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Saturday, January 18, 2025, is NYT Strands puzzle #321. Its theme clue is “O ___! My ___!” If you want to solve it yourself, start with the hints below and stop before the answer reveal.
Hints for Strands #321
Start with the theme
Think of a phrase that expresses surprise or alarm. The missing words point toward a well-known kind of leader.
Clue words
These words can help you uncover letters on the board without revealing the complete theme set: READ, BISON, PANT, NUDE, ANGER, and TORA.
First-letter pairs
If you need a stronger nudge, the theme words begin with PL, CR, KA, HO, UN, and OB. The spangram begins with CA.
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Spangram hint
The spangram is a leader of the gang. On the board, it runs from the left edge in the sixth row to the right edge in the fifth row.
Strands #321 answer reveal
Spangram: CAPTAIN
Theme words: PLANET, CRUNCH, KANGAROO, HOOK, UNDERPANTS, and OBVIOUS.
Why those words fit the clue
Read the theme clue as the familiar exclamation “O Captain! My Captain!” CAPTAIN supplies the central connection; the six remaining answers complete this puzzle’s themed set. The hint progression above is intended to let you uncover as much—or as little—as you want before seeing the full list.
How Strands hints work
Strands is a word-search-style game played on a six-by-eight grid. Letters can connect horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Theme words share a connection, and the spangram expresses that connection while touching at least two sides of the board. Finding three valid non-theme words of four or more letters unlocks a hint that highlights one theme word. These mechanics are useful context for this puzzle, not additional answers to it.
Sources
- TechRadar’s January 18, 2025 guide to Strands #321
- Forbes’ January 17, 2025 guide for the following day’s puzzle
- Try Hard Guides’ January 17, 2025 answer page for #321
The listed answer set and puzzle details are reported by independent dated guides; the official NYT Strands page was not available for direct confirmation.
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