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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchSpoilers follow. For Thursday, May 22, 2025, NYT Strands game #445 had the theme “Keeping an eye on things.” The spangram was TAKE CARE, and the five regular answers were STEWARD, GUARDIAN, PROTECTOR, CUSTODIAN, and TRUSTEE. Progressive hints appear before the full reveal.
Warning: spoilers follow. The New York Times Strands puzzle for Thursday, May 22, 2025 was game #445. Its theme was “Keeping an eye on things”. If you only want a nudge, start with the hints below; the complete spangram and answer list appear farther down.
Theme hint: “Keeping an eye on things”
Think about people who look after, supervise, protect, maintain, or accept responsibility for someone or something. The theme is about roles involving care and responsibility, rather than a particular fictional universe, profession, or named organization.
Progressive hints for Strands #445
Gentle hint
Each regular answer is a noun for someone entrusted with watching over, protecting, maintaining, or managing something.
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Stronger hint
The six non-theme clue words reported for this puzzle were STRUT, NEED, CRUDE, CURSE, DINE, and TRAP. They are not answers in the theme category, but finding them can help you earn in-game hints.
Spangram hint
The spangram is an eight-letter phrase when its space is removed. It begins with “TA” and runs mostly vertically on the board, stretching between the upper and lower portions of the grid.
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May 22 Strands spangram
TAKE CARE
The spangram summarizes the puzzle’s idea: taking responsibility for someone or something, protecting it, and making sure it is looked after.
Full answer list for NYT Strands May 22, 2025
- STEWARD
- GUARDIAN
- PROTECTOR
- CUSTODIAN
- TRUSTEE
What the five answers mean
| Answer | How it fits the theme |
|---|---|
| STEWARD | A person trusted to manage, care for, or oversee something. |
| GUARDIAN | Someone responsible for protecting or caring for another person or thing. |
| PROTECTOR | Someone who shields, defends, or keeps another person or thing safe. |
| CUSTODIAN | A person responsible for maintaining or looking after a place, property, or responsibility. |
| TRUSTEE | Someone entrusted with property, money, an organization, or another responsibility. |
The connection is semantic: all five words describe people who have been given some form of care, protection, supervision, maintenance, or responsibility.
How the Strands board works
Strands presents a six-by-eight grid of letters. You trace adjacent letters to form words, and the letters can bend and turn as you move across the board. The themed answers fill the board without reusing letters, while one special word or phrase—the spangram—summarizes the theme.
A spangram reaches between opposite sides of the board. In this puzzle, TAKE CARE was mostly vertical, beginning near the top of the grid and finishing near the bottom. Exact descriptions of its endpoint geometry vary slightly, but its long vertical path and opening letters “TA” provide useful confirmation once you are close.
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Optional extra puzzles
If you enjoy the daily game and want a screen-free collection of related puzzles, the NYT Games Puzzle Mania book is a physical New York Times Games collection that includes Strands among its represented games. It should be treated as additional NYT-style puzzle material—not as a guaranteed replay of the May 22, 2025 Strands board. Check the current edition and availability before buying.
Quick recap
- Date: Thursday, May 22, 2025
- Strands number: #445
- Theme: “Keeping an eye on things”
- Spangram: TAKE CARE
- Answers: STEWARD, GUARDIAN, PROTECTOR, CUSTODIAN, and TRUSTEE
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the spangram for NYT Strands on May 22, 2025?
The spangram was TAKE CARE. It was mostly vertical on the board and matched the puzzle’s theme of looking after or protecting someone or something.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsWhat were the answers to Strands on May 22, 2025?
The five regular answers were STEWARD, GUARDIAN, PROTECTOR, CUSTODIAN, and TRUSTEE.
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What was the theme of Strands game #445?
The theme was “Keeping an eye on things.” The answers were all roles involving care, protection, supervision, maintenance, or entrusted responsibility.
The Bottom Line
The May 22, 2025 NYT Strands theme was “Keeping an eye on things.” The spangram was TAKE CARE, and the five themed answers were STEWARD, GUARDIAN, PROTECTOR, CUSTODIAN, and TRUSTEE.
Quick Recap
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