Today's NYT Strands is live for Thursday, March 5, 2026 (Puzzle #732). 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 it?"
What It Really Means
Today's theme is about expressions of disappointment or underwhelming results, words that describe something small, insufficient, or barely noticeable.
Think About...
- Words for small quantities or minimal amounts
- Synonyms for "tiny," "insignificant," or "barely there"
- Adjectives you'd use when something falls short of expectations
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Down and across to the right
Letter Count: 9 letters
Starting Zone: First letter of the second row
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): This phrase expresses gratitude but with a sarcastic or dismissive tone.
Hint 2 (Warmer): It's what you might say when someone gives you something very small or unimpressive.
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is G, last letter is S
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GEETHANKS
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: Describes something barely adequate or insufficient
Closer: What you'd call a portion that leaves you wanting more
Letter Clue: Starts with M, 6 letters total
Answer
MEAGER
Word 2
Vague: Extremely small or weak
Closer: Often used to describe muscles or effort
Letter Clue: Starts with P, 4 letters total
Answer
PUNY
Word 3
Vague: Barely sufficient or limited
Closer: Describes evidence or supplies that are minimal
Letter Clue: Starts with S, 5 letters total
Answer
SCANT
Word 4
Vague: Trivial or insignificant amount
Closer: Often used with "sum" to describe a small amount of money
Letter Clue: Starts with P, 6 letters total
Answer
PALTRY
Word 5
Vague: So small or unimportant as to be not worth considering
Closer: Describes an amount that's barely noticeable
Letter Clue: Starts with N, 10 letters total
Answer
NEGLIGIBLE
Word 6
Vague: Trivial or insignificant
Closer: Often used to describe small amounts or minor issues
Letter Clue: Starts with P, 8 letters total
Answer
PIDDLING
Full Answers
Spangram: GEETHANKS
Theme Words:
- MEAGER
- PUNY
- SCANT
- PALTRY
- NEGLIGIBLE
- PIDDLING
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Trickiest Word: PIDDLING (Less common vocabulary that might not immediately come to mind)
Our Take: A clever theme that plays on the sarcastic "gee, thanks" response to underwhelming situations. The word selection covers both common and less-familiar synonyms for smallness, creating a satisfying progression from obvious to more challenging finds. The spangram ties everything together with perfect thematic resonance.
