For NYT Strands game #418, played Friday, April 25, 2025, the theme is “It’s in the stars.” Use the clues below before revealing the full solution: the words point to patterns and figures associated with the night sky.
Hints for Strands game #418
Hint 1
The theme is “It’s in the stars.”
Hint 2
Look for familiar names associated with constellations and figures in the night sky.
Hint 3
The spangram names the broader category that links the other words.
How the theme fits
The puzzle groups English labels for constellation-associated figures and patterns. TechRadar maps CROSS to Crux, DIPPER to Ursa Major, SWAN to Cygnus, MAIDEN to Virgo, HUNTER to Orion, and CENTAUR to Centaurus. Some of the puzzle’s short labels, especially “Dipper,” are familiar figure or pattern names rather than formal astronomical constellation names; players also debated the wording in contemporaneous discussion.
Spoiler warning: full answers
The complete set of theme answers is below. Coverage gives the words in differing orders, so this is the answer set rather than a claimed official sequence.
- Spangram: CONSTELLATIONS
- Other theme words: CROSS, DIPPER, SWAN, MAIDEN, HUNTER, and CENTAUR
How Strands hints work
In Strands, players find theme words on a letter grid; found words remain highlighted. Letters can be selected by dragging or tapping. The spangram describes the theme and connects opposite sides of the board, while three non-theme words unlock an in-game hint. Parade reproduces these mechanics as NYT rules; consult the live game for current official instructions.
For this puzzle, TechRadar lists CONE, SCONE, RENT, SWEET, CINEMA, and CAPER as non-theme words that can unlock hints. These are clue aids, not answers. It also reports that the 14-letter spangram runs from top to bottom in the first column.
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