Today's NYT Games Strands puzzle (#309, January 6, 2025) challenges players to decipher a theme from the clue "In Neutral" and uncover seven related words hidden within a letter grid. The puzzle's difficulty is well-known to Strands players. This article provides varying levels of assistance, from general hints to the complete solution.
The Strands grid for today's puzzle.
Hints & Clues:
Need a helping hand? These spoiler-free hints gradually reveal the puzzle's theme:
General Hint 1: Consider items that come in neutral shades or tones.

General Hint 2: Think about colors.

General Hint 3: Focus on a subtle, almost-white color often categorized as neutral.

Partial Solutions (Spoilers):
Prefer a little nudge without revealing the entire solution? Here are two individual word spoilers:
Spoiler 1: One of the words is "Cream."

Spoiler 2: Another word is "Eggshell."

Complete Solution:
Ready for the full answer? The theme is "Off-White." The seven words are: Eggshell, Vanilla, Cream, Linen, Ivory, Champagne, and the pangram.

Solution Explanation:
Off-whites are colors that are very close to white but have a slight tint of another color. These colors are generally considered neutral. The puzzle's themed words represent various shades within the off-white color family.
Enjoy the puzzle! Access the New York Times Games Strands website to play on your preferred device.