Issue #74 Thu 16 May
NYT Strands Hints & Answer — May 16, 2024
A steady hand and a patient eye are usually enough to navigate the grid. Today brings a few obstacles that require looking past the obvious surface of the board.
Theme 3 reveals
Today's theme
The way a single drop of something potent changes the entire character of a pot of soup.
Sensory perception of food
DISTINCT SENSORY PROFILES
Spangram 4 hints · 7 letters
The connector word
Single word noun
7 letters.
Starts with F, ends with S.
FLAVORS
Group hint 1 reveal
Show all starting letters
Starting letters
- 1 B (6 letters)
- 2 P (7 letters)
- 3 S (5 letters)
- 4 S (4 letters)
- 5 S (5 letters)
- 6 S (5 letters)
- 7 T (4 letters)
- 8 U (5 letters)
Group hint 1 reveal
Show the first two letters of each
First two letters
- 1 BI (6 letters)
- 2 PI (7 letters)
- 3 SA (5 letters)
- 4 SO (4 letters)
- 5 SP (5 letters)
- 6 SW (5 letters)
- 7 TA (4 letters)
- 8 UM (5 letters)
Theme word 1 of 8 5 hints · 6 letters
A theme word
A dark roast or an untended dandelion green leaves this lingering, sharp impression on the tongue.
6 letters.
Starts with B.
Starts with BI.
BITTER
Theme word 2 of 8 5 hints · 7 letters
A theme word
The kind of lively, tongue-tingling sensation you get from a well-made mustard or a dash of hot sauce.
7 letters.
Starts with P.
Starts with PI.
PIQUANT
Theme word 3 of 8 5 hints · 5 letters
A theme word
What remains on the lips after a swim in the ocean or eating a handful of potato chips.
5 letters.
Starts with S.
Starts with SA.
SALTY
Theme word 4 of 8 5 hints · 4 letters
A theme word
The sharp reaction your face makes when you bite into a lemon wedge.
4 letters.
Starts with S.
Starts with SO.
SOUR
Theme word 5 of 8 5 hints · 5 letters
A theme word
The heat that builds in the back of your throat after eating a habanero pepper.
5 letters.
Starts with S.
Starts with SP.
SPICY
Theme word 6 of 8 5 hints · 5 letters
A theme word
The quality of a ripe peach or a spoonful of honey.
5 letters.
Starts with S.
Starts with SW.
SWEET
Theme word 7 of 8 5 hints · 4 letters
A theme word
A bright, stinging quality often found in green apples or cranberries.
4 letters.
Starts with T.
Starts with TA.
TART
Theme word 8 of 8 5 hints · 5 letters
A theme word
The deep, savory, and meaty depth found in aged parmesan or mushrooms.
5 letters.
Starts with U.
Starts with UM.
UMAMI
Spoiler zone
Complete Strands answer
Open only the solution you want to see. Each answer stays hidden until you choose to reveal it.
Reveal the spangram
Reveal all theme words
- BITTER
- PIQUANT
- SALTY
- SOUR
- SPICY
- SWEET
- TART
- UMAMI
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Strands on May 16, 2024. Every answer below helps you along without giving the game away — ready to see the full solution? See the complete Strands answer for May 16, 2024, or browse every Strands puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Strands on May 16, 2024?
NYT Strands on May 16, 2024 rates 3 out of 4 — a tougher-than-average puzzle. There are 8 theme words to find, plus the spangram that ties them together.
Where does the May 16, 2024 Strands spangram start?
The spangram is 7 letters long and stretches right across the board. It begins with the letter "F" — the hints above ease you toward the rest one step at a time, without spelling it out.
What is the theme of NYT Strands on May 16, 2024?
We keep the theme under wraps here so nothing is spoiled — but the ladder above walks you into it, starting with the puzzle's overall vibe. Want it stated outright, with the spangram and all 8 words? Open the answer section on this page.
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 8 theme words · 7-letter spangram
Today on Cluestand
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 8 theme words · 7-letter spangram