NYT Strands Hints and Answers for June 17, 2025 (#471)
Spoiler-safe hints for the NYT Strands puzzle of June 17, 2025: the theme clue first, then first letters, word lengths, the spangram, and the full grid.
Stuck on the Strands puzzle of June 17, 2025? 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 June 17, 2025, one rung at a time
ThemeToday’s theme
Make it work
The puzzle calls today’s theme “Make it work”. Read it loosely: the 5 answers are examples of it, not synonyms for it.
Hint 2First letters
The theme words begin with C, E, F, F, N. Two of them start with the same letter (F).
Hint 3Word lengths
By length, the answers run 7, 7, 8, 8 and 9. The shortest is 7 letters, the longest 9.
SpangramThe spangram
FIGUREOUT
9 letters, a single word, running from one edge of the grid to the opposite edge.
Starts with F, ends with T.
AnswersAll theme words
- FINAGLE7 letters
- FINESSE7 letters
- CONTRIVE8 letters
- ENGINEER8 letters
- NEGOTIATE9 letters
BoardThe completed grid
Theme wordSpangramEach line follows one word; the small number is that letter’s place in it.