NYT Strands hints and answers for Friday, January 9 (game #677)

Date:
Thu, 08 Jan 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Description:
Looking for NYT Strands answers and hints? Here's all you need to know to solve today's game, including the spangram.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Looking for a different day? A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day
for your time zone which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for
Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Thursday, January 8 (game #676) .

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers. NYT Strands today (game #677) -
hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

Today's NYT Strands theme is For cubs fans NYT Strands today (game #677) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system. GEAR RACE BACK KNOW DIAL GRACE READ NYT Strands today (game #677) - hint #3 - spangram letters How many letters are in today's spangram?

Spangram has 11 letters NYT Strands today (game #677) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: top, 5th column

Last side: bottom, 6th column

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM. NYT Strands today (game #677) - the answers (Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #677, are POLAR GRIZZLY PANDA SPECTACLED BROWN BLACK SPANGRAM: BEARSINMIND My rating: Easy My score: Perfect

There are plenty of types of bear you could think of ahead of SPECTACLED (koala, teddy, Paddington) but then I guess it wouldnt be Strands without at least one questionable search word

or a questionably long spangram!

The truth is it was all rather a relief, as the theme made me think we would be searching words connected to the Chicago Cubs. Something I know less about than Spectacled Bears. Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Thursday, January 8, game #676) BANISHMENT FAITHFUL MISSION CASTLE SHIELD SPANGRAM: THETRAITORS What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to h ow to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/websites-apps/nyt-strands-today-answers-hi nts-9-january-2026


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