NYT Strands Hints and Answers for Friday, July 25, 2025 (Game #509)

Spoiler warning: This guide reveals the theme, spangram and every answer for the Friday, July 25, 2025 NYT Strands puzzle, game #509. It is not the separate July 25, 2026 puzzle, which is game #874.

What is today’s Strands theme?

The theme for the July 25, 2025 puzzle is “Step to it!” If you want a nudge before seeing the answers, the supplied starter-letter clues are TE, RE, CO, MU and CH for the theme words, plus DA for the spangram. The clues correspond to the answers below.

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What is the Strands spangram?

The spangram is DANCECLASS. It describes the puzzle’s dance-class theme and spans two opposite sides of the board.

What are today’s NYT Strands answers?

The complete answer list for game #509 is:

• TEACHER
• RECITAL
• COSTUME
• MUSIC
• CHOREOGRAPHY
• DANCECLASS (spangram)

How does NYT Strands work?

Strands is a digital letter-grid word game. Players drag or tap letters to form words; theme words turn blue when found. The spangram summarizes the theme and stretches between opposite sides of the board. According to Parade’s description of the New York Times game, finding three non-theme words earns an in-game hint that reveals letters in a theme word. Parade’s July 25, 2025 Strands guide provides the gameplay explanation and answer set.

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Which July 25 puzzle is this?

This guide is for Friday, July 25, 2025, NYT Strands game #509. The date alone can be confusing: the July 25, 2026 puzzle is a different game, #874. TechRadar’s 2025 guide confirms the 2025 theme and spangram, while its July 25, 2026 guide identifies the later puzzle as game #874.

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