Today's NYT Strands Hints August 12: Check answers, Spangram and theme to keep the winning streak

Time of India

9 hours ago

What is NYT Strands?
How the NYT Strands Game Works
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NYT Strands Hints for August 12, 2025
Theme interpretation: Think about terms used to describe two or more identical things.
Hint #1: What word did 'fax' originate from?
Hint #2: A thing made to closely resemble another.
Spangram orientation: Mostly horizontal.
Mostly horizontal. Spangram begins with: 'CO'
'CO' Spangram meaning: A phrase equivalent to 'I received and understood the message.'
Today's Spangram and Theme Words
DOUBLE
DUPLICATE
FACSIMILE
REPLICA
LOOKALIKE
What Makes Today's Puzzle Interesting
Tips for Solving NYT Strands Puzzles
Scan for prefixes and suffixes: Common word endings like '-ate,' '-ing,' or '-er' can help identify longer words.
Work from the theme: Keep the daily hint in mind; many of the less obvious words will fit thematically even if they aren't immediately apparent.
Avoid tunnel vision: Sometimes a word that doesn't seem connected to the theme can be a stepping stone to one that is.
FAQs
How big is the Strands grid?
What is the goal of NYT Strands puzzle?
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As word games continue to capture the attention of online puzzle enthusiasts, NYT Strands has emerged as a fresh challenge for those seeking more than the quick-fire satisfaction of Wordle or the pattern-spotting play of Connections. On Tuesday, August 12, 2025, the daily Strands puzzle once again tested players' vocabulary, logic, and ability to spot hidden themes in a letter grid. For anyone struggling with today's challenge, here are the NYT Strands hints and complete answers, including the Spangram, to help crack puzzle #527 for the day.NYT Strands is part of The New York Times' growing collection of digital games aimed at engaging users with wordplay in new formats. The puzzle is played on a six-by-eight grid of letters. Players connect adjoining letters to form valid words, with the ultimate aim of identifying all the 'theme words' tied to the day's clue.In addition to these theme words, each puzzle contains one 'special' word called the Spangram. This word or phrase, often a succinct expression of the puzzle's theme, stretches from one side of the grid to the opposite, either vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. Identifying it early can be key to unlocking the rest of the solution.Every NYT Strands puzzle begins with a thematic hint. Using this as a starting point, players must identify several words that fit within the theme. The Spangram provides an overarching link, acting as both a clue and a structural element in the grid.While theme words can be of varying lengths, the Spangram always spans across the grid's breadth, and its position, horizontal, vertical, or diagonal, can vary from day to day.The theme for today's Strands is 'Spitting image'. This title suggests a focus on identical items or concepts tied to similarity and duplication, according to a report by The New York Times.Here are the NYT Strands hints to guide players without revealing the full answers immediately:For those still stuck, the Spangram hint offers further direction:For August 12, 2025, the Spangram is CopyThat, a common phrase used to acknowledge a message in radio communication, fitting neatly into the 'Spitting image' theme.The complete set of theme words for today's puzzle is:Each of these words relates directly to the idea of similarity or exact reproduction, tying back to the central theme.Puzzle solvers noted that today's challenge was particularly approachable once the theme clicked. The use of 'fax' as a clue for FACSIMILE served as a clear bridge between older technology and the day's overarching idea of duplication. Similarly, LOOKALIKE provided a more casual, everyday connection to the 'spitting image' phrase.The Spangram, CopyThat, offered a satisfying 'aha' moment, linking the idea of copying with the radio-communication phrase, a clever play on words that encapsulated the theme while functioning perfectly in the grid's layout.For those still new to NYT Strands, puzzle veterans suggest starting with obvious smaller words that match the theme, as these can help reveal portions of the Spangram. Once the Spangram is in place, the spatial arrangement of its letters often points to possible theme words nearby.Other strategies include:Today's NYT Strands puzzle demonstrated the game's balance between accessibility and challenge. While the theme words were relatively common terms, the interplay between them and the Spangram encouraged a methodical approach. For players who cracked CopyThat early, the remaining words fell into place quickly.The game is played on a 6×8 grid of letters.Find all theme words related to the daily hint, plus the Spangram. Identifying the Spangram early often makes the rest of the puzzle easier.