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NYT Strands Answer & Hints — “Curiouser and curiouser!”, January 20, 2025

Stuck on the January 20, 2025 NYT Strands puzzle? Here are progressive hints and the full answer for the “Curiouser and curiouser!” puzzle (Strands #20 of 509 in our archive). Every reveal is hidden by default — click to open the ones you need.

Spoiler warning. The answers below are for the January 20, 2025 NYT Strands puzzle. Scroll past this section if you want to solve it yourself first.
Hint 1: The themeReveal

The theme for the January 20, 2025 NYT Strands puzzle is “Curiouser and curiouser!”. Every theme word and the spangram connects back to this phrase, so think about what related words might fit a 6×8 grid of 48 letters before you start scanning.

Hint 2: Spangram length and first letterReveal

The spangram for the “Curiouser and curiouser!” puzzle is 10 letters long and starts with the letter W. It touches two opposite edges of the grid, as every NYT Strands spangram does.

Hint 3: How many theme wordsReveal

Besides the spangram, the January 20, 2025 NYT Strands puzzle has 5 theme words. Together with the spangram, they use every letter on the 6×8 grid exactly once.

Answer: Full spangramReveal

The spangram for the January 20, 2025 NYT Strands “Curiouser and curiouser!” puzzle is WONDERLAND. It spans two opposite edges of the 6×8 grid and captures the theme directly.

Answer: All theme wordsReveal

Here are the 5 theme words for the January 20, 2025 NYT Strands “Curiouser and curiouser!” puzzle:

  • CATERPILLAR
  • CROQUET
  • DORMOUSE
  • HATTER
  • RABBIT

Plus the spangram WONDERLAND, that’s every word on the grid — all 48 letters accounted for.

Answers for the January 20, 2025 NYT Strands puzzle. Strands Unlimited is an independent fan archive — today's NYT Strands is free on nytimes.com/games/strands.

About the "Curiouser and curiouser!" NYT Strands puzzle

"Curiouser and curiouser!" — the exclamation mark says it all. This Strands puzzle brings energy and emphasis to its theme, and you can expect the hidden words to carry that same spirit. Exclamatory themes in Strands often reference vivid expressions, dramatic moments, or well-known catchphrases. The spangram ties it all together by naming the concept that makes you want to shout this phrase in the first place.

This puzzle has 5 theme words hidden in the grid — a balanced count that gives you enough to work with without overwhelming the board. The 10-letter spangram is notably long, consuming a good chunk of the grid's 48 letters. Its size makes it easier to find if you focus on the grid's edges. Originally published on a Monday, Puzzle #20 is from the early days of the Strands archive — one of the original puzzles that established the game's style.

#20
Puzzle Number
5
Theme Words
10
Spangram Letters
Medium
Difficulty

How to approach "Curiouser and curiouser!"

  • The energetic theme title suggests vivid, expressive vocabulary. Look for words that match the theme's bold tone and emotional charge.
  • The long 10-letter spangram is your best starting point. Scan the edges of the grid — the spangram must start on one side and end on the opposite side.
  • If you get stuck, try finding non-theme words (any valid 4+ letter English word) to earn hints. Each hint reveals one letter of an unsolved theme word.
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Strands Unlimited is an independent fan archive of past Strands puzzles. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by The New York Times Company. NYT Strands is a trademark of The New York Times Company. Today's daily puzzle is free at nytimes.com/games/strands.