Greetings for a new week of Strands enigmas brought to you by the New York Times. Your task, if you opt to undertake it, is to unearth the solution terms hidden within a matrix of letters; envision it as a more intricate word hunt and you’ll be on the correct path. It can present quite a challenge, so keep reading if you require some clues.
REVEAL ALERT: Details about NYT Strands on this day are ahead, so refrain from reading further if you wish to avoid the solutions.
NYT Strands today (game #85) – clue #1 – theme of the day
What is the topic of today’s NYT Strands puzzle?
• The theme for today’s NYT Strands is… Ponder on this one
NYT Strands today (game #85) – clue #2 – hint words
What are some effective hint words for today?
Use any of these words to trigger the in-game hint system.
• BLAST
• MOUTH
• STEP
• JOINT
• GAWK
• STEEP
NYT Strands today (game #85) – clue #3 – enigmatic anagram
What is a clue for the spangram today?
• A flavor of Italy
NYT Strands today (game #85) – clue #4 – spangram positioning
Which two edges of the panel does today’s spangram touch?
• Primary: right, 2nd row
• Last: left, 4th row
Right, the solutions are beneath, so AVOID SCROLLING FURTHER IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO VIEW THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #85) – the solutions
The responses to the Strands puzzle today, game #85, are…
- CONCH
- CIRCLE
- PASTA
- PIPE
- CURVE
- BAND
- BEND
- SPANGRAM: PASTAINVENTIONS
- Assessment: Reasonable
- Score: Flawless
I’m being a tad meticulous here, but the clue hint of ‘Ponder on this one’ somewhat threw me off track initially. In the UK, it’s highly improbable to hear the term “noodle” in reference to pasta, which is understandable since nearly all of the PASTAINVENTIONS listed in today’s Strands puzzle are not noodles. Noodles are elongated and slender, whereas items like CONCH and PIPE are evidently not. Moreover, there are disparities in the manufacturing process between noodles and pasta, so to me, it’s akin to labeling a curry as a stew, which I would never do.
Anyhow, I’m veering slightly off course. The essence is that ‘Noodle’ would never connote ‘pasta’ to me, so it took some time for me to grasp what was unfolding here. I had already stumbled upon CONCH, CIRCLE, PASTA, PIPE, and CURVE, all inadvertently, before the spangram emerged, and the pieces fell into place. The rest followed smoothly, so my game transitioned from approximately 10 minutes of bewilderment to around 30 seconds of wrapping up. On the bright side: I adore pasta and might indulge in it tonight.
How did your puzzle-solving go today? Drop me an email and share your experience.
Previous day’s NYT Strands solutions (Sunday 26 May, game #84)
- HALT
- DESIST
- OVERLOOK
- ERASE
- CUT
- VANQUISH
- SPANGRAM: ACTIONWORDS
What is NYT Strands?
Strands is the latest word puzzle by the NYT, following Wordle and Connections. It is currently in its Beta phase and is accessible on the NYT Games platform on your computer or mobile device.
I’ve compiled a comprehensive guide on playing NYT Strands, including tips for unraveling it, so refer to it if you’re grappling with solving it each day.
