Today’s Strands hints, with the full board still under control
Use this page when you want help with today’s NYT Strands puzzle without blowing past the solve. We start with the theme clue, add structure and helper nudges, and only open the spangram and solved grid when you explicitly ask for them.
Puzzle #1012 · 2026-06-11
Step through today’s Strands hints
Today's grid has 7 theme words and a 9-letter spangram. Category signal: Category List. Difficulty signal: Easy.
Layer 1Hint 1 – theme clue
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Hint 1 – theme clue
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Oozing
Layer 2Hint 2 – board structure
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Hint 2 – board structure
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This board is built around 7 themed answers plus a 9-letter spangram that ties the whole set together. Touches the top and bottom edges.
Use this layer when you want the structure of the board without seeing any exact answer paths yet.
Layer 3Hint 3 – starting letters
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Hint 3 – starting letters
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Here are the opening letters and broad board regions for each hidden answer, plus the opening letter of the spangram.
Theme word 1
Starts with B • top-left quadrant
Theme word 2
Starts with B • bottom band
Theme word 3
Starts with C • bottom-left quadrant
Theme word 4
Starts with C • top-right quadrant
Theme word 5
Starts with F • top-right quadrant
Theme word 6
Starts with S • bottom-right quadrant
Theme word 7
Starts with S • top band
Spangram
Starts with R • Touches the top and bottom edges
Layer 4Hint 4 – theme words
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Hint 4 – theme words
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Here are the exact theme answers without the board paths yet.
Layer 5Hint 5 – spangram
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Hint 5 – spangram
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RHYMETIME
Path: (1, 3) → (2, 3) → (3, 2) → (4, 1) → (5, 1) → (5, 2) → (6, 2) → (7, 3) → (8, 4)
Layer 6Hint 6 – solved grid
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Hint 6 – solved grid
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BLUES
(1, 2) → (2, 2) → (3, 1) → (2, 1) → (1, 1)
BREWS
(6, 3) → (5, 3) → (5, 4) → (6, 4) → (7, 4)
CHOOSE
(7, 2) → (8, 3) → (8, 2) → (8, 1) → (7, 1) → (6, 1)
CRUISE
(2, 5) → (3, 5) → (4, 4) → (4, 5) → (4, 6) → (3, 6)
FUSE
(2, 6) → (1, 6) → (1, 5) → (1, 4)
SCHMOOZE
(5, 6) → (6, 6) → (5, 5) → (6, 5) → (7, 5) → (8, 5) → (8, 6) → (7, 6)
SHOES
(2, 4) → (3, 4) → (4, 3) → (3, 3) → (4, 2)
Today's official puzzle is Jun 11, 2026 (2026-06-11). Theme clue: Oozing.
Date shown for
New York puzzle date
Spangram
9 letters
Reveal path
Clue → structure → spangram → grid
Strategy tip: start by scanning the outer edges and any unusual letter clusters. In Strands, the spangram usually gives you the cleanest route into the rest of the theme.
Want a different angle? Use the Strands spangram helper to focus on the bridge word, browse the theme explorer, or jump into the archive for past dates.
Also playing today's Connections or Wordle? The reveal flow stays gradual across all three.