Issue #689 Thu 7 Aug
Strands hints — August 7, 2025
Wednesday puzzles require a particular kind of mental furniture. We provide the grid, but you supply the patience to see how these edges lock into place.
Theme 3 reveals
Today's theme
You grip the iron railing on the ferry deck as the Atlantic tosses the boat.
Maritime vocabulary and nautical terminology.
ANCHORING DEVICE OR SECURE GRIP
Spangram 4 nudges · 8 letters
The connector word
A single compound noun.
8 letters.
Starts with H, ends with T.
HOLDFAST
Group hint 1 reveal
Show all starting letters
Starting letters
- 1 C (8 letters)
- 2 D (7 letters)
- 3 F (4 letters)
- 4 S (5 letters)
- 5 S (6 letters)
- 6 U (10 letters)
Group hint 1 reveal
Show the first two letters of each
First two letters
- 1 CO (8 letters)
- 2 DE (7 letters)
- 3 FI (4 letters)
- 4 SO (5 letters)
- 5 ST (6 letters)
- 6 UN (10 letters)
Theme word 1 of 6 5 nudges · 8 letters
A theme word
A metronome ticking away in the corner of the music room.
8 letters.
Starts with C.
Starts with CO.
CONSTANT
Theme word 2 of 6 5 nudges · 7 letters
A theme word
The person who shows up for every single recital.
7 letters.
Starts with D.
Starts with DE.
DEVOTED
Theme word 3 of 6 5 nudges · 4 letters
A theme word
A handshake that makes you wince just a little.
4 letters.
Starts with F.
Starts with FI.
FIRM
Theme word 4 of 6 5 nudges · 5 letters
A theme word
A piece of timber that rings true when tapped with a hammer.
5 letters.
Starts with S.
Starts with SO.
SOUND
Theme word 5 of 6 5 nudges · 6 letters
A theme word
The slow, rhythmic pulse of a long-distance runner.
6 letters.
Starts with S.
Starts with ST.
STEADY
Theme word 6 of 6 5 nudges · 10 letters
A theme word
A gaze that refuses to look away during a difficult conversation.
10 letters.
Starts with U.
Starts with UN.
UNWAVERING