NYT Strands puzzle #473, dated Thursday, June 19, 2025, has the theme clue “Life is a highway.” Its spangram is ROAD TRIP, and the six theme words are SCENERY, GAMES, PLAYLIST, MOTEL, PHOTOS and AUDIOBOOK.
Hints for the June 19 Strands puzzle
If you want a nudge before seeing the complete answer, think of things you might encounter or bring along on a long drive. The theme clue, “Life is a highway,” points toward a road trip.
For a softer clue, Parade lists the initial pairs MO, AU, PL, PH, SC, GA and RO for the theme words and spangram. Another way to uncover a hint in the game is to find three non-theme words; Parade’s account of the New York Times instructions says each set of three earns a hint that reveals the letters of a theme word. Parade’s Strands hints describes the initial-pair approach, while its gameplay guide explains the hint mechanic.
Spoiler warning: full answers below
The following list gives the complete solution for Strands #473.
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Spangram
ROAD TRIP — some answer archives write it as ROADTRIP. The spangram runs from the bottom edge to the top edge of the board, touching opposite sides.
Six theme words
- SCENERY
- GAMES
- PLAYLIST
- MOTEL
- PHOTOS
- AUDIOBOOK
Why answer lists may differ
One answer page lists ATTRACTION and MUSIC, which conflicts with the six-word set above. TechRadar and the WordsRated archive give the same six answers, and players in the June 19 community discussion also refer to those words and the “Life is a highway” theme. The matching sources support SCENERY, GAMES, PLAYLIST, MOTEL, PHOTOS and AUDIOBOOK as the answer list for this date.
The cited solution guides are archived third-party answer pages, not an official New York Times answer record. TechRadar’s June 19 Strands guide and the WordsRated archive agree on the six theme words; a conflicting answer page gives a different pair.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How Strands hints and spangrams work
The New York Times game instructions, as quoted by Parade, say: “Find theme words to fill the board.” The spangram describes the puzzle’s theme and touches two opposite sides of the board; it can consist of two words. Finding three words that are not theme answers unlocks a hint revealing letters from a theme word. Parade’s description of the NYT Strands rules covers these mechanics.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsStrands is available through the NYT Games site or app, according to the cited answer guide. For this dated puzzle, the game number, date, theme and spangram are also listed by Try Hard Guides.
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