Need a bit of help with NYT Strands today? No shame in that, and you've come to the right place. Below, we've compiled some useful hints for Strands #858 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 #858, so read on if you need a little help.
Warning: Spoilers lie ahead for Strands #858.
Today's NYT Strands answer — Today's theme and hints
The official theme for NYT Strands #858 is... "On the lips".
And here's an unofficial hint from me: "Emphasizing that smile".
If you're still in the dark, here are some useful words to give you those valuable clue tokens:
- PURE
- TAILS
- BUMPS
- SILK
- NICER
- LAST
- NAILS
- MAKER
- BLISS
Still struggling? The spangram touches two opposite sides of the board (but can start and end anywhere), and will give you a hint about the connection between the answers. Today, it starts with 'K' and ends with 'P'.
Scroll down to find out what it is...
It's KISSANDMAKEUP.
Today's Strands answers
So, what are today's Strands answers for game #858?
Drumroll, please...
- STAIN
- STICK
- GLOSS
- LINER
- PLUMPER
- BALM
- TINT
...and the spangram was KISSANDMAKEUP.
Strands #858
“On the lips”
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Hi Strands fans. Nothing too taxing here. The theme of "On the lips" was pretty explicit in its meaning, and seemed sure to replace to lip cosmetics.
Sure enough, I duly connected STICK and STAIN along the top, with LINER and GLOSS below them.
I then found PLUMPER in the bottom-right corner, with BALM and TINT to its left.
That just left the spangram of KISSANDMAKEUP to connect in the middle of the board. Pleasingly, it was in the shape of a pair of lips, which is a nice touch.
Yesterday's Strands answers
Reading this in a later time zone? Here are the Strands answers for game #857.
- SCAMP
- RAPSCALLION
- HELLION
- WHIPPERSNAPPER
...and the spangram was LITTLEDEVIL.
Strands #857
“Here comes trouble”
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Hi Strands fans. "Here comes trouble" isn't the most obvious of themes, but when I found SCAMP written in the bottom-right corner, it instantly clicked.
I found RAPSCALLION to its left, and then stumbled upon HELLION spelt backwards in the middle of the board.
That cleared the path for the spangram of LITTLEDEVIL written across the middle of the board.
All that was left was to connect the final answer. WHIPPERSNAPPER was spelt out in the remaining letters at the very top of the board to complete the puzzle.
