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NYT Strands Answer & Hints — “That's putting it mildly!”, January 17, 2026

Stuck on the January 17, 2026 NYT Strands puzzle? Here are progressive hints and the full answer for the “That's putting it mildly!” puzzle (Strands #378 of 508 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 17, 2026 NYT Strands puzzle. Scroll past this section if you want to solve it yourself first.
Hint 1: The themeReveal

The theme for the January 17, 2026 NYT Strands puzzle is “That's putting it mildly!”. 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 “That's putting it mildly!” 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 January 17, 2026 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 17, 2026 NYT Strands “That's putting it mildly!” puzzle is FOILEDAGAIN. 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 17, 2026 NYT Strands “That's putting it mildly!” puzzle:

  • CURSES
  • DRAT
  • FIDDLESTICKS
  • PHOOEY
  • TARNATION

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

Answers for the January 17, 2026 NYT Strands puzzle. Strands Unlimited is an independent fan archive — today's NYT Strands is free on nytimes.com/games/strands.

About the "That's putting it mildly!" NYT Strands puzzle

With a theme like "That's putting it mildly!", this Strands puzzle doesn't hold back. The exclamation sets the tone: expect words that relate to something dramatic, surprising, or immediately recognizable. The general theme words hidden in this grid all support the same exclamatory idea, and discovering the spangram will make the connection unmistakable.

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 Saturday, Puzzle #378 is a more recent addition to the 508+ puzzle archive.

#378
Puzzle Number
5
Theme Words
11
Spangram Letters
Medium
Difficulty

How to approach "That's putting it mildly!"

  • The energetic theme title suggests vivid, expressive vocabulary. Look for words that match the theme's bold tone and emotional charge.
  • 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.
  • If the theme seems abstract, look for concrete nouns first. Most Strands puzzles hide everyday words (objects, animals, foods, places) rather than abstract concepts.
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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.