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NYT Crossword: January 8, 2025 Hints & Answers

Authore: IsabellaUpdate:Mar 13,2025

Strands is a challenging word puzzle game. You're given a jumble of letters and a single clue. Your mission? Uncover the theme, find all the themed words, and locate them within the letter grid. Today's puzzle, however, presents a tougher-than-usual challenge, with tricky words and a less-than-helpful hint.

Need a hand? This article provides plenty of assistance.

NYT Games Strands Puzzle #311, January 8, 2025

Strands Puzzle

Today's Strands puzzle features the clue "Time for an Upgrade." Six words need to be found: a pangram and five themed words.

New York Times Games Strands Clues

Seeking spoiler-free hints? Each section below offers a clue without revealing any puzzle words, but will nudge you closer to the theme.

General Hint 1

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Hint 1: Redo a part of your home.

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General Hint 2

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Hint 2: Revamp your food-making room.

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General Hint 3

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Hint 3: Upgrades you might make to your food-making room.

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Spoilers for Two Words in Today's Strands

Need a spoiler but want to avoid non-themed word solutions? Each section below reveals one word with its location in the puzzle.

Spoiler 1

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Word 1: Backsplash

Word Location

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Spoiler 2

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Word 2: Oven

Word Location

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The Answer to Today's New York Times Games Strands

Ready for the complete solution to this minimalist puzzle? The full answer, including word locations, is below.

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The category is Kitchen Remodel. The words are Oven, Island, Sink, Backsplash, and Countertop.

Full Solution

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Today's Strands Explained

Still stumped? This section explains how the theme, words, and clue connect in this puzzle game.

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"Time for an Upgrade" fits perfectly because these items are commonly replaced during a kitchen remodel. Each word represents a kitchen element that can be updated for a fresh, new look.

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Ready to play? Visit the New York Times Games Strands website—it's playable on most devices with a browser.