NYT Strands, May 6, 2025: Spangram, hints, and answers to solve today’s puzzle

The latest edition of NYT Strands, the rising star in The New York Times' expanding suite of daily puzzles, offered players an intriguing challenge on Tuesday.

The May 6 game brought with it a clever theme, layered hints, and a Spangram that helped puzzle solvers unlock the grid’s secrets with a touch of logic and imagination.

NYT Strands: A Fresh Spin on Word Games

In a space already dominated by the likes of Wordle and Connections, the NYT Strands puzzle has carved a niche of its own.

Launched as part of the publisher’s growing "Games" portfolio, NYT Strands tasks players with identifying theme-based words hidden in a six-by-eight letter grid.

Each day’s puzzle features a central theme and a “Spangram” — a pivotal word or phrase stretching across the board, either vertically, horizontally, or diagonally.

This Spangram not only serves as a key visual anchor but also helps unlock the broader theme of the day’s word set.

Theme and Hints for May 6, 2025: “I’m in lobe”

On Tuesday, the NYT Strands Today challenge carried the cryptic theme "I’m in lobe", a title that subtly nudged players toward a specific part of the human body — the ear.

Those who interpreted the theme as referring to ear ornaments found the rest of the puzzle falling into place.

For those in need of guidance, two major hints were provided:

• Hint 1: A hanging decorative light with branches – leading to “CHANDELIER.”
  
• Hint 2: A droplet-shaped design, common in jewelry – pointing to “TEARDROP.”
  
  

These clues assisted many players in narrowing down the search area within the grid, gradually leading to thematic connections.

Strands Spangram for May 6

The critical Spangram for Tuesday’s puzzle was revealed to begin with “EA” and take a predominantly vertical path. The final answer: EARRINGS.

This term served as a central clue, connecting all other associated words in the puzzle and helping solvers grasp the broader motif — different types and styles of ear accessories.

Complete Word List: NYT Strands Answers for May 6

Upon solving the Spangram, the following themed words emerged from the grid:

• CUFF
  
• HOOP
  
• STUD
  
• PLUG
  
• CLIPON
  
• TEARDROP
  
• CHANDELIER
  

Each term relates to styles of earrings or ear adornments, offering a diverse reflection of jewelry fashion that matched the day’s theme.

FAQs

What is the goal of NYT Strands?

The goal is to complete the entire board by identifying all the theme words along with the spangram.

Is NYT Strands free?

Strands Unlimited offers endless gameplay of the popular daily NYT Strands Game, letting you enjoy unlimited word search puzzles at no cost.