Today's NYT Strands Puzzle: Hints, Spangram And Answers For Wednesday, July 2nd
Looking for Tuesday's Strands hints, spangram and answers? You can find them here:
Odin's Day is here, which means over in my Wordle Wednesday guide, there's a special riddle to solve. I don't do those for Strands since I don't write the Strands guide every week, but if you play Wordle and want an extra puzzle today, head over to my blog. In the meantime, we have some Strands words to uncover.
Strands is the newest game in the New York Times' stable of puzzle games. It's a fun twist on classic word search games. Every day we're given a new theme and then tasked with uncovering all the words on the grid that fit that theme, including a spangram that spans two sides of the board. One of these words is the spangram which crosses from one side of the grid to another and reveals even more about the day's theme.
Spoilers ahead.
Today's Strands Hints
Read on for today's theme and some hints to help you uncover today's words. Instead of giving you the first two letters of each word, today I'm giving out three hints instead of two.
Today's Theme: This is for the birds
FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™
Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase
Pinpoint By Linkedin
Guess The Category
Queens By Linkedin
Crown Each Region
Crossclimb By Linkedin
Unlock A Trivia Ladder
Hint: Things birds gather.
Clue: Then use for avian construction projects.
Here are the first two letters of each word:
Remember, spoilers ahead!
What Are Today's Strands Answers?
Today's spangram is: NESTINGMATERIAL
Here's the full list of words:
Here's the completed Strands grid:
Today's Strands
Lots of words in this one, though none of them particularly difficult. And the spangram—NESTINGMATERIAL—kind of looks like a next, or perhaps a golden chalice. I found a couple bird-like words early on, such as fowl, but those were no good. As I started getting answers like LEAF and WOOL and TWIG it began to occur to me that all of these were things birds used to make nests. Once I had that in mind it became much easier to track down the rest.
How did you do on your Strands today? Let me know on Twitter and Facebook.
Be sure to check out my blog for my daily Wordle guides as well as all my other writing about TV shows, streaming guides, movie reviews, video game coverage and much more. Thanks for stopping by!
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Tom Cruise Accused Of Having 'Play-Doh Face' As Film Critic Rips Actor's Seemingly Changing Appearance
Actor and film critic Jonathan Ross has weighed in on Tom Cruise's noticeably younger look amid rumors the actor has undergone surgery. Ross seems to believe the speculation, saying the "Mission: Impossible" star has "got that kind of Play-Doh face." Meanwhile, a medical expert has stated that Tom Cruise most likely didn't get surgery but instead looks like "he has lost a lot of weight," as well as cut down on his alcohol and carb intake. Jonathan Ross recently took a jab at Tom Cruise over his changing appearance, fueling speculation about possible surgery. The "Top Gun" star was plagued by rumors that he had undergone plastic surgery to achieve a much younger look following his Super Bowl appearance earlier this year. In the latest episode of his "Reel Talks" podcast, Ross expressed his opinion on Cruise while talking about Brad Pitt and his new movie "F1." He stated that Cruies "doesn't look like him anymore," comparing his new look to that of Brad Pitt. "You've probably seen the poster around town - it's Brad Pitt looking incredible," the TV presenter said, per the Daily Mail. "He has aged remarkably because even though Tom Cruise still looks good for his age, you can see there's been a bit of tweaking going on there, you know." "He's definitely got a ton of filler in that face, I'm sure. Yeah, I've met him up close. I like Tom, he's a really nice man when you meet him," Ross continued. "He's got that kind of Play-Doh face that people get when they have a lot of filler." Cruise remains one of the most charming Hollywood actors, but throughout his career, he has had to deal with rumors that he enhanced his looks. The actor was suspected to have gotten fillers in his face and used Botox to freeze his facial muscles in the past. However, in his conversation on the podcast, Ross said he wished the actor hadn't done it, as his previous appearance seemingly looks better than now. "To be honest, I wish he hadn't done it cos he's got such a great face, he was a naturally very handsome man when young, and he would be a handsome man when older," he said. "He's still… he's not unattractive, but it doesn't look that much like him anymore. You can see it doesn't look natural." "It's not because they don't look their age, it's because the shape of the face now looks somewhat different," Ross added. A plastic surgeon recently addressed the rumors about Cruise's face, telling the Daily Mail that the actor most likely didn't undergo surgery. Dr Kahn explained: "I still say that does not look like he has had any plastic surgery. It actually looks like he has lots a ton of weight and been working out more. He also has a nice summer tan going on." The expert said Cruise "was a bit puffy" before, but "that is gone now," going on to suggest the actor possibly had a Microdermabrasion. "It's a simple procedure that yields great results," he said. Microdermabrasion is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure that uses a special instrument to gently exfoliate and remove the top layer of dead skin cells (the stratum corneum) from the skin. It is a go-to procedure for addressing photoaging, striae, melasma, and scars. It's often referred to as a "skin polishing" treatment. While fans and critics continue to speculate on whether Cruise has undergone plastic surgery, one thing is sure: he's in top shape, especially for his demanding movie roles. In an interview with Empire magazine, the actor revealed that he endured intense physical strain while filming a high-stakes underwater scene for "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning." During the sequence, Cruise's character, Ethan Hunt, explores a sunken submarine inside an 8.5 million-liter water tank mounted on a rotating gimbal, allowing the set to move on command. Wearing a specially designed suit and mask, Cruise could only stay in the gear for 10 minutes at a time before experiencing hypoxia, a condition characterized by oxygen deprivation that affects the muscles. "I'm breathing in my own carbon dioxide," Cruise explained, per Variety. "It builds up in the body and affects the muscles. You have to overcome all of that while you're doing it, and be present." Meanwhile, Cruise has been going out of his way to impress his love interest, Ana De Armas, with new reports suggesting he wants to make her his "future wife." The pair have grown closer to each other and have been pictured out and about on several occasions. A source told Radar Online that Cruise has been picturing a "future" with her and has made the actress the "center of his world" in his attempts to win her heart. He has reportedly created a personalized perfume for her, specifically designed to match her skin perfectly. "Tom is renowned for being relentless in everything he does, and wowing women is no different," the insider said. "He is eyeing Ana as a future wife and has been going all-out to wow her, from private jet trips to putting her up in the best suites." "But his latest gift is his most personal yet," the source continued, adding that the actor "is intent on making everything as lavish and over-the-top as possible for Ana." The source added that Cruise gave it to her in a hand-blown pink Murano glass, along with a handwritten note and hundreds of orchids. Neither Cruise nor de Armas has addressed rumors of a budding romance.
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Sophie Cunningham's Twerk Goes Viral After Fever's Historic Commissioner's Cup Victory
The Indiana Fever just made franchise history, but all eyes were on Sophie Cunningham's postgame celebration. After the Fever's stunning 74–59 win over the Minnesota Lynx in the 2025 Commissioner's Cup final, Fever reserve guard Sophie Cunningham decided to cap the night with some dance-floor flair. As her teammates rejoiced on the court and posed with the hardware, Cunningham turned her back to the camera, dropped low, and gave the lockeroom and Instagram Live a twerk, a brief but instantly viral moment that ignited a social media firestorm. Some fans were all for it. Others, not so much. Indiana's win was dominant and, more importantly, gritty. With All-Star point guard Caitlin Clark sitting out her third straight game due to a groin ailment, the Fever trailed by 13 early in the second quarter. Instead of collapsing, they flipped the switch. The Fever closed the first half on a merciless 18–0 run, turning a 27–14 deficit into a 32–27 lead at halftime and silencing the Minnesota home fans. From there, it was the Fever's game. The Fever's lead grew to 14 in the third quarter, and Minnesota was able to get no closer than six points of catching up again. Indiana's defense stifled the Lynx, holding them to 34.9% shooting and forcing 16 turnovers. Seasoned Indiana forward Natasha Howard was the unanimous Cup final MVP with 16 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, and two steals. All-Star center Aliyah Boston was similarly effective at 12 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. Cunningham started hot off the bench to provide a clutch jolt: 13 points, seven rebounds, and three threes. But for many fans watching the game or catching the highlights online, the storyline pivoted from gritty defense to cheeky dancing. Sophie Cunningham's postgame twerk didn't last more than a few seconds, but it was long enough for the internet to divide into camps. On X (formerly Twitter), one fan gushed, 'Sophie so cute.' Another simply wrote, 'Sophie Cunningham. That's the tweet.' And of course, someone threw their support behind her completely: 'My fav WNBA player.' Yet the celebration had its fair share of detractors and skeptics. One unimpressed viewer wrote: 'ZERO motion back there. Embarrassing for an athlete.' Another took issue with the entire concept: 'Why is this the go-to for so many women? I don't get it. No matter what happens they have to do this dumb shit.' Another tweet, dripping with sarcasm, read: 'Was the twerking in the room with us..' Still, others were more playful: 'That little thing moving.' And of course, no social media moment is complete without someone shooting their shot: 'I would treat her so well man.' But the sentiment that seemed to dominate the viral moment? 'Sophie for the culture!' Though the Commissioner's Cup is technically a midseason competition and doesn't affect regular-season standings, the win and the $500,000 prize pool that came with it signal a culture shift for Indiana. The Fever are no longer the rebuilding team anchored solely by Caitlin Clark's spotlight. They are a As for Sophie Cunningham, the 28-year-old Missouri alum might not have led the team in scoring, but she certainly led the postgame conversation. The seven-year WNBA veteran has always brought energy and edge to the court, and now, apparently, to the dance floor too. Head coach Stephanie White was all business postgame. 'We have a resilient group,' White told reporters. 'They're tough – mentally, pull for one another… It's nice to take a trophy home, but this isn't the ultimate goal. It's a goal. And we've got to continue to get better.' The Fever turn their attention back to the regular season now. They begin a five-game home stand on Thursday by hosting the Las Vegas Aces at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Attendance will be watched closely, both for the game itself and the postgame celebration. Sophie Cunningham's twerking viral moment may have divided folks, but here's something that's not debatable: in a league still fighting for relevance in the mainstream, she made sure the Fever's win was not overlooked. And in 2025, half the game at times. The post Sophie Cunningham's Twerk Goes Viral After Fever's Historic Commissioner's Cup Victory appeared first on Where Is The Buzz | Breaking News, Entertainment, Exclusive Interviews & More.
Vogue
34 minutes ago
- Vogue
The Resort 2026 Trend Report: 11 Ways to Dress for Success in a Chaotic World
'Repetition is more the norm than innovation,' wrote Ross Douthat in The Decadent Society, and the 2026 resort collections seem to bear out this assertion. A survey of about 120 collections finds the wheel of fashion turning at a moderate, perhaps more realistic, pace. Wearing a garment just once is a kind of sartorial debauchery that the industry and the earth can no longer sustain. Also: absolutism in fashion seems to be a thing of the past. Among the 11 trends identified here, four—sports, utility, tailoring, and pajama dressing—build on tendencies that have been around for a season or two. The return to a skinny pants silhouette is newsworthy, but it should be noted that designers haven't abandoned trousers with more generous mall-rat proportions. Similarly, while the Roman Holiday-style circle skirt looks fresh to the eye, pencil skirts are also on offer. Chaos is a word that came up more than once in the season's reviews and some of the trends read as reactions to that feeling of unrest. You could hide under the covers in chic street-ready pajamas, but instead why don't you look… like you mean business in a dandified three-piece suit, run circles around your adversaries in sports-inflected looks, stun the crowds in wet-look sequins, don leather like soft armor, and act the superhero in a cape? Prettily taking the edge of things are Impressionistic colors and prints, while back details offer a 360° perspective. Overall, the 2026 resort season as a whole feels both well-rounded and even keeled, so that you can best navigate the extremes of the world. Round and Round: Take a Circle Skirt for a Whirl Designers summoned the charm of the 1950s—and Roman Holiday—with circle skirts, which fall in soft drapes when not flaring in movement.
