Today's NYT Strands is live for Wednesday, January 28, 2026 (Puzzle #696). 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: "Zen state"
What It Really Means
You're looking for words related to mindfulness, meditation, and mental calmness - actions and states associated with achieving inner peace and present-moment awareness.
Think About...
- Actions you take during meditation or mindfulness practice
- Mental states and processes involved in being present
- Verbs that describe how to achieve calm focus
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Diagonal
Letter Count: 11 letters
Starting Zone: First letter of the first row
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): The practice of being fully present and aware of the current moment
Hint 2 (Warmer): A mental state achieved by focusing awareness on the present, often cultivated through meditation
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is M, last letter is S
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MINDFULNESS
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: Direct your attention to one thing
Closer: Concentrate your mental energy on a single point or task
Letter Clue: Starts with F, 5 letters total
Answer
FOCUS
Word 2
Vague: Release tension and unwind
Closer: Let go of stress and become less tense
Letter Clue: Starts with R, 5 letters total
Answer
RELAX
Word 3
Vague: Practice for mental clarity
Closer: Sit quietly and train your mind to be present
Letter Clue: Starts with M, 8 letters total
Answer
MEDITATE
Word 4
Vague: Pay attention to sounds
Closer: Give your full attention to what you hear
Letter Clue: Starts with L, 6 letters total
Answer
LISTEN
Word 5
Vague: Inhale and exhale
Closer: A fundamental mindfulness exercise involving air
Letter Clue: Starts with B, 7 letters total
Answer
BREATHE
Word 6
Vague: Observe without judgment
Closer: Become aware of something in your environment or thoughts
Letter Clue: Starts with N, 6 letters total
Answer
NOTICE
Full Answers
Spangram: MINDFULNESS
Theme Words:
- FOCUS
- RELAX
- MEDITATE
- LISTEN
- BREATHE
- NOTICE
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Trickiest Word: NOTICE (It's more subtle than obvious mindfulness terms, requiring you to think about observation without judgment)
Our Take: A well-constructed mindfulness theme that captures the essence of meditation practice. The spangram MINDFULNESS perfectly anchors the concept, while the theme words represent core actions in achieving mental clarity. The diagonal orientation adds a nice challenge without being frustrating.
