NYT Strands Hints and Answers for January 22, 2026 (#690)
Spoiler-safe hints for the NYT Strands puzzle of January 22, 2026: the theme clue first, then first letters, word lengths, the spangram, and the full grid.
Stuck on the Strands puzzle of January 22, 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 22, 2026, one rung at a time
ThemeToday’s theme
Ode to joy
Today’s theme is “Ode to joy”. All 5 theme words fit that idea — and the spangram names it outright.
Hint 2First letters
The theme words begin with B, E, E, E, R. Two of them start with the same letter (E).
Hint 3Word lengths
By length, the answers run 5, 7, 7, 8 and 8. The shortest is 5 letters, the longest 8.
SpangramThe spangram
SEVENTHHEAVEN
13 letters, a single word, running from one edge of the grid to the opposite edge.
Starts with S, ends with N.
AnswersAll theme words
- BLISS5 letters
- ECSTASY7 letters
- ELATION7 letters
- EUPHORIA8 letters
- RHAPSODY8 letters
BoardThe completed grid
Theme wordSpangramEach line follows one word; the small number is that letter’s place in it.