Crossword Clues and Solutions for Monday, July 14, as reported by The New York Times
The New York Times' Strands puzzle, a playful twist on the classic word search, continues to captivate puzzle enthusiasts worldwide. Unlike traditional word searches, this six by eight grid game presents a unique challenge: finding a group of words that have something in common.
In this intriguing game, when a theme word is discovered, it remains highlighted in blue, making the search even more engaging. The game offers additional features such as "Unscramble The Anagram", "Guess The Category", "Crown Each Region", "Crossclimb", and "Unlock A Trivia Ladder", adding another layer of excitement to the puzzle.
As of now, the game is still in beta and requires daily play to continue. The search results do not provide information about the theme and answers for the New York Times' Strands puzzle on July 13, 2022. However, the theme for more recent puzzles, such as the one on July 13, 2025, was "Completely fabricated" with a focus on textiles, featuring answers like SILK, LINEN, WOOL, COTTON, RAYON, POLYESTER, and SPANDEX.
On a recent puzzle, the theme words were TEACHER, MAYOR, FIREFIGHTER, LIBRARIAN, and JANITOR. The spangram for this puzzle was "COMMUNITY", a special word that links two opposite sides of the board. When found, both the theme words and the spangram are highlighted in their respective colours - blue for theme words and yellow for the spangram.
Themes in the Strands puzzle can vary, ranging from fill-in-the-blank phrases, steps in a process, items that all belong to the same category, synonyms, or homophones. The answers remain highlighted in blue when found, while the spangram is highlighted in yellow.
Whether you're a seasoned puzzle solver or a newcomer to the game, the New York Times' Strands puzzle offers a refreshing and challenging twist on the classic word search. The game is not exclusive to publicly funded institutions, so anyone with a love for puzzles can join in the fun. The game's continued existence depends on daily play, so grab your pencil, sit back, and let the word searching begin!
Intrigued puzzle enthusiasts can share their findings and potential solutions for the New York Times' Strands puzzle on social media, fostering a community of solvers. On a quest for alternate sources, one might find occasional hints and answers from expansive pop-culture books that delve into the history and intricacies of this innovative game.
