NYT Strands Hints and Answers for May 20, 2024 (#78)
Spoiler-safe hints for the NYT Strands puzzle of May 20, 2024: the theme clue first, then first letters, word lengths, the spangram, and the full grid.
Stuck on the Strands puzzle of May 20, 2024? Start with the theme, take one rung at a time, and stop as soon as the grid opens up. Nothing below is revealed until you tap it.
Hints for May 20, 2024, one rung at a time
ThemeToday’s theme
Fowl fairy tale
Start from the clue “Fowl fairy tale”. Once you see what the 5 theme words have in common, the grid opens up quickly.
Hint 2First letters
The theme words begin with B, J, M, R, S.
Hint 3Word lengths
By length, the answers run 4, 6, 7, 9 and 10. The shortest is 4 letters, the longest 10.
SpangramThe spangram
UGLYDUCKLING
12 letters, a single word, running from one edge of the grid to the opposite edge.
Starts with U, ends with G.
AnswersAll theme words
- SWAN4 letters
- MISFIT6 letters
- JOURNEY7 letters
- BEAUTIFUL9 letters
- REFLECTION10 letters
BoardThe completed grid
Theme wordSpangramEach line follows one word; the small number is that letter’s place in it.