Looking for a different day?
A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing ‘today’s game’ while others are playing ‘yesterday’s’. If you’re looking for Wednesday’s puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, November 12 (game #619).
Strands is the NYT’s latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it’s great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.
NYT Strands today (game #620) – hint #1 – today’s theme
What is the theme of today’s NYT Strands?
• Today’s NYT Strands theme is… Out, damned spot!
NYT Strands today (game #620) – hint #2 – clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
- BOAT
- LOOK
- SHAME
- LATE
- RUDE
- BOOKS
NYT Strands today (game #620) – hint #3 – spangram letters
How many letters are in today’s spangram?
• Spangram has 12 letters
NYT Strands today (game #620) – hint #4 – spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today’s spangram touches?
First side: left, 4th row
Last side: right, 4th row
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #620) – the answers
The answers to today’s Strands, game #620, are…
- SPRAY
- SCRUB
- BLOT
- LAUNDER
- SOAK
- STEAM
- BLEACH
- SPANGRAM: STAINREMOVAL
- My rating: Hard
- My score: 1 hint
It possibly says a lot about me that I whizzed through yesterday’s crosswords-themed Strands but labored to get to the end of this cleaning-based search. Regardless, I do think this was a particularly difficult game.
“Out, damned spot!” was a curious theme and one that initially made me wondering if I was missing a pop-culture reference – a line from 101 Dalmatians perhaps?
Even after getting SPRAY, SCRUB and BLOT the penny didn’t drop and it took me a hint to move forward. I also found the spangram more difficult to find than usual. Rather like cleaning chores, I couldn’t wait for it to all be over.
Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Wednesday, November 12, game #619)
- ACROSS
- DOWN
- BYLINE
- CLUES
- GRID
- ANSWERS
- NUMBERS
- SPANGRAM: CROSSWORD
What is NYT Strands?
Strands is the NYT’s not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It’s now a fully fledged member of the NYT’s games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
I’ve got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you’re struggling to beat it each day.

