Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThis is the January 10, 2026 NYT Strands puzzle, game #678—not the separate January 10, 2025 puzzle. The 2026 theme is “If not now, when?” The progressive clues below let you stop before the full answer reveal.
Hints for the January 10 Strands puzzle
Try the clues first if you want help without seeing the completed board. TechRadar reports the following words as ways to unlock in-game hints:
- SMELLY
- UNREAL
- LOVE
- CROW
- ROOM
- TURN
In Strands, finding three valid words that are not theme answers unlocks a hint highlighting one theme word, according to the third-party Strands.Game rules explainer.
Today’s theme and answer reveal
Reveal the theme words and spangram
Theme: “If not now, when?”
Theme words: SOON, EVENTUALLY, LATER, TOMORROW, SHORTLY.
Spangram: PROCRASTINATOR (14 letters).
What the spangram does
PROCRASTINATOR runs from the right edge at row 8 to the left edge at row 1, according to TechRadar’s answer page. A spangram names the puzzle’s theme and touches two opposite sides of the board.
Why the year matters
January 10 alone is ambiguous: a January 2025 archive lists a different puzzle for January 10, themed “They’re inseparable.” This article covers the 2026 puzzle, identified by TechRadar as game #678. The dated answer list is from a third-party page rather than a directly consulted NYT archive entry.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How Strands works
The Strands.Game rules explainer describes a 6×8 grid. Players connect letters horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, and may change direction while forming a word. The spangram identifies the theme and reaches two opposite sides; three valid non-theme words unlock a hint that highlights a theme answer.
TechRadar says a new puzzle appears daily for each time zone and points players to NYT Games. That timing can make the puzzle date appear differently depending on a player’s location.
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