At a Glance
- The theme for today’s NYT Strands puzzle is Shaking things up.
- The spangram revealed is LETSROCK.
- Solving the puzzle requires finding 8 hidden words of four letters or more.
Why it matters: Knowing the theme and spangram lets players target their word searches and unlock hints faster.
The daily NYT Strands puzzle challenges players to uncover hidden words that fit a specific theme. Today’s theme, Shaking things up, hints at movement and vibration. By locating words that match this idea, players can trigger the game’s hint system and ultimately solve the puzzle.
How Strands Works
Strands is a word-search-style game that appears each day in the New York Times. Players scan a grid for hidden words. Each time three words of four letters or more are found, the game reveals a piece of the overarching theme. When all theme words are uncovered, the puzzle’s spangram-a single word that stretches from one side of the grid to the other-becomes visible.
The spangram is the final key to completing the puzzle. Once the spangram is found, every remaining letter in the grid is used, and the puzzle is solved.
Today’s Puzzle Details
The theme for today’s puzzle is Shaking things up. A helpful clue is Moving around. To unlock in-game hints, find any words that fit the theme. Each time you discover three words that are at least four letters long, Strands will reveal a new theme word.
Below is a list of words that the author used to unlock hints. Any four-letter or longer word that fits the theme will work:
- LOBE
- TROW
- TROWEL
- ROBE
- ROBES
- CRAVE
- CRAVES
- RAKE
- RAKES
- WAVE
- WAVES
These words are not the final answers but serve as stepping stones to uncover the theme.
Answers and Spangram
Once all theme words are found, the puzzle’s non-spangram answers are revealed. The author identified the following seven words:
| Answer |
|---|
| SWAY |
| QUAKE |
| WAVER |
| TEETER |
| WOBBLE |
| TREMBLE |
| VIBRATET |
The spangram for today’s puzzle, discovered on Jan. 19, 2026, is LETSROCK. To locate it, start with the left-most L on the top row and trace a path that winds down through the grid.
When the spangram is found, every remaining letter is used, completing the puzzle.
Tips for Solving
- Focus on the theme: Words that suggest motion, vibration, or change are likely candidates.
- Track found words: Keep a list so you know when you’ve hit the three-word threshold for hints.
- Use the spangram path: Once you spot the spangram, you can quickly fill in the rest of the grid.
- Re-check the grid: After solving, double-check that all letters are accounted for.
Toughest Strands Puzzles
Some Strands puzzles are notoriously difficult. The author lists a few that stand out:
- #1: Dated slang – Toughest word: PHAT
- #2: Thar she blows! – Toughest word: BALEEN or RIGHT
- #3: Off the hook – Toughest word: BIGEYE or SKIPJACK
These examples illustrate how specific knowledge or word-play can make a puzzle more challenging.
Key Takeaways
- The theme Shaking things up guides word selection.
- Unlocking three four-letter words triggers theme hints.
- The spangram LETSROCK ties the puzzle together.
- Knowing the list of non-spangram answers helps confirm completion.
- Some puzzles require specialized vocabulary or knowledge.
By following these steps and keeping the theme in mind, players can efficiently navigate today’s NYT Strands puzzle and enjoy the satisfaction of solving a daily brain teaser.
For more puzzle hints, visit News Of Los Angeles‘s NYT puzzle hints page or add News Of Los Angeles as a preferred Google source.
