NYT Strands Today July 12 (#861): NYT Strands has swiftly grown to be one of the most fascinating daily word games for players who love discovering concealed patterns in words. Created by The New York Times, the game is a fun combination of vocabulary, logic, and observation that provides a new challenge each day. In company of well-known games such as Wordle and Connections, NYT Strands keeps pulling millions of puzzle lovers. The puzzle for the July 12 (#861) was themed “In the Big Apple” and took players on a tour of various references of New York, culminating in the Spangram EMPIRESTATE.
What is NYT Strands?
NYT Strands is a word search game played on a daily basis that involves finding theme-oriented words within a matrix of letters where each puzzle features one unique word known as the Spangram that ties the whole theme together.
How to Play NYT Strands
- Find words related to the daily theme.
- Swipe letters to create complete words.
- Every theme word appears only once.
- Discover the hidden Spangram.
- The Spangram connects opposite sides of the board.
- Non-theme words help unlock additional hints.
- A new puzzle is released every day.
Today’s NYT Strands Words for July 12 (Sunday)
- STOOP
- BOROUGH
- BODEGA
- SUBWAY
- TAXI
- BAGEL
- DELI
- Spangram: EMPIRESTATE
Today’s NYT Strands Hints for July 12 (Sunday)
- Theme: In the Big Apple
- Hint words:
- GABLE
- WAXY
- GRIP
- TILED
- DATA
- HUGGER
How Many Letters Are in Today’s Spangram?
- Total letters: 11
- Spangram: EMPIRESTATE
What Two Sides of the Board Does Today’s Spangram Touch?
- Starts at the bottom (3rd column)
- Ends at the top (3rd column)
NYT Strands Answers for July 12 (#861)
- STOOP
- BOROUGH
- BODEGA
- SUBWAY
- TAXI
- BAGEL
- DELI
- Spangram: EMPIRESTATE
Yesterday’s NYT Strands Answers for July 11 (#860)
- CHEESE
- SOUP
- MILK
- TUNA
- PEPPER
- SALT
- NOODLES
- Spangram: CASSEROLE
Recent NYT Strands Answers
- July 10 (#859): WECANMAKEIT
- July 9 (#858): KISSANDMAKEUP
- July 8 (#857): LITTLEDEVIL
- July 7 (#856): IGETAROUND
- July 6 (#855): SUMMERTIME
- July 5 (#854): HUNTINGBREEDS
- July 4 (#853): FIREWORKS
- July 3 (#852): NOTBUDGING
- July 2 (#851): GETSAUCY
- July 1 (#850): TELLTALESIGN
What Does EMPIRESTATE Mean?
Empire State is the famous name for the state of New York while in this puzzle, it relates to the general topic of New York City landmarks, neighbourhoods, food and transportation.
Examples:
- “The Empire State is home to New York City, the largest city in the United States.”
- “Many visitors associate the Empire State with famous attractions like Times Square and the Statue of Liberty.”
Toughest Strands Puzzles
The difficulty of some Strands puzzles is increased by a reliance on culture-based themes, puns and long Spangrams. Some recent examples include WECANMAKEIT, KISSANDMAKEUP and EMPIRESTATE, which is today’s puzzle. In EMPIRESTATE, it took me longer to find the relationship than the actual words themselves.
Tips to Solve NYT Strands
- Read the daily theme carefully.
- Look for familiar word patterns first.
- Use non-theme words to unlock hints.
- Search around longer words.
- Save the Spangram for later if you’re stuck.
- Scan the entire board before guessing.
- Practice regularly to recognize recurring themes.
Why EMPIRESTATE Stumped Solvers
A number of the players recognized such words as SUBWAY, BAGEL and TAXI very quickly, although they failed to see how all of these could fit into one big picture. The Spangram of 11 letters needed a lot of space to be covered on the grid.
FAQ’s About NYT Strands
1. What is the Spangram?
It is the special word that connects the puzzle’s entire theme.
2. How often is NYT Strands updated?
A new puzzle is released every day.
3. Can players receive hints?
Yes. Finding enough non-theme words unlocks in-game hints.
4. Was today’s puzzle difficult?
Many players found the Spangram more challenging than the individual theme words.
5. What was today’s Spangram?
The Spangram for July 12 (#861) was EMPIRESTATE.
ALSO READ: NYT Connections Today, Sunday July 12: Check Smart Hints, Clues, Answers & How to Play (Game #1127)
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and summarizes the daily NYT Strands puzzle. NYT Strands is a product of The New York Times.
