> At a Glance
> – The January 9, 2026 NYT Strands puzzle theme is “For cubs fans”
> – Answers include BLACK, BROWN, GRIZZLY, PANDA, POLAR, SPECTACLED and spangram BEARSINMIND
> – Why it matters: Puzzle fans get daily hints, answers, and new challenge levels
The January 9, 2026 New York Times Strands puzzle delivers a bear-themed grid that hides six theme words plus a spangram, keeping solvers busy from breakfast to bedtime.
Theme and First Clue
The puzzle’s tagline is “For cubs fans,” and the extra nudge offered is “Like Gentle Ben.” Players who need in-game hints must find any three four-letter (or longer) words; useful starter entries the writer used include LAIR, RAIL, CROP, LAID, BALD, DEAN, BROW and DIZZY.
All Answers Revealed
The six non-spangram solutions:
- BLACK
- BROWN
- GRIZZLY
- PANDA
- POLAR
- SPECTACLED (the writer had never heard of this bear species)
Spangram path: BEARSINMIND runs the full height of the far-right column, starting with the B five rows right, three letters down.
Hardest Strands Themes So Far
According to Amanda S. Bennett, the toughest past topics are:
- Dated slang – toughest word: PHAT
- Thar she blows! – toughest word: BALEEN or RIGHT
- Off the hook – toughest word: BIGEYE or SKIPJACK
Key Takeaways
- Every letter on the board is used once all theme answers are found
- The number of theme words can vary; today’s grid holds six plus the spangram
- Daily hints and full answer lists are available on News Of Los Angeles‘s puzzle hub
Check back tomorrow for fresh Strands clues, or tackle Wordle, Connections and the Mini Crossword for more brain-training fun.
