NYT Strands Answers Today: Hints, Clues & Full Solution for May 26, 2025

If you woke up stumped by today’s NYT Strands puzzle (#449, Monday, May 26 2025), you’re not alone. Search interest in “Strands answers” has spiked as solvers race to uncover the daily spangram and six theme words. Below you’ll find the full solution, a quick refresher on the rules, plus expert tactics to boost tomorrow’s solving streak. Today’s Strands at a Glance • Date: Monday, May 26 2025 • Theme clue: “Body language” • Spangram: GESTURES • Full answer set: SHRUG, KOWTOW, SALUTE, CURTSEY, NAMASTE, HANDSHAKE Why These Words Fit the Theme Each solution word describes a non-verbal motion people use to convey respect, greeting or emotion. Tying them together is the spangram GESTURES, which snakes across the board touching every row or column, as required. How NYT Strands Works (60-Second Refresher) 1. You’re given a 6×8 letter grid. 2. Find theme words by dragging through letters horizontally, vertically or diagonally. Letters may cross but can’t be reused within a single word. 3. The spangram, a longer theme word, must span the board from one edge to the opposite edge. 4. Every non-theme word you discover acts as a “hint,” unlocking the grid by highlighting first letters of theme words. Tips for Solving Future Puzzles • Nail the spangram early: Scan edges for promising prefixes or suffixes; today “GEST-” on row one was a strong tell. • Work backwards from hints: After three valid non-theme words, the game flashes the first letters of an undiscovered theme word—focus there. • Think category breadth: The clue “Body language” pointed not just to greetings but to deferential actions (KOWTOW, CURTSEY). Broaden associations. • Spiral search pattern: Trace the board clockwise from outer edges inward; this mimics common spangram paths. • Use pause-and-parse: Step away when stuck—fresh eyes often reveal diagonal links you missed. Community Reaction Early-morning solvers on Reddit’s r/NYTStrands called today’s grid “deceptively easy once GESTURES clicked,” while others praised the cultural diversity of NAMASTE and KOWTOW. Forbes’ daily hints column noted that shrinking word lists by focusing on synonyms for “salutation” cracked the puzzle in under four minutes. Bottom Line Whether you blitzed through or needed this walkthrough, today’s Strands underscored why the New York Times’ newest word game is skyrocketing in popularity: tight themes, satisfying aha-moments, and just enough challenge to keep word lovers searching for “Strands answers” day after day. Bookmark this page for daily updates and strategy boosts so you can master tomorrow’s grid before your coffee gets cold.