Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answer and Help for Aug. 31 #546

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Today’s NYT Strands puzzle might be the easiest the Times has ever offered. I hardly needed any clue words to unlock in-game hints. If you need hints and answers, read on.

I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story. 

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Hint for today’s Strands puzzle

Today’s Strands theme is: Up the hill

If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Nursery rhyme time.

Clue words to unlock in-game hints

Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:

• ROAN, CRACK RACK, ROTE, CANE, FIRE, FINE, FAIL

Answers for today’s Strands puzzle

These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:

• PAIL, CROWN, BROKE, AFTER, TUMBLING, WATER, FETCH

Today’s Strands spangram

Today’s Strands spangram is JACKANDJILL. To find it, look for the J that’s seven letters down on the far-right row, and wind up.