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Hints for Strands #298
- Theme clue: “Relative conjunction.”
- Gentle hint: Think of family members who might gather at an event.
- Spangram hint: It is a seven-letter gathering that brings a family together.
For progressively stronger nudges, WordHint’s date-specific guide gives starting letters and word lengths, while Parade’s guide offers first-two-letter clues. Those letter reveals can make the solution apparent.
Spoilers: the spangram and answers
Spangram: REUNION
The seven theme words are:
- AUNT
- COUSIN
- GRANDCHILD
- INLAW
- NEPHEW
- NIECE
- UNCLE
Some guides style the fourth word as IN-LAW; the answer is the same.
How Strands hints work
As described in Parade’s presentation of the New York Times instructions, theme words remain highlighted in blue, and players drag or tap letters to form them. The theme words fill the board without overlapping. The spangram describes the theme, touches two opposite sides of the board, and is highlighted yellow. Finding three non-theme words earns an in-game hint that reveals the letters of a theme word.
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WordHint describes the historical board as a 6-by-8 grid of 48 letters, with each letter used in one of the theme words. See its December 26, 2024 Strands page for that puzzle’s grid context.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the theme fits
AUNT, COUSIN, GRANDCHILD, INLAW, NEPHEW, NIECE, and UNCLE are family relationships; REUNION names the gathering that brings relatives together. The theme, spangram, and word list are also consistent with the independent Forbes guide for the December 26 game.
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