NYT Strands hints, answers for November 22, 2025
In today’s edition of the New York Times Strands, the word-search game takes a fun twist for college sports fans, focusing on the theme of “Ivy League” mascots. Strands challenges players to uncover words hidden in a grid by connecting letters in various directions—up, down, left, right, and diagonally. Unlike traditional word searches, the words can change direction, creating intricate patterns that make the game both engaging and mentally stimulating. Each letter in the grid is part of an answer, and players must decipher the theme linking the solutions. Today, the spangram—a special word or phrase that encapsulates the theme—is “Sports Team,” which is arranged vertically in the grid.
The word list for today’s puzzle includes notable college mascots such as Bulldogs, Bears, Tigers, Quakers, Crimson, and Lions, all of which are emblematic of various Ivy League schools and their athletic teams. This theme not only appeals to college sports enthusiasts but also provides an opportunity for players to engage with the rich traditions and identities of these institutions. The Strands game, with its unique format and emphasis on a cohesive theme, requires more time and thought compared to other popular games like Wordle and Connections, making it a perfect challenge for those looking to spend a leisurely 10 minutes or more on a brain-teaser.
For players who may find themselves stuck or pressed for time, the New York Times and platforms like Mashable offer hints and solutions to help navigate the puzzle. As the popularity of online word games continues to rise, Strands stands out by blending educational elements with entertainment, encouraging players to explore the world of college sports while sharpening their word-search skills. Whether you’re a die-hard fan of college athletics or simply enjoy word games, today’s Strands puzzle promises a delightful challenge that celebrates the spirit of competition and camaraderie found in collegiate sports.
Today’s NYT Strands hints are easy if you’re a college sports fan.
Strands
, the
New York Times
‘ elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There’s always a theme linking every solution, along with the “spangram,” a special, word or phrase that sums up that day’s theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.
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By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like
Wordle
and
Connections
.
If you’re feeling stuck or just don’t have 10 or more minutes to figure out today’s puzzle, we’ve got all the NYT Strands hints for today’s puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.
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Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 22, 2025
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NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 22, 2025
NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Ivy League
The words are related to colleges.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained
These words describe college mascots
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?
Today’s NYT Strands spangram is vertical.
NYT Strands spangram answer today
Today’s spangram is
Sports Team.
NYT Strands word list for November 22
Bulldogs
Bears
Tigers
Sports Team
Quakers
Crimson
Lions
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has more hints, a
nd if you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now!
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Not the day you’re after?
Here’s the solution to the latest Strands.
