NYT Strands today: clues, spangram, and solutions for Monday, May 5.

      Strands is a new daily puzzle introduced by the New York Times. It's a more challenging version of the classic word search, requiring a sharp eye to complete it. Similar to Wordle, Connections, and the Mini Crossword, Strands can be quite tricky at times. There's no reason to feel embarrassed about needing some assistance every now and then. If you're having trouble and want to find out the answers to today’s Strands puzzle, see the completed puzzle below.

      How to play Strands:

      You begin each Strands puzzle aiming to locate the “theme words” that are concealed within the letter grid. You can manipulate the letters by dragging or tapping to form words; double-tap the last letter to confirm. When you uncover the correct word, the letters will be highlighted in blue and will no longer be selectable.

      Even if you come across a word that isn't a theme word, it can still be beneficial! For every three non-theme words you identify that are at least four letters long, you'll receive a hint — one of the theme word's letters will be revealed, and you will need to unscramble it.

      Every individual letter on the grid contributes to spelling out the theme words, and there is no letter overlap. Each letter will only be used once.

      Each puzzle includes one “spangram,” a distinctive theme word (or words) that encapsulate the puzzle’s theme and span across two opposite sides of the board. When you discover the spangram, it will be marked in yellow.

      The aim is to finish the puzzle swiftly without relying excessively on hints.

      Hint for today’s Strands puzzle:

      Today’s theme is “On the side.”

      Here’s a hint that might assist you: some refer to them as chips.

      Today's Strand answers:

      NYT

      Today’s spangram:

      We will begin by providing you with the spangram, which may help you deduce the theme and solve the remainder of the puzzle independently:

      FRENCHFRIES

      Today's Strands answers:

      HOME

      CURLY

      WAFFLE

      CRINKLE

      STEAK

      SHOESTRING

      Jesse Lennox has been writing for Digital Trends for over five years and has no plans to stop. He covers a wide range of topics…

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      Kojima Productions made an unexpected announcement on Thursday that Death Stranding Director's Cut is now available for Xbox Series X/S and Windows PC, just one day before the game’s five-year anniversary. "I am excited to announce that Death Stranding Director’s Cut will be available to Xbox players. I want to express my gratitude to all the fans who have maintained their connection with us, as well as to everyone in the Xbox community who have been patiently waiting," Kojima stated in a press release (as reported by IGN). "Kojima Productions (Death Stranding) will continue to connect more players across the globe, so stay tuned."

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      NYT Connections tips: how to win Connections every day:

      Wordle's rise in popularity led to its acquisition by the New York Times, which has since created an entire section of challenging puzzles for daily engagement, including the notoriously difficult Connections. Many who have tried it find it addictive for good reasons. The concept is straightforward, yet solving these puzzles is always challenging. If you've never attempted Connections or were discouraged after your first try, check out our expert tips and tricks to help improve your puzzle-solving skills. Once you get the hang of it, you'll be playing daily without fail.

      Connections tips and tricks:

      The rules for Connections are straightforward: you have a grid of 16 words that you need to sort into four groups based on a common connection. For instance, four of the 16 words may all refer to fruit, allowing them to be grouped accordingly. However, Connections is much trickier than that, so do not expect the answers to be that obvious. The different groups are also color-coded based on their difficulty level, with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple, which is the most challenging.

      NYT Spelling Bee: answers for Friday, May 10:

      Are you captivated by New York Times' games? So are we, especially Spelling Bee, which is one of our favorites. However, like any other NYT game — including Wordle, Connections, Strands, and The Mini — we sometimes struggle to complete it. If you're stuck on today's Spelling Bee, we’re here to assist. Check the article below for a refresher on how to play the game and a list of all possible words you could form today.

      How to play Spelling Bee.