NYT Strands Daily Puzzle Recap and Answers
January 7, 2026
Looking for today's Strands puzzle or want to revisit yesterday's? The NYT Strands appears at midnight each day tailored to your time zone, meaning some players see the current day's game while others play the previous day’s. If you’re after Wednesday’s puzzle (game #675), click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, January 7.
What Is NYT Strands?
Strands is the NYT's latest word game, following popular titles like Wordle, Spelling Bee, and Connections. It's engaging and challenging, requiring strategic word placement and deduction skills. The game is available on the NYT Games website for both desktop and mobile.
Today's Puzzle (Game #676) – Key Hints
1. Theme of the Day
- Theme: Reality TV show, specifically The Traitors.
2. Clue Words
- Faithful
- Fluted
- Dish
- Cleat
- Basin
- Trait
- NYT
- Mission
- Castle
- Shields
3. Spangram Details
- Number of letters: 11
- The spangram contains the letters: THETRAITORS
- Sides touched by the spangram:
- Left side: 3rd row
- Right side: 8th row
Note: Do not scroll further if you wish to avoid spoilers.
Today's Answers (Game #676)
The correct solutions are:
- BANISHMENT
- FAITHFUL
- MISSION
- CASTLE
- SHIELDS
The Spangram: THETRAITORS
Reflection and Personal Notes
"My rating: Easy
My score: Perfect"
The theme ties into the popular UK reality TV The Traitors, which adds excitement for fans. Watching the show involves seeing the faithful attempt to catch the traitors, with current series introducing a “secret traitor,” making it even more addictive. Solving the puzzle was a quick and enjoyable challenge.
Additional Context
Yesterday’s (Wednesday, January 7) Puzzle
- Words: DRILL, FLOSS, TOOTHBRUSH, MIRROR, FLUORIDES
- Spangram: DENTISTS’ OFFICE
About NYT Strands
Strands stands out as a modern word game that builds on the success of Wordle and Connections. It offers daily puzzles that stimulate your vocabulary and reasoning skills, available via the NYT Games platform.
For further tips or a complete guide on playing NYT Strands, check out my detailed walkthrough and hints.