NYT Strands: January 6, 2025 Hints and Solutions

Strands presents a fresh challenge with its grid of scrambled letters, where players must uncover a hidden theme and locate seven related words. Today’s puzzle, themed around “In Neutral,” tests your ability to think laterally and recognize subtle connections between words. If you're feeling stuck or just want a gentle nudge in the right direction, this guide offers hints and insights to help you solve the puzzle without giving everything away.

Whether you’re new to Strands or a seasoned player, understanding the theme is key to success. Each puzzle revolves around a central idea, and today's concept is no exception. Read on for helpful hints, partial spoilers, and finally, the full solution to today’s New York Times Games Strands puzzle #309 dated January 6, 2025.

New York Times Games Strands Puzzle #309 – In Neutral

The clue for today’s puzzle is In Neutral, and it’s up to you to discover what connects all seven themed words hidden within the letter grid. One of these words acts as the Spangram, stretching from one side of the puzzle to the other, while the remaining six complete the theme.

Hints for Today’s Puzzle

If you’re still trying to figure out the theme without seeing the answers, here are three spoiler-free hints to guide your thinking:

General Hint 1

Hint 1: Consider items or concepts that are often described as neutral in nature.

General Hint 2

Hint 2: Think about color terminology and how certain shades are classified.

General Hint 3

Hint 3: Reflect on muted or soft tones that blend into the background rather than stand out.

Partial Spoilers

If you'd like to see a couple of the themed words without revealing the entire answer, here are two sneak peeks:

Spoiler 1

Word 1: Cream

Spoiler 2

Word 2: Eggshell

Full Answer Reveal

Ready to see the complete solution? Expand the section below to view all the themed words and how they fit into the puzzle grid:

The category for today is Off-White. The themed words are: Eggshell, Vanilla, Cream, Linen, Ivory, and Champagne.

Theme Explanation

Still curious about how all these words connect back to the original clue? Here's a breakdown of the theme:

Off-Whites refer to colors that are very close to white but contain slight variations—often a hint of beige, gray, or yellow. These tones are widely considered neutrals in design and fashion. Each of the themed words in today’s puzzle represents a specific shade of off-white, perfectly tying back to the clue In Neutral.

If you’d like to try your hand at solving future puzzles, visit the official [New York Times Games Strands website](https://www.nytimes.com/games/strands), available on nearly any device with a modern web browser.