NYT Strands hints and answers for Thursday, July 17 (game #501)

My clues will help you solve the NYT's Strands today and keep that streak going

· TechRadar

News By Johnny Dee Contributions from Marc McLaren published 16 July 2025

(Image credit: New York Times) Jump To:

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 Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, July 16 (game #500).

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.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

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 #501) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Find your seat

NYT Strands today (game #501) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

  • ZANY 
  • CLAM
  • BONY
  • WING
  • CROSS
  • HEATER

NYT Strands today (game #501) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 8 letters

NYT Strands today (game #501) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: right, 2nd row

Last side: left, 2nd row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #501) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #501, are…

  • BOXES
  • MEZZANINE
  • LOBBY
  • BALCONY
  • WINGS
  • ORCHESTRA
  • SPANGRAM: THEATERS
  • My rating: Easy
  • My score: 1 hint

I didn’t see the THEATERS spangram straight away – possibly because I am hardwired to see the UK spelling. Instead, I saw several non-game words in heat, heater, and heaters. So, I took the lazy option of starting with a hint.

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