Today's NYT Strands is live for Tuesday, March 24, 2026 (Puzzle #751). 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: "Get over it… or get through it"
What It Really Means
You're looking for physical barriers and challenges typically found in obstacle courses or training environments.
Think About...
- Items you'd encounter in a military training course or ninja warrior challenge
- Things athletes jump over, climb through, or navigate around
- Physical barriers that require action to overcome
Spangram Clues
Orientation: To the left then down and diagonally
Letter Count: 14 letters
Starting Zone: Third letter of the first row
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): A challenging physical training setup with multiple barriers
Hint 2 (Warmer): Military recruits and athletes train on these to build endurance and agility
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is O, last letter is E
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OBSTACLECOURSE
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: A boundary marker often made of wood or wire
Closer: Used to enclose property or keep animals in/out
Letter Clue: Starts with F, 5 letters total
Answer
FENCE
Word 2
Vague: Something athletes jump over in track events
Closer: A barrier in steeplechase or obstacle races
Letter Clue: Starts with H, 6 letters total
Answer
HURDLE
Word 3
Vague: An underground or underwater passage
Closer: Soldiers crawl through these in training exercises
Letter Clue: Starts with T, 6 letters total
Answer
TUNNEL
Word 4
Vague: A vertical structure you might need to climb
Closer: Often found in rock climbing gyms or military courses
Letter Clue: Starts with W, 4 letters total
Answer
WALL
Word 5
Vague: A circular object you might jump through
Closer: Used in agility training or circus performances
Letter Clue: Starts with H, 4 letters total
Answer
HOOP
Word 6
Vague: A temporary barrier often used for crowd control
Closer: Police or military might set these up during protests
Letter Clue: Starts with B, 9 letters total
Answer
BARRICADE
Full Answers
Spangram: OBSTACLECOURSE
Theme Words:
- FENCE
- HURDLE
- TUNNEL
- WALL
- HOOP
- BARRICADE
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Trickiest Word: HOOP (It's the shortest theme word and could be overlooked among longer obstacle terms)
Our Take: A straightforward obstacle course theme with clear physical barriers. The spangram "OBSTACLECOURSE" perfectly captures the concept, though its 13-letter length makes for a satisfying find. The mix of common obstacles (FENCE, WALL) with more specific ones (BARRICADE, TUNNEL) creates a balanced challenge that's accessible without being too obvious.
