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NYT Strands Answer & Hints — “No rush”, May 20, 2026

Stuck on the May 20, 2026 NYT Strands puzzle? Here are progressive hints and the full answer for the “No rush” puzzle (Strands #500 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 May 20, 2026 NYT Strands puzzle. Scroll past this section if you want to solve it yourself first.
Hint 1: The themeReveal

The theme for the May 20, 2026 NYT Strands puzzle is “No rush”. 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 “No rush” puzzle is 12 letters long and starts with the letter T. 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 20, 2026 NYT Strands puzzle has 6 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 20, 2026 NYT Strands “No rush” puzzle is TAKEYOURTIME. It spans two opposite edges of the 6×8 grid and captures the theme directly.

Answer: All theme wordsReveal

Here are the 6 theme words for the May 20, 2026 NYT Strands “No rush” puzzle:

  • CALM
  • GENTLE
  • LEISURELY
  • PLACID
  • RELAXED
  • SLOW

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

Answers for the May 20, 2026 NYT Strands puzzle. Strands Unlimited is an independent fan archive — today's NYT Strands is free on nytimes.com/games/strands.

About the "No rush" NYT Strands puzzle

The theme "No rush" plays with language in a way that's typical of the best Strands puzzles. There's likely a double meaning or clever twist embedded in this phrase — and the spangram reveals which interpretation the puzzle maker intended. This general puzzle rewards lateral thinking. Don't just take the theme at face value; consider what else the words could mean when read a different way.

This puzzle has 6 theme words hidden in the grid — a balanced count that gives you enough to work with without overwhelming the board. The 12-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 Wednesday, Puzzle #500 is a more recent addition to the 508+ puzzle archive.

#500
Puzzle Number
6
Theme Words
12
Spangram Letters
Challenging
Difficulty

How to approach "No rush"

  • 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 12-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.