NYT Strands: Dive into the Daily Word Puzzle Obsession – Hints, Spangram & Answers

NYT Strands is quickly becoming a daily obsession for word game enthusiasts seeking a cerebral challenge. Offering more than just word recognition, Strands demands thematic reasoning, setting itself apart from games like Wordle and Connections. Each day presents a new puzzle with increasingly creative themes, making it a go-to choice for many.

On May 29, 2025, players faced a tricky theme: "It’s a little buggy." This challenged them to uncover the central "Spangram" and seven interconnected words within a six-by-eight letter grid.

NYT Strands requires players to identify words related to a given theme. Each puzzle includes a Spangram—a word or phrase running across the grid—and multiple themed words tied to it.

The "It’s a little buggy" theme cleverly invited solvers to think of small arthropods—particularly those with wings and multiple legs. Here are some hints that were given to help those struggling with the puzzle:

• Hint #1: A green, carnivorous insect named from the Greek for “prophet.”
• Hint #2: A long-bodied flyer with two pairs of wings and predatory behavior.

The official Spangram hint for May 29 read: “A small arthropod animal that has six legs and generally one or two pairs of wings.” Solvers knew the Spangram was mostly horizontal and began with the letters “IN.”

Here's the solution for those still stumped:

• Spangram: INSECT
• Theme Words: WASP, MOTH, FLEA, MANTIS, HORNET, DRAGONFLY, BUTTERFLY

Many solvers reported that identifying WASP and MOTH early provided a solid foundation for determining the overall theme, leading to the discovery of the Spangram INSECT. From there, the remaining bug-themed words fell into place.

The Spangram is what sets NYT Strands apart. Running across the grid, it represents the day’s theme and acts as a guide for locating other theme-related words. Solving it can significantly ease the process of completing the entire puzzle.

Have you tried NYT Strands yet? What strategies do you use to solve the puzzles? Share your thoughts and tips in the comments below!

• New York Times
• NYT Strands
• Word Puzzle