Loading puzzle...

NYT Strands Answer & Hints — “Think again!”, August 17, 2025

Stuck on the August 17, 2025 NYT Strands puzzle? Here are progressive hints and the full answer for the “Think again!” puzzle (Strands #226 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 August 17, 2025 NYT Strands puzzle. Scroll past this section if you want to solve it yourself first.
Hint 1: The themeReveal

The theme for the August 17, 2025 NYT Strands puzzle is “Think again!”. 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 “Think again!” puzzle is 10 letters long and starts with the letter R. It touches two opposite edges of the grid, as every NYT Strands spangram does.

Hint 3: How many theme wordsReveal

Besides the spangram, the August 17, 2025 NYT Strands puzzle has 4 theme words. Together with the spangram, they use every letter on the 6×8 grid exactly once.

Answer: Full spangramReveal

The spangram for the August 17, 2025 NYT Strands “Think again!” puzzle is RIGHTBRAIN. It spans two opposite edges of the 6×8 grid and captures the theme directly.

Answer: All theme wordsReveal

Here are the 4 theme words for the August 17, 2025 NYT Strands “Think again!” puzzle:

  • CREATIVITY
  • FEELINGS
  • INTUITION
  • SPONTANEITY

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

Answers for the August 17, 2025 NYT Strands puzzle. Strands Unlimited is an independent fan archive — today's NYT Strands is free on nytimes.com/games/strands.

About the "Think again!" NYT Strands puzzle

"Think again!" — 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.

With just 4 theme words to find, this is a more focused puzzle where each discovery carries extra weight. 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 Sunday, As puzzle #226 of 509+, this one comes from the middle of the Strands collection, when the puzzle makers had hit their stride.

#226
Puzzle Number
4
Theme Words
10
Spangram Letters
Easy
Difficulty

How to approach "Think again!"

  • 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.
  • Work from the corners of the grid — corner letters have fewer possible neighboring connections, which limits where words can go and makes them easier to trace.
PreviousAll NYT Strands answersNext

More puzzles from August 2025

31 Sun
Up the hill
30 Sat
No small matter
29 Fri
A long time in the making
28 Thu
Do go on ...
27 Wed
Go with the flow
26 Tue
Bee friendly
View all August puzzles

More NYT Strands puzzles

May 30
We'll be there
May 29
E-I-E-I-O
May 28
Talking scents
May 27
Ketchup or mustard?
May 25
Thank you
May 24
Turn, turn, turn
May 23
Staying alive
May 22
Put down your ruler

Sister Sites · More logic puzzles

Queens
Region logic, daily + 1,500 puzzles
Patches
Region-stitching puzzle
Tango
No 3-in-a-row pattern
Zip
Path-drawing puzzle
Mini Sudoku
Compact sudoku
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.