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NYT Strands Answer & Hints — “On the side”, May 5, 2025

Stuck on the May 5, 2025 NYT Strands puzzle? Here are progressive hints and the full answer for the “On the side” puzzle (Strands #122 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 May 5, 2025 NYT Strands puzzle. Scroll past this section if you want to solve it yourself first.
Hint 1: The themeReveal

The theme for the May 5, 2025 NYT Strands puzzle is “On the side”. 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 “On the side” puzzle is 11 letters long and starts with the letter F. It touches two opposite edges of the grid, as every NYT Strands spangram does.

Hint 3: How many theme wordsReveal

Besides the spangram, the May 5, 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 May 5, 2025 NYT Strands “On the side” puzzle is FRENCHFRIES. 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 May 5, 2025 NYT Strands “On the side” puzzle:

  • CRINKLE
  • CURLY
  • SHOESTRING
  • STEAK
  • WAFFLE

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

Answers for the May 5, 2025 NYT Strands puzzle. Strands Unlimited is an independent fan archive — today's NYT Strands is free on nytimes.com/games/strands.

About the "On the side" NYT Strands puzzle

This puzzle's theme, "On the side", contains a subtle twist. Strands puzzles with wordplay themes are designed to misdirect at first glance, then reward you with a satisfying "aha" when the spangram makes everything click. The arts & culture words hidden in the grid all connect to the theme's actual meaning, not the obvious one. Think about alternative interpretations before you start scanning.

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 11-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, As puzzle #122 of 509+, this one comes from the middle of the Strands collection, when the puzzle makers had hit their stride.

#122
Puzzle Number
5
Theme Words
11
Spangram Letters
Medium
Difficulty

How to approach "On the side"

  • This theme contains wordplay — don't take it at face value. Think about alternative meanings and which interpretation the hidden words might support.
  • The long 11-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.
  • Every single letter in the grid belongs to exactly one word. If you've found most theme words, the remaining letters must spell out what's left — use process of elimination.
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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.