New York Times Strands: January 16, 2025 Hints and Answers

Strands, the popular word puzzle from The New York Times, presents another challenging grid for solvers to unravel. To emerge victorious, players must decipher the theme based on a single clue—today’s is "Bar Association"—and locate all six hidden words while ensuring every letter in the grid is used precisely once.

Even seasoned players may find this particular puzzle tough, but fear not! This guide is here to assist with valuable hints, spoilers, and detailed explanations.

New York Times Games Strands Puzzle #319 - January 16, 2025

The goal is to uncover five themed words and the Spangram within the grid. Ready to dive in?

General Puzzle Hints

• Hint 1: Think about tending a bar. What tasks might you perform?
• Hint 2: Consider what beverages are commonly served at bars.
• Hint 3: Focus on mixed drinks you’d order at a bar.

Spoilers for Two of the Words

If you'd like a nudge toward solving the puzzle, here are two of the answers along with their placements in the grid:

Spoiler 1

Spoiler 2

The Full Solution

Today’s theme revolves around Cocktails. The words to find are:

• Martini
• Zombie
• Sidecar
• Stinger
• Cosmopolitan

The Spangram completes the puzzle, using every letter exactly once.

Todays Strands Explained

Still stuck? Let’s break it down. The theme is Cocktails, hinted at by the clue "Bar Association." Each themed word represents a cocktail typically associated with bar culture.

Ready to play? Head over to the New York Times Games Strands website, accessible on nearly any device with a browser.