Issue #655 Sun 6 Jul
Strands hints — July 6, 2025
A steady, methodical weekend grid that rewards a patient hand. The path forward reveals itself when you stop looking for the obvious.
Theme 3 reveals
Today's theme
You take the same route home and a single door is open that's never open.
Comic book tropes and archetypes
EXTRAORDINARY HUMAN ABILITIES
Spangram 4 nudges · 10 letters
The connector word
Single compound word
10 letters.
Starts with S, ends with R.
SUPERPOWER
Group hint 1 reveal
Show all starting letters
Starting letters
- 1 F (6 letters)
- 2 H (7 letters)
- 3 I (12 letters)
- 4 S (5 letters)
- 5 S (8 letters)
Group hint 1 reveal
Show the first two letters of each
First two letters
- 1 FL (6 letters)
- 2 HE (7 letters)
- 3 IN (12 letters)
- 4 SP (5 letters)
- 5 ST (8 letters)
Theme word 1 of 5 5 nudges · 6 letters
A theme word
A bird catching a thermal or a paper airplane held aloft by the living room draft.
6 letters.
Starts with F.
Starts with FL.
FLIGHT
Theme word 2 of 5 5 nudges · 7 letters
A theme word
The closing of a minor scrape after a long week of work.
7 letters.
Starts with H.
Starts with HE.
HEALING
Theme word 3 of 5 5 nudges · 12 letters
A theme word
Walking through a crowded room and having no one glance your way.
12 letters.
Starts with I.
Starts with IN.
INVISIBILITY
Theme word 4 of 5 5 nudges · 5 letters
A theme word
Whatever you set the night before is what gets you up — for better or worse.
5 letters.
Starts with S.
Starts with SP.
SPEED
Theme word 5 of 5 5 nudges · 8 letters
A theme word
Trying to pry open a jar lid that has been tightened by a machine.
8 letters.
Starts with S.
Starts with ST.
STRENGTH