NYT Strands is the New York Times’ daily word-search/word-find style puzzle that asks solvers to find themed words hidden in a dense grid. Today’s theme is Sweet Tooth, a candy-forward set of answers that mixes brand names and generic treats. The puzzle offered a playful mix of short candy names and one longer, chewy entry, tied together by a spangram.
23 November 2025 NYT Strands Theme: “Sweet Tooth”
This Sweet Tooth theme leaned into nostalgic and shelf-staple candies — both little boxed sweets and a larger brand name. The constructor favored familiar candy-brand vocabulary and a spangram phrase that evokes where you spot them all: the candy aisle. Expect lots of short, punchy letter runs and one longer, standout entry.
23 November 2025 NYT Strands: Hints
- Think of small boxed and fruity candies you’d find near checkout — short words, repeated letters sometimes.
- Look for three- and four-letter clusters first; they’re common here.
- Scan rows and diagonals for compact candy names that tuck into corners.
- Expect one longer brand-name entry that crosses multiple rows.
- Spangram ties the list together: think where these sweets live — the spangram phrase points to location.
23 November 2025 NYT Strands: Answers
- nerds (tiny, crunchy boxed candies)
- dots (soft, gumdrop-style candy)
- runts (fruit-shaped, small hard candies)
- starburst (chewy fruit-flavored squares — longer entry)
- whatchamacallit (the novelty/name-forgotten candy bar — playful inclusion)
Spangram
candy aisle
A spangram that ties the list together — the place in the store where most of these treats sit, and the grid’s letters were arranged to accommodate that full phrase.
How Strands works
Strands is a daily word search puzzle with a twist:
• You’re given a theme.
• The grid is packed with hidden words tied to that theme.
• Words can run in any direction, including diagonals.
• Once you find all the theme words, you’re done!
Each puzzle usually has around 5–8 theme words.
Tips to become a NYT Strands pro
- Start with obvious words. Look for clear connections to the theme first.
- Scan diagonals early. Strands loves to hide words at an angle.
- Build around found words. Once one word is cleared, the leftover letters often point to the next.
- Use hints wisely. Earn them steadily by spotting extra words, then save them for when you’re truly stuck.
- Think about synonyms. The theme clue isn’t always literal — broaden your thinking.
Final Thoughts
Today’s Sweet Tooth puzzle felt breezy with a tasty mix of short, familiar candy names and one longer brand to anchor the grid. Overall it played like an easy-to-moderate solve — fun and nostalgic. How many did you find?
