NYT Strands hints, answers for July 9, 2026

NYT Strands hints, answers for July 9, 2026

For Thursday, July 9, 2026, the puzzle centers on the theme On the lips.

Words are formed from linked letters moving up, down, left, right, or diagonally. Words can change direction to create unusual shapes and patterns. Every letter within the six by eight grid must be used to complete the puzzle. The game is currently in beta, and according to Forbes, its permanent status depends on whether enough people continue to play daily.

Solving the July 9 Puzzle

The theme words to find are:

• STICK
• STAIN
• LINER
• GLOSS
• BALM
• TINT
• PLUMPER

Central to the puzzle is the spangram, a special phrase that sums up the theme and spans the entire grid either horizontally or vertically. For this edition, the spangram is KISSANDMAKEUP. Finding the spangram, which is highlighted in yellow once discovered, typically simplifies the process of finding the remaining blue-highlighted theme words.

Game Mechanics and Hint Systems

Strands is designed to be more time-consuming than other New York Times games such as Wordle or Connections, often taking 10 or more minutes to complete. To assist struggling players, the game includes a specific hint mechanism. Players can submit non-theme words of four letters or more to earn credit. After three such submissions, the Hint button becomes clickable, highlighting all letters of a single theme word. If a second hint is used for the same word, the correct letter order is revealed.

The game does not have a time limit or a maximum number of guesses, meaning players cannot fail. Invalid or too-short guesses are indicated by the text shaking back and forth. Success is achieved when every letter on the board has been utilized.

Upon completion, the game provides a shareable performance card. This card uses blue dots to represent found theme words, a yellow dot for the spangram, and a lightbulb icon to mark words solved using hints.

Developer Insights

The game is overseen by editor Tracy Bennett. According to The New York Times, Bennett intends to introduce curveballs to vary the difficulty. Themes may include synonyms, homophones, items in a specific category, steps in a process, or fill-in-the-blank phrases.

Strands is available via the New York Times website and the NYT Games app. New puzzles are released at midnight based on the player's specific time zone. Other digital puzzles such as Mahjong and Sudoku remain available through various gaming hubs.