Issue #440 Sat 17 May
NYT Strands Hints & Answer — May 17, 2025
Saturday brings a court-focused grid for the patient solver. Take your time navigating the layout.
Theme 3 reveals
Today's theme
The hollow thud of rubber on hardwood, followed by the dry metallic rattle of a net.
Professional sports leagues
TOP TIER PROFESSIONAL ATHLETIC TEAMS
Spangram 4 hints · 10 letters
The connector word
A compound single word
10 letters.
Starts with B, ends with L.
BASKETBALL
Group hint 1 reveal
Show all starting letters
Starting letters
- 1 D (5 letters)
- 2 F (5 letters)
- 3 L (7 letters)
- 4 L (4 letters)
- 5 M (7 letters)
- 6 S (5 letters)
- 7 W (5 letters)
Group hint 1 reveal
Show the first two letters of each
First two letters
- 1 DR (5 letters)
- 2 FE (5 letters)
- 3 LI (7 letters)
- 4 LY (4 letters)
- 5 ME (7 letters)
- 6 ST (5 letters)
- 7 WI (5 letters)
Theme word 1 of 7 5 hints · 5 letters
A theme word
A goal you keep chasing long after you wake up.
5 letters.
Starts with D.
Starts with DR.
DREAM
Theme word 2 of 7 5 hints · 5 letters
A theme word
A high temperature that makes the night feel endless.
5 letters.
Starts with F.
Starts with FE.
FEVER
Theme word 3 of 7 5 hints · 7 letters
A theme word
The statue standing watch in the harbor.
7 letters.
Starts with L.
Starts with LI.
LIBERTY
Theme word 4 of 7 5 hints · 4 letters
A theme word
A wild cat with tufted ears prowling the northern woods.
4 letters.
Starts with L.
Starts with LY.
LYNX
Theme word 5 of 7 5 hints · 7 letters
A theme word
The silver liquid metal that climbs the glass in a thermometer.
7 letters.
Starts with M.
Starts with ME.
MERCURY
Theme word 6 of 7 5 hints · 5 letters
A theme word
A heavy downpour that leaves the roads slick for hours.
5 letters.
Starts with S.
Starts with ST.
STORM
Theme word 7 of 7 5 hints · 5 letters
A theme word
The feathery appendages that allow a bird to take flight.
5 letters.
Starts with W.
Starts with WI.
WINGS
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
- DREAM
- FEVER
- LIBERTY
- LYNX
- MERCURY
- STORM
- WINGS
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Strands on May 17, 2025. Every answer below helps you along without giving the game away — ready to see the full solution? See the complete Strands answer for May 17, 2025, or browse every Strands puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Strands on May 17, 2025?
NYT Strands on May 17, 2025 rates 3 out of 4 — a tougher-than-average puzzle. There are 7 theme words to find, plus the spangram that ties them together.
Where does the May 17, 2025 Strands spangram start?
The spangram is 10 letters long and stretches right across the board. It begins with the letter "B" — 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 17, 2025?
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 7 words? Open the answer section on this page.
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 7 theme words · 10-letter spangram
Today on Cluestand
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 7 theme words · 10-letter spangram