Spangram: POETRYINMOTION
Theme Words:
- EASE
- GRACE
- POISE
- STYLE
- APLOMB
- COMPOSURE
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Trickiest Word: APLOMB (Less commonly used in everyday conversation than the other words, so it may take a moment to surface. The six-letter length and unusual letter combination can also make it harder to spot in the grid.)
Our Take: A satisfying theme built around synonyms for smooth competence. The spangram "POETRYINMOTION" ties it together elegantly -- these are all qualities that describe someone moving with artistic ease. EASE, GRACE, POISE, STYLE, APLOMB, and COMPOSURE form a coherent set where each word shades into the next, making this a puzzle that rewards vocabulary range as much as pattern recognition.
