NYT Strands Today: Hints, Answers & Spangram for May 26, 2025 is game #449, themed Body language. The extra hint is “Communicating without making a sound,” the spangram is GESTURES, and the six other answers are HANDSHAKE, CURTSEY, KOWTOW, NAMASTE, SALUTE, and SHRUG.
This historical guide preserves spoiler control: begin with the theme, use the extra clue or first letters if needed, and open the clearly marked section for the complete answer list.
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Key takeaways
- The theme for NYT Strands game #449 on May 26, 2025, is Body language.
- The extra hint is Communicating without making a sound.
- The eight-letter spangram is GESTURES.
- The six other answers are HANDSHAKE, CURTSEY, KOWTOW, NAMASTE, SALUTE, and SHRUG.
- There are seven theme words in total when the spangram is included.
What is the theme for NYT Strands on May 26, 2025?
The theme for NYT Strands game #449, published on Monday, May 26, 2025, is Body language. The extra clue is Communicating without making a sound, pointing toward physical gestures used for greetings, respect, uncertainty, or acknowledgment.
This is a historical answer guide for the May 26, 2025 puzzle, so “today” refers to that original publication date rather than the current daily Strands game. The theme and solution set were cross-checked against TechRadar’s May 26 Strands guide, the Forbes puzzle guide, and Parade’s May 26 report.
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Which hint should you use first?
Start with Body language, then use Communicating without making a sound if the broad theme does not reveal enough. The first two letters of the seven answers provide a more specific clue without immediately giving away the words.
| Spoiler level | Clue | What it reveals |
|---|---|---|
| Theme | Body language | The answers are forms of nonverbal communication. |
| Extra hint | Communicating without making a sound | The words describe silent gestures and signals. |
| First letters | HA, CU, KO, GE, SA, NA, SH | The opening letters of all seven answers, including the spangram. |
| Spangram clue | Eight letters; mostly horizontal | The grid’s theme-defining word is GESTURES. |
| Full reveal | Answer list below | All six theme words and the spangram. |
The first-two-letter clues are reported in different reading orders by the published guides, but the set is the same: HA, CU, KO, GE, SA, NA, SH. The reported non-theme clue words that could unlock in-game hints were STEW, WORN, GROW, TEAK, TASTE, and WROTE.
What is the NYT Strands spangram for May 26, 2025?
The spangram for NYT Strands #449 is GESTURES. The word has eight letters and summarizes the puzzle’s body-language theme. The published grid descriptions place GESTURES mostly horizontally, touching the left side at approximately the fourth row and the right side at approximately the fifth row, according to TechRadar’s grid guidance. Forbes reported seven theme words including the spangram, while TechRadar reported the spangram’s eight-letter length.
Spoiler: What are all the answers for Strands #449?
Warning: the complete solution appears below. The six regular theme words are HANDSHAKE, CURTSEY, KOWTOW, NAMASTE, SALUTE, and SHRUG. GESTURES is the spangram. The full set is also confirmed by the Parade answer report and the Forbes solution list.
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|---|---|---|
| HANDSHAKE | Theme word | A greeting or acknowledgment made by clasping hands. |
| CURTSEY | Theme word | A formal lowering of the body traditionally used as a gesture of respect. |
| KOWTOW | Theme word | A gesture of deep respect or submission involving kneeling and bowing. |
| NAMASTE | Theme word | A greeting or gesture commonly represented by joining the palms, often with a slight bow. |
| SALUTE | Theme word | A gesture of respect or acknowledgment, often made with the hand. |
| SHRUG | Theme word | A shoulder movement commonly used to express uncertainty, indifference, or lack of knowledge. |
| GESTURES | Spangram | The broad category connecting all six theme words. |
The puzzle uses the spelling CURTSEY, not CURTSY. That exact spelling matters when entering or checking the answer.
How does NYT Strands work?
NYT Strands is a themed word-search game played on a six-by-eight letter grid. Players connect adjacent letters in any direction, including turns, to form words. Theme words are highlighted blue, while the spangram is highlighted yellow and connects two opposite sides of the board. Finding three valid non-theme words unlocks an in-game hint; the game format is summarized in Forbes’ explanation of the May 26 puzzle.
For this puzzle, the six regular answers all describe recognizable forms of body language, while GESTURES supplies the broad category that links them. If you are solving without spoilers, stop after the theme and extra hint; if you need only a nudge, use the first-two-letter list before opening the full answer table.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How difficult was the May 26 Strands puzzle?
TechRadar characterized the May 26, 2025 puzzle as Moderate and reported that its author solved it with one hint. That assessment belongs to TechRadar’s guide and should not be treated as an independent difficulty measurement. The answer set itself ranges from familiar words such as SALUTE and SHRUG to culturally specific terms such as KOWTOW and NAMASTE.
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May 26, 2025 Strands answer summary
NYT Strands #449 has the theme Body language, with the extra clue Communicating without making a sound. The spangram is GESTURES, and the six other answers are HANDSHAKE, CURTSEY, KOWTOW, NAMASTE, SALUTE, and SHRUG. Together, the solution contains seven theme words including the spangram.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NYT Strands spangram for May 26, 2025?
The NYT Strands spangram for May 26, 2025, game #449, is GESTURES. The eight-letter spangram describes the puzzle’s Body language theme and connects the other answers.
What are the six NYT Strands words besides the spangram?
The six NYT Strands theme words besides the spangram are HANDSHAKE, CURTSEY, KOWTOW, NAMASTE, SALUTE, and SHRUG. The puzzle has seven theme words in total when GESTURES is included.
Is the Strands answer CURTSEY or CURTSY?
The May 26, 2025, Strands answer is spelled CURTSEY. CURTSEY is the spelling used in the reported answer set, rather than CURTSY.
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Bottom line: The May 26, 2025 NYT Strands #449 theme is Body language, the spangram is GESTURES, and the six other answers are HANDSHAKE, CURTSEY, KOWTOW, NAMASTE, SALUTE, and SHRUG.
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