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Spoiler warning: This page gives progressively stronger hints for the January 3, 2025, NYT Strands puzzle, game #306. Stop after the section you need if you want to keep the full answer list hidden.
Theme hint
The theme is “On auto.” Think about parts found on the outside of a car.
Clue words
The guide’s spoiler-light clue words are RULER, ROPE, SIDE, HIDE, DRAG, and BURN. Finding three non-theme words earns an in-game hint, according to an independent Strands mechanics guide.
Spangram hint and position
The spangram hint is “Vehicle parts.” A spangram describes the theme and stretches between two opposite sides of the board. For this puzzle, the answer guide places its endpoints on the right and left edges, both in row 5.
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#1 Best Overall
Full answer list
Stop here if you do not want the answers revealed.
- DOOR
- HOOD
- TRUNK
- MIRROR
- BUMPER
- GRILLE
- WINDSHIELD
The spangram is CAR BODY (shown as two words in the guide). The January archive lists seven theme words and a seven-letter spangram.
Sources and verification
The dated answer guide was published January 3, 2025, and the January archive independently corroborates the date, theme, and answer count. The official NYT game page was not accessible for checking an archived board, so this answer list is attributed to those guides rather than presented as a direct verification against the original grid. The available text reports the spangram endpoints but does not document a complete letter-by-letter path.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 48 New York Times crossword puzzles & solutions printed on quality paper
- Easy to turn Roll-A-Puzzle System
- Storage drawer for pencils & a built-in pencil sharpener
- Easy to open for inserting puzzle refills
- Multiple refills available
Rank #4
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