NYT Strands today — hints, spangram and answers for game #432 (Friday, May 9 2025)
Need help with Strands #432? Here are some hints and the answers

Need some assistance with NYT Strands today? Today's theme — "Outsiders" — isn't too tricky once you figure out its slightly cryptic meaning.
Below, we've compiled some useful hints for Strands #432, as well as the answers, should it come to that. We'll start off with some clues, before building up to the full answer for Strands #432, so read on if you need a little help.
Warning: Spoilers lie ahead for Strands #432.
Today's NYT Strands answer — Today's theme and hints
The official theme for NYT Strands #432 is... "Outsiders".
And here's an unofficial hint from me: "Battling the elements".
If you're still in the dark, here are some useful words to give you those valuable clue tokens:
- GATER
- LATER
- SHOE
- TIMER
- SHALL
- CREPE
- ROLE
- THRILL
Still struggling? The spangram will give you a hint about the connection word. Today, it starts with C and ends with R.
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Scroll down to find out what it is...
It's CAMPINGGEAR.
Today's Strands answers
So, what are today's Strands answers for game #432?
Drumroll, please...
- TENT
- BACKPACK
- GRILL
- LANTERN
- COOLER
- THERMOS
...and the spangram was CAMPINGGEAR
Strands #432
“Outsiders”
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Hi Strands fans. A one-word theme always makes rounds of Strands a little tricky to get started, and "Outsiders" was no exception.
That meant I ended up using a clue, and was instantly kicking myself. It revealed TENT - of course this was going to be about camping!
I found BACKPACK to its right (after incorrectly connecting "backpacking" first), and then the spangram of CAMPINGGEAR, which rather neatly made the shape of a tent in the middle of the board.
As someone who really dislikes camping, and has only ever agreed to it for music festivals, it was a bit of an uphill struggle for me, but I got through it without using any more clues. I found GRILL first, followered by LANTERN in the bottom-right corner.
I then spotted COOLER in the bottom-left corner, and that just left THERMOS in the middle of the board to complete the puzzle.
Yesterday's Strands answers
Reading this in a later time zone? You can find the full article on yesterday's Strands answers for game #431 right here.
Freelance contributor Alan has been writing about tech for over a decade, covering phones, drones and everything in between. Previously Deputy Editor of tech site Alphr, his words are found all over the web and in the occasional magazine too. When not weighing up the pros and cons of the latest smartwatch, you'll probably find him tackling his ever-growing games backlog. Or, more likely, playing Spelunky for the millionth time.
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