NYT Strands Hints and Answers for January 17, 2026 (#685)
Spoiler-safe hints for the NYT Strands puzzle of January 17, 2026: the theme clue first, then first letters, word lengths, the spangram, and the full grid.
Stuck on the Strands puzzle of January 17, 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 17, 2026, one rung at a time
ThemeToday’s theme
That's putting it mildly!
Today’s theme is “That's putting it mildly!”. All 5 theme words fit that idea — and the spangram names it outright.
Hint 2First letters
The theme words begin with C, D, F, P, T.
Hint 3Word lengths
By length, the answers run 4, 6, 6, 9 and 12. The shortest is 4 letters, the longest 12.
SpangramThe spangram
FOILEDAGAIN
11 letters, a single word, running from one edge of the grid to the opposite edge.
Starts with F, ends with N.
AnswersAll theme words
- DRAT4 letters
- CURSES6 letters
- PHOOEY6 letters
- TARNATION9 letters
- FIDDLESTICKS12 letters
BoardThe completed grid
Theme wordSpangramEach line follows one word; the small number is that letter’s place in it.