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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFor Sunday, August 18, 2024, NYT Strands game #168 has the theme clue “What do you make of this?” The spangram is ARTCLASS. Below are progressive hints first, followed by the complete answer list for anyone ready to see the solution.
Hints for Strands #168
Use these in order to reveal more of the board only as needed:
- Theme clue: “What do you make of this?”
- Words to find for the in-game hint system: CRUSH, BASS, BASIN, SALE, SEAL, VOTE.
- Spangram clue: “Artistic merit.”
- Spangram location: It starts on the right side in row 4 and ends on the left side in row 6.
Spoiler warning: full answers below
The solutions below are reported by TechRadar and independently matched by a third-party Strands archive; no official NYT puzzle page was identified in the available sources.
Theme words
- PAINT
- BRUSH
- CANVAS
- MOLD
- EASEL
- PALETTE
Spangram
ARTCLASS
Additional word in TechRadar’s answer list
CHARCOAL
How the answer lists differ
TechRadar lists seven non-spangram words—PAINT, BRUSH, CANVAS, MOLD, EASEL, PALETTE, and CHARCOAL—plus ARTCLASS as the spangram. The Strands Solution archive lists six theme words and the same spangram, without CHARCOAL in its theme-word list. The sources therefore use different categories or list scopes; CHARCOAL is included here as an additional word reported by TechRadar, not silently folded into the archive’s six-word set.
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Difficulty rating
TechRadar’s Marc McLaren described the puzzle as “Moderate” and reported “My score: Perfect.” Those are the author’s personal assessment and result, not an official NYT difficulty rating or a general player outcome.
Quick Recap
Sources
- TechRadar, Marc McLaren, “NYT Strands today — hints, answers and spangram for Sunday, August 18 (game #168),” published August 17, 2024.
- Strands Solution, “NYT Strands Answer Archive – Past Solutions & Hints by Date,” August 18, 2024 entry.
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