Today's NYT Strands is live for Tuesday, January 6, 2026 (Puzzle #674). 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: "Look up!"
What It Really Means
This theme points to things that fly or float in the air - objects that defy gravity and occupy the sky above us.
Think About...
- Manned and unmanned flying vehicles
- Natural and artificial airborne objects
- Things that soar, glide, or hover above ground
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Bottom to Top
Letter Count: 13 letters
Starting Zone: Last row
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): The phrase describes what all the theme words have in common - they overcome Earth's pull.
Hint 2 (Warmer): It's a two-word phrase that captures the essence of flight and aerial movement.
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is D, last letter is Y
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DEFYINGGRAVITY
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: A common mode of air travel
Closer: Commercial passenger vehicle with wings and engines
Letter Clue: Starts with A, 8 letters total
Answer
AIRPLANE
Word 2
Vague: Lighter-than-air flying object
Closer: Often filled with hot air or helium for flight
Letter Clue: Starts with B, 7 letters total
Answer
BALLOON
Word 3
Vague: Natural airborne creature
Closer: Feathered animal that flies using wings
Letter Clue: Starts with B, 4 letters total
Answer
BIRD
Word 4
Vague: Modern remote-controlled flyer
Closer: Unmanned aerial vehicle often used for photography
Letter Clue: Starts with D, 5 letters total
Answer
DRONE
Word 5
Vague: Simple flying toy on a string
Closer: Diamond-shaped or box-shaped object flown in the wind
Letter Clue: Starts with K, 4 letters total
Answer
KITE
Word 6
Vague: Space-bound flying machine
Closer: Vehicle that launches into space using powerful engines
Letter Clue: Starts with R, 6 letters total
Answer
ROCKET
Full Answers
Spangram: DEFYINGGRAVITY
Theme Words:
- AIRPLANE
- BALLOON
- BIRD
- DRONE
- KITE
- ROCKET
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Easy
Trickiest Word: DRONE (Modern term that might not immediately come to mind alongside traditional flying objects)
Our Take: A straightforward theme with clear connections. The spangram "DEFYINGGRAVITY" perfectly captures the common thread. Mix of natural (BIRD) and artificial (AIRPLANE, ROCKET) flying objects creates a balanced puzzle. No obscure words - just clean, accessible vocabulary.
