NYT Strands Hints and Answers for January 1, 2026 (#669)
Spoiler-safe hints for the NYT Strands puzzle of January 1, 2026: the theme clue first, then first letters, word lengths, the spangram, and the full grid.
Stuck on the Strands puzzle of January 1, 2026? 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 January 1, 2026, one rung at a time
ThemeToday’s theme
Not your average joe
Start from the clue “Not your average joe”. Once you see what the 7 theme words have in common, the grid opens up quickly.
Hint 2First letters
The theme words begin with A, B, B, N, S, S, V. Several share a starting letter (B, S).
Hint 3Word lengths
By length, the answers run 4, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7 and 8. The shortest is 4 letters, the longest 8.
SpangramThe spangram
COFFEE
6 letters, a single word, running from one edge of the grid to the opposite edge.
Starts with C, ends with E.
AnswersAll theme words
- BOLD4 letters
- NUTTY5 letters
- BITTER6 letters
- SMOOTH6 letters
- STRONG6 letters
- VELVETY7 letters
- AROMATIC8 letters
BoardThe completed grid
Theme wordSpangramEach line follows one word; the small number is that letter’s place in it.
Yesterday’s Strands
Yesterday’s Strands
#668 · “One good turn deserves another”
Spangram: ROUNDANDROUND
Read yesterday’s hints