Looking for a different day?
A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing ‘today’s game’ while others are playing ‘yesterday’s’. If you’re looking for Saturday’s puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, December 20 (game #657).
Strands is the NYT’s latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it’s great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.
NYT Strands today (game #658) – hint #1 – today’s theme
What is the theme of today’s NYT Strands?
• Today’s NYT Strands theme is… Big bad wolf
NYT Strands today (game #658) – hint #2 – clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
- SWOT
- KNOW
- FLUTE
- SNOW
- STACK
- BLOCKS
NYT Strands today (game #658) – hint #3 – spangram letters
How many letters are in today’s spangram?
• Spangram has 15 letters
NYT Strands today (game #658) – hint #4 – spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today’s spangram touches?
First side: right, 3rd row
Last side: left, 4th row
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #658) – the answers
The answers to today’s Strands, game #658, are…
- HUFF
- PUFF
- BRICKS
- STICKS
- STRAW
- BLOW
- DOWN
- SPANGRAM: THREELITTLEPIGS
- My rating: Easy
- My score: Perfect
A super long spangram today, but more than worth it for the excellent puzzle building – a Strands classic.
Firstly, top marks for having HUFF and PUFF at the top of the puzzle, and then for the house-shaped THREELITTLEPIGS spangram. These touches made it quite an easy game – just a case of remembering the nursery rhyme – but we can take the occasional break from noodling.
I’m also thrilled because I got a badge for this game for the 50th time I spotted the spangram first. I had no idea I’d done that so many times.


