NYT Strands Hints and Answers for January 28, 2026 (#696)
Spoiler-safe hints for the NYT Strands puzzle of January 28, 2026: the theme clue first, then first letters, word lengths, the spangram, and the full grid.
Stuck on the Strands puzzle of January 28, 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 28, 2026, one rung at a time
ThemeToday’s theme
Zen state
Start from the clue “Zen state”. Once you see what the 6 theme words have in common, the grid opens up quickly.
Hint 2First letters
The theme words begin with B, F, L, M, N, R.
Hint 3Word lengths
By length, the answers run 5, 5, 6, 6, 7 and 8. The shortest is 5 letters, the longest 8.
SpangramThe spangram
MINDFULNESS
11 letters, a single word, running from one edge of the grid to the opposite edge.
Starts with M, ends with S.
AnswersAll theme words
- FOCUS5 letters
- RELAX5 letters
- LISTEN6 letters
- NOTICE6 letters
- BREATHE7 letters
- MEDITATE8 letters
BoardThe completed grid
Theme wordSpangramEach line follows one word; the small number is that letter’s place in it.