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NYT Strands Answer & Hints — “On the lips”, July 9, 2026

Stuck on the July 9, 2026 NYT Strands puzzle? Here are progressive hints and the full answer for the “On the lips” puzzle (Strands #549 of 549 in our archive). Every reveal is hidden by default — click to open the ones you need.

Spoiler warning. The answers below are for the July 9, 2026 NYT Strands puzzle. Scroll past this section if you want to solve it yourself first.
Hint 1: The themeReveal

The theme for the July 9, 2026 NYT Strands puzzle is “On the lips”. 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 lips” puzzle is 13 letters long and starts with the letter K. It touches two opposite edges of the grid, as every NYT Strands spangram does.

Hint 3: How many theme wordsReveal

Besides the spangram, the July 9, 2026 NYT Strands puzzle has 7 theme words. Together with the spangram, they use every letter on the 6×8 grid exactly once.

Answer: Full spangramReveal

The spangram for the July 9, 2026 NYT Strands “On the lips” puzzle is KISSANDMAKEUP. It spans two opposite edges of the 6×8 grid and captures the theme directly.

Answer: All theme wordsReveal

Here are the 7 theme words for the July 9, 2026 NYT Strands “On the lips” puzzle:

  • BALM
  • GLOSS
  • LINER
  • PLUMPER
  • STAIN
  • STICK
  • TINT

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

Answers for the July 9, 2026 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 lips" NYT Strands puzzle

"On the lips" is the kind of Strands theme that makes you smile once you figure it out. The phrase works on two levels, and the spangram clarifies which one the puzzle is actually about. This arts & culture puzzle is built around wordplay, so approach the grid with an open mind — the theme words might not be what you first expect from reading the title alone.

At 7 theme words, this is one of the denser puzzles in the archive. The grid is packed, so words will be closer together. The 13-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 Thursday, Puzzle #549 is a more recent addition to the 549+ puzzle archive.

#549
Puzzle Number
7
Theme Words
13
Spangram Letters
Challenging
Difficulty

How to approach "On the lips"

  • This theme contains wordplay — don't take it at face value. Think about alternative meanings and which interpretation the hidden words might support.
  • With 7 theme words and a long spangram, nearly every letter in the grid belongs to a word. Start with the spangram — it uses many letters and opens up the board significantly.
  • Try reading the grid edges clockwise. The spangram's first and last letters will be on opposite edges, and edge letters are the fastest way to identify spangram candidates.
PreviousAll NYT Strands answers

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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.