Some Strands puzzles want you to think big and bold, but not today. Today’s puzzle keeps things sleek, crisp, and brimming with iconic brands. It’s the kind of puzzle where each word represents something instantly recognizable, a brand that’s left a lasting impression. Ready for a few hints to get you started?

16 Oct 2025

15 Oct 2025

14 Oct 2025

13 Oct 2025

11 Oct 2025

10 Oct 2025

  • Sports – Activities involving physical skill, played for recreation or competition.
  • Geography – The study of Earth’s features, climate, and human-environment interactions.
  • Movie – A form of entertainment using moving pictures to tell stories.
  • Trivia Night – A social event where participants answer questions on various topics.
  • Music – The art of arranging sounds in harmony, melody, and rhythm.
  • History – The study of past events and their impact on the present.
  • News – Information about current events shared through various media.
  • Alarm – A device or system used to alert someone to danger or an event, often producing a sound or signal.
  • Ground – The solid surface of the earth, or the lowest part of a structure or area.
  • Lobby – An entrance hall or waiting area, typically found in public buildings or hotels.
  • Elevator Buttons – Buttons used to control the movement of an elevator, often allowing users to select floors.
  • Open – To make something accessible or available, often by removing an obstruction or unlocking.
  • Close – To shut something, making it inaccessible or securing it from further use.
  • Basement – The floor of a building that is partially or fully below ground level, often used for storage or utilities.
  • PEBBLE – A small, rounded stone, often found on beaches or riverbeds, typically smooth from erosion.
  • STONE – A solid, naturally occurring mineral material, often used in construction or for tools.
  • BOULDER – A large, rounded rock, typically larger than a stone, often found in mountainous regions.
  • ROCK AND ROLL – A genre of popular music known for its energetic rhythm and rebellious spirit, often associated with the 1950s and beyond.
  • DINNER – The main meal of the day, typically eaten in the evening.
  • JELLY – A sweet, gel-like food made from fruit juice and sugar, often spread on bread or used in desserts.
  • CRESCENT – A shape resembling a half-moon, or the phase of the moon when it is less than half full.
  • Duck – A waterfowl with a broad bill and webbed feet, often found in freshwater, known for swimming.
  • Hawk – A bird of prey with sharp talons and keen eyesight, famous for hunting and flying at high altitudes.
  • Finch – A small, colorful songbird with a stout bill, commonly found in gardens and forests.
  • Goose – A large waterfowl with a long neck, often migratory, and known for flying in V formations.
  • Warbler – A small, migratory songbird known for its sweet, warbling songs, often found in forests.
  • Thrush – A medium-sized bird known for its melodious songs, commonly found in woodlands and gardens.
  • Fall Migration – The seasonal movement of animals, especially birds, to warmer climates during fall.
  • Wren – A small, energetic bird with a loud, complex song, found in forests and gardens.
    • PEACOCK – The vibrant, multicoloured logo of the streaming platform symbolises a wide array of content and creativity.
    • SHELL – The iconic red and yellow logo of the petroleum giant, representing energy and global reach.
    • BULLSEYE – The well-known target symbol used by the retail chain Target, synonymous with value and shopping convenience.
    • SWOOSH – The simple yet powerful logo of Nike, representing speed, movement, and athleticism.
    • APPLE – The sleek, minimalist apple logo of the tech giant, symbolizing innovation and simplicity.
    • ICONIC LOGOS – The overall theme of today’s Strands, where each solution represents a well-known brand logo.
    • ARCHES – The golden arches of McDonald’s, a symbol of fast food around the world.
  • STEW – A dish made by slow-cooking meat, vegetables, and often beans or potatoes in a liquid, creating a hearty and flavorful meal.
  • GOULASH – A traditional Hungarian dish typically made with meat, onions, and paprika, often served as a thick soup or stew with potatoes or noodles.
  • ONE POT – A cooking method where all ingredients are prepared and cooked in a single pot, making it easy to clean up and ideal for hearty dishes like stews or casseroles.
  • GUMBO – A Louisiana-originated dish that blends a rich, flavorful broth with vegetables, meat or seafood, and often okra, served over rice.
  • RAGOUT – A slow-cooked, thick stew made with meat (often beef or lamb), vegetables, and sometimes wine or broth, offering a deeply savory flavor.
  • JAMBALAYA – A Creole dish from Louisiana that combines rice, vegetables, meat or seafood, and spices in one pot, cooked until the rice absorbs the flavorful broth.
  • CHILI – A spicy stew made with ground meat (usually beef), beans, tomatoes, and chili peppers, often seasoned with various spices for heat and flavor.
  • TAGINE – A North African dish cooked in a special earthenware pot of the same name, usually involving slow-cooked meat, vegetables, and a variety of spices, often served with couscous.

What is Strands?

Strands is The New York Times’ daily word puzzle where you uncover themed words hidden inside a letter grid. Unlike Wordle, Strands challenges you to find multiple related words. There’s also a special “spangram,” a word or phrase that stretches across the grid and captures the puzzle’s theme.

Quick Q&A Hints

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: That’s branding
The words are related to visuals.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe popular brands.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today’s spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

The spangram is Iconic Logos.

Final reveal (last warning: spoilers ahead!)

Here are the confirmed solutions for Strands on October 16, 2025:
Sports – Activities involving physical skill, played for recreation or competition.
Geography – The study of Earth’s features, climate, and human-environment interactions.
Movie – A form of entertainment using moving pictures to tell stories.
Trivia Night – A social event where participants answer questions on various topics.
Music – The art of arranging sounds in harmony, melody, and rhythm.
History – The study of past events and their impact on the present.
News – Information about current events shared through various media.

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