The answer to NYT Strands puzzle #502 for Friday, July 18, 2025, is built around stage magic. The theme clue is “Abracadabra!” If you want to solve it yourself first, start with the gentle hint below; the spangram and full word list follow.
Hints for the July 18 Strands puzzle
The theme clue is “Abracadabra!” Forbes offers a more interpretive nudge: “Wands, Rabbits and Disbelief.” Together, they point toward familiar stage-magic effects without naming the answers.
In Strands, theme words are hidden in a six-by-eight letter grid, and the spangram connects opposite sides of the board. TechRadar lists these non-theme words as ways to unlock the in-game hint system: SORE, VILE, SPITE, SAILED, SLIP, and CAMP.
Spangram
ITSMAGIC (also written “ITS MAGIC”). It has eight letters and touches the left side of the grid at row four and the right side at row one, according to TechRadar.
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All Strands answers for July 18, 2025
Spoilers below. The five theme words are:
- ESCAPE
- LEVITATE
- MULTIPLY
- DISAPPEAR
- TRANSFORM
The words describe common stage-magic tricks and effects, as Forbes notes.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.About this puzzle
This is the archived Friday, July 18, 2025 edition, game #502. Strands is a word-search-style puzzle in which players find words linked by a theme and locate a spangram that spans opposite sides of the grid. TechRadar reported that the game could be played through NYT Games on desktop or mobile; access conditions for the live game may change.
Sources: TechRadar’s July 18, 2025 Strands guide and Forbes’ July 18, 2025 Strands guide.
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