Looking for help? You’ve landed in the right spot.
Today is June 6, puzzle number 825.
The vibe today is matrimonial. Literally.
The New York Times Strands puzzle is leaning hard into the June wedding rush.
Some of these answers are tricky to unscramble.
Maybe you’re heading to a ceremony this month, or maybe you just really hate getting tied down.
It doesn’t matter.
If you need hints, read on.
(If you’re after the Wordle, Connections, or Mini Crossword, check the main CNET puzzle hub. Not here. There.)
The Theme
It’s subtle at first.
With this ring…
That’s the theme line.
Still stuck?
Think “Dearly beloved.”
You aren’t looking for just any word.
You’re hunting for words that fit a theme.
Every time you find three valid words (four letters or longer), the game gives you a freebie—a hint about a theme word.
Use this to your advantage.
I used these fillers to get unblocked:
– VOTE
– GAMY
– RANT
– PUTT
– LOCK
– ROOM
Do any of those. Or don’t.
The system rewards patience, or at least basic literacy.
The Answers
Here are the ones that matter.
The goal is to fill the board.
Once you have all the theme words, including the spangram, every letter snaps into place.
No leftovers.
The theme words (non-spangram) are:
* VOWS
* NUPTIALS
* WEDLOCK
* MARRIAGE
* MATRIMONY
See the pattern?
It’s not just “love.” It’s the contract.
The legal bindings. The social pressure.
And the spangram?
It connects side to side.
The answer is TYINGTHEKNOT.
Find the T on the far-left edge, six letters down.
Wind it right.
Then back.
There. You’ve tied the knot.
Hard Mode
Not every day is a breeze.
I’ve found certain topics are just painful.
#1: Dated slang
Did you use this language? Probably not.
It feels ancient now.
Toughest word: PHAT.
#2: Whales
“Thar she blows!”
Unless you are a marine biologist, this will frustrate you.
Toughest word: BALEEN.
Or maybe RIGHT. As in a right whale. Or being correct. Either way, it’s a pain.
Which do you hate more? Bad slang or obscure biology?
