Today's NYT Strands is live for Wednesday, January 14, 2026 (Puzzle #682). 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: "Oh boy!"
What It Really Means
This theme is all about expressions of enthusiasm and positive anticipation. You're looking for words that describe excited, eager, or passionate states.
Think About...
- Synonyms for excitement and eagerness
- Words describing passionate or enthusiastic feelings
- Adjectives that capture high-energy anticipation
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Top to Bottom
Letter Count: 9 letters
Starting Zone: First row
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): This phrase captures the spirit of diving into something with energy and determination.
Hint 2 (Warmer): It's an enthusiastic declaration often used when starting a challenging task or adventure.
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is L, last letter is S
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LETSDOTHIS
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: Describes intense passion or strong feeling
Closer: Often used for deeply held beliefs or ardent enthusiasm
Letter Clue: Starts with F, 7 letters total
Answer
FERVENT
Word 2
Vague: Shows keen interest or anticipation
Closer: The feeling you get when waiting for something exciting
Letter Clue: Starts with E, 5 letters total
Answer
EAGER
Word 3
Vague: Full of energy and enthusiasm
Closer: The opposite of bored or indifferent
Letter Clue: Starts with E, 7 letters total
Answer
EXCITED
Word 4
Vague: Shows great interest and enjoyment
Closer: Describes someone who's really into what they're doing
Letter Clue: Starts with E, 12 letters total
Answer
ENTHUSIASTIC
Word 5
Vague: Extremely passionate or devoted
Closer: Often used for religious or political fervor
Letter Clue: Starts with Z, 7 letters total
Answer
ZEALOUS
Full Answers
Spangram: LETSDOTHIS
Theme Words:
- FERVENT
- EAGER
- EXCITED
- ENTHUSIASTIC
- ZEALOUS
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Trickiest Word: ZEALOUS (Less common than other enthusiasm synonyms, and starting with Z makes it less obvious)
Our Take: A straightforward but satisfying theme that explores different shades of enthusiasm. The spangram "LETSDOTHIS" perfectly captures the energetic spirit of the puzzle. While the words are conceptually related, the variation in length and starting letters provides enough challenge to keep solvers engaged.
