Important: Strands #491 had two versions on July 7, 2025. The New York Times replaced the original summer-camp puzzle later that day with a pharmacy-aisle puzzle. Check the theme clue below to identify the board you saw; the answer sets are separated to avoid mixing them up. TechRadar and Forbes documented the change.
Replacement puzzle: “Prescriptions plus”
If your board’s theme clue was “Prescriptions plus,” you had the replacement puzzle. Here are graduated hints before the answers.
Hints
- A softer clue: From a site of “get well soon” cards and things that can help make that happen.
- Clue words: CORE, RAIN, NICE, SIDE, CITY, CASE.
- The spangram has 13 letters. It runs from the top edge at column one to the bottom edge at column six.
Answers
Spangram: PHARMACY AISLE
Other theme words: BEAUTY, HEALTH, GROCERY, VITAMINS, MEDICINE.
TechRadar’s July 7 guide gives the clue words and spangram route; Forbes’s updated guide includes an additional hint and first-letter pairs.
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If that was the theme clue on your board, you saw the original summer-camp version before it was replaced.
Hint
Where youngsters might spend their days at this time of year.
Answers
Spangram: SUMMER CAMP
Other theme words: CANTEEN, LODGE, FLAGPOLE, BUNK, FIELDHOUSE, LAKE.
Forbes preserves both sets of answers in its updated July 7 guide. Parade also lists the original answer set.
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Why July 7 has two answer sets
The July 7 board changed during the day: the NYT replaced the summer-camp version with the pharmacy-aisle puzzle. TechRadar reports that the paper apologized and updated its guide; Forbes’s page also notes the replacement and retains the original answers. The NYT editor’s note reproduced by TechRadar says themes and boards are created and scheduled weeks in advance. The dated guides document the change, though they are not an official NYT archive of the board.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How Strands hints and spangrams work
Strands is a word search on a letter grid. Connect letters horizontally, vertically, or diagonally to form words; a word may change direction partway through. Find three valid non-theme words of at least four letters to unlock a hint that highlights the letters of a theme word. The spangram describes the theme and touches opposite sides of the board. Forbes explains these mechanics in its July 7 guide.
Quick Recap
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