Issue #475 Sat 21 Jun
NYT Strands Hints & Answer — June 21, 2025
A Saturday grid that asks for a bit of patience as the connections begin to emerge from the noise. Take your time with the intersections.
Theme 3 reveals
Today's theme
You open the kitchen drawer looking for a specific tool, but find only dust and a single bent paperclip.
Quantities and states of emptiness
ABSENCE OF VALUE
Spangram 4 hints · 11 letters
The connector word
A single, elongated compound word
11 letters.
Starts with D, ends with T.
DIDDLYSQUAT
Group hint 1 reveal
Show all starting letters
Starting letters
- 1 B (6 letters)
- 2 N (4 letters)
- 3 N (6 letters)
- 4 N (7 letters)
- 5 Z (4 letters)
- 6 Z (5 letters)
- 7 Z (5 letters)
Group hint 1 reveal
Show the first two letters of each
First two letters
- 1 BU (6 letters)
- 2 NA (4 letters)
- 3 NA (6 letters)
- 4 NO (7 letters)
- 5 ZE (4 letters)
- 6 ZI (5 letters)
- 7 ZI (5 letters)
Theme word 1 of 7 5 hints · 6 letters
A theme word
What you have in your pocket when you forget your wallet on a busy morning.
6 letters.
Starts with B.
Starts with BU.
BUPKIS
Theme word 2 of 7 5 hints · 4 letters
A theme word
The amount of progress made on a project that hasn't even been started yet.
4 letters.
Starts with N.
Starts with NA.
NADA
Theme word 3 of 7 5 hints · 6 letters
A theme word
A score of one hundred percent inverted.
6 letters.
Starts with N.
Starts with NA.
NAUGHT
Theme word 4 of 7 5 hints · 7 letters
A theme word
The contents of a box marked empty.
7 letters.
Starts with N.
Starts with NO.
NOTHING
Theme word 5 of 7 5 hints · 4 letters
A theme word
The starting point on a standard thermometer before the temperature drops.
4 letters.
Starts with Z.
Starts with ZE.
ZERO
Theme word 6 of 7 5 hints · 5 letters
A theme word
What you find when you look for a specific item and come up empty-handed.
5 letters.
Starts with Z.
Starts with ZI.
ZILCH
Theme word 7 of 7 5 hints · 5 letters
A theme word
A lighter that lacks the fuel to produce a flame.
5 letters.
Starts with Z.
Starts with ZI.
ZIPPO
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
- BUPKIS
- NADA
- NAUGHT
- NOTHING
- ZERO
- ZILCH
- ZIPPO
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Strands on June 21, 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 21, 2025, or browse every Strands puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Strands on June 21, 2025?
NYT Strands on June 21, 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 June 21, 2025 Strands spangram start?
The spangram is 11 letters long and stretches right across the board. It begins with the letter "D" — 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 21, 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 · 11-letter spangram
Today on Cluestand
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 7 theme words · 11-letter spangram