The New York Times Strands puzzle for January 22, #690, challenged players with a theme of “Ode to Joy”. The puzzle requires uncovering hidden words that fit the theme, with a spangram (a word spanning the grid) as the final challenge.
Hints and Key Words
The puzzle’s theme, “Ode to Joy,” is a nod to feelings of happiness. To unlock in-game hints, players should start by finding words with four or more letters. Some examples that work include:
- BOLD
- HAVEN
- SIEVE
- YODEL
Finding three words of this length triggers a theme-related hint.
Complete Answers
The complete set of answers for today’s Strands puzzle includes:
- BLISS
- ECSTASY
- ELATION
- EUPHORIA
- RHAPSODY
Spangram Solution
The spangram for today’s puzzle is SEVENTHHEAVEN. Locate the letter “S” in the bottom left corner of the grid and follow the path to complete the word.
The Strands puzzle tests vocabulary and pattern recognition. The difficulty varies, with some themes proving particularly tough. Previous challenging topics included dated slang (“PHAT”) and marine biology terms (“BALEEN” or “RIGHT”).
