Issue #472 Wed 18 Jun
NYT Strands Hints & Answer — June 18, 2025
A quiet Wednesday grid that calls for a bit of patience. Keep your eyes on the layout and trust the process.
Theme 3 reveals
Today's theme
Rain streaking the windowpane while the coffee goes cold in the mug.
States of human emotion
EMOTIONAL STATES OF LOW SPIRITS
Spangram 4 hints · 7 letters
The connector word
A single seven-letter noun.
7 letters.
Starts with S, ends with S.
SADNESS
Group hint 1 reveal
Show all starting letters
Starting letters
- 1 B (4 letters)
- 2 D (7 letters)
- 3 G (6 letters)
- 4 M (10 letters)
- 5 T (5 letters)
- 6 W (9 letters)
Group hint 1 reveal
Show the first two letters of each
First two letters
- 1 BL (4 letters)
- 2 DO (7 letters)
- 3 GL (6 letters)
- 4 ME (10 letters)
- 5 TE (5 letters)
- 6 WO (9 letters)
Theme word 1 of 6 5 hints · 4 letters
A theme word
What you might call the color of a winter sky just before dusk.
4 letters.
Starts with B.
Starts with BL.
BLUE
Theme word 2 of 6 5 hints · 7 letters
A theme word
The look on a hound dog that has been denied a treat.
7 letters.
Starts with D.
Starts with DO.
DOLEFUL
Theme word 3 of 6 5 hints · 6 letters
A theme word
The kind of weather that makes you want to stay under the covers all day.
6 letters.
Starts with G.
Starts with GL.
GLOOMY
Theme word 4 of 6 5 hints · 10 letters
A theme word
A long, slow afternoon spent listening to records in an empty house.
10 letters.
Starts with M.
Starts with ME.
MELANCHOLY
Theme word 5 of 6 5 hints · 5 letters
A theme word
The state of your eyes after finishing a particularly moving film.
5 letters.
Starts with T.
Starts with TE.
TEARY
Theme word 6 of 6 5 hints · 9 letters
A theme word
How you look when you realize you have forgotten your keys inside the apartment.
9 letters.
Starts with W.
Starts with WO.
WOEBEGONE
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
- BLUE
- DOLEFUL
- GLOOMY
- MELANCHOLY
- TEARY
- WOEBEGONE
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Strands on June 18, 2025. Every answer below helps you along without giving the game away — ready to see the full solution? See the complete Strands answer for June 18, 2025, or browse every Strands puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Strands on June 18, 2025?
NYT Strands on June 18, 2025 rates 3 out of 4 — a tougher-than-average puzzle. There are 6 theme words to find, plus the spangram that ties them together.
Where does the June 18, 2025 Strands spangram start?
The spangram is 7 letters long and stretches right across the board. It begins with the letter "S" — 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 June 18, 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 6 words? Open the answer section on this page.
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 6 theme words · 7-letter spangram
Today on Cluestand
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 6 theme words · 7-letter spangram