NYT Strands Hints and Answers for August 25, 2025 (#540)
Spoiler-safe hints for the NYT Strands puzzle of August 25, 2025: the theme clue first, then first letters, word lengths, the spangram, and the full grid.
Stuck on the Strands puzzle of August 25, 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 August 25, 2025, one rung at a time
ThemeToday’s theme
Back to school
The puzzle calls today’s theme “Back to school”. Read it loosely: the 5 answers are examples of it, not synonyms for it.
Hint 2First letters
The theme words begin with B, C, F, L, N.
Hint 3Word lengths
By length, the answers run 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. The shortest is 6 letters, the longest 10.
SpangramThe spangram
SUPPLIES
8 letters, a single word, running from one edge of the grid to the opposite edge.
Starts with S, ends with S.
AnswersAll theme words
- LAPTOP6 letters
- FOLDERS7 letters
- BACKPACK8 letters
- NOTEBOOKS9 letters
- CALCULATOR10 letters
BoardThe completed grid
Theme wordSpangramEach line follows one word; the small number is that letter’s place in it.