NYT Strands hints, answers for October 5, 2025
Today's NYT Strands hints are a bit of a misdirect.
Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.
By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.
If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.
Today's NYT Strands puzzle should be easy to solve, provided that you're a trickster.
NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Don't take the bait
The words are related to lying.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained
These words describe conning someone.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?
Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.
NYT Strands spangram answer today
Today's spangram is Its a Trap.
NYT Strands word list for October 5
Deception
Trick
Its A Trap
Stratagem
Decoy
Ruse
Lure
Ploy
Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!
Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Strands.
Topics Strands
