The May 2, 2025, NYT Strands puzzle (#425) uses the theme clue “What a trill!” Its spangram is SONGBIRDS, and the six other answers are WARBLER, LARK, SPARROW, WREN, CARDINAL and CHICKADEE. Start with the hints below if you want a nudge before seeing the complete solution.
Hints for NYT Strands on May 2, 2025
These clues move from least revealing to most revealing. Stop when you have enough to keep solving.
- Think about a sound associated with birds: a trill.
- The theme points to a kind of bird known for its song.
- The spangram names melodious masters of the sky.
Spoiler: the May 2 Strands spangram and answers
The full solution is below.
Spangram
SONGBIRDS
The nine-letter spangram runs from the left edge to the right edge of the grid, touching both sides at row three, according to TechRadar’s May 1, 2025, guide.
Other theme words
- WARBLER
- LARK
- SPARROW
- WREN
- CARDINAL
- CHICKADEE
The complete set contains seven answers including the spangram. The two contemporaneous solution guides agree on the set; their answer order differs, so no single sequence is presented here.
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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →What does “What a trill!” mean?
“Trill” is the bird-song clue: it points toward songbirds, which the spangram makes explicit. The theme words are all bird names.
Optional in-game hint words
In Strands, finding three valid words that are not part of the solution earns a hint that highlights a hidden answer. TechRadar lists these non-solution words for this grid: SEEK, CROWS, BIND, LAID, GLAD and SOCK.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How Strands works
Strands is a letter-grid word puzzle. Theme answers trace through vertically, horizontally or diagonally adjacent cells without reusing a cell; the spangram connects opposite sides of the grid and reveals the theme. These general mechanics are described in a 2026 FUN conference paper, rather than quoted from official NYT rules. TechRadar describes the game as playable on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile; availability and access rules can change.
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