If you’re hooked on the daily NYT Strands puzzle, you’re not alone. It’s a fresh word game from the New York Times that combines elements of a word search with clever, theme-based twists.

15 October 2025 NYT Strands Theme: “Going up?”

15 October 2025 NYT Strands: Hints

  1. Think Daily Routines: You use these every time you step into a tall building.
  2. Common Commands: A couple of clues are literal buttons you press.
  3. Levels & Floors: Some answers describe parts of a building.
  4. Rise and Shine: The theme’s question gives it away — what goes up and down daily?
  5. Spangram: Think of the panel you face inside that metal box.

15 October 2025 NYT Strands: Answers

  • BASEMENT – where the journey often begins.
  • ALARM – that ever-present reminder of motion or caution.
  • OPEN – the first thing you press when you see someone running for it.
  • CLOSE – for when you just can’t wait.
  • LOBBY – the space that connects everyone.
  • GROUND – the starting point, the base of every climb.

Spangram

ELEVATOR BUTTONS — the perfect connector that captures today’s upward journey and ties all clues together.

How to get and use hints

Hints are built right into Strands, and they’re super useful if you’re stuck:

  • To earn a hint, find any non-theme word of at least four letters in the grid.
  • Each valid extra word gives you one hint.
  • When you use a hint, one of the theme words will be revealed automatically, helping you move forward.

Pro tip: Don’t just burn hints — use them strategically when the grid feels impossible. Sometimes a single revealed word unlocks the entire board.

Tips to become a NYT Strands pro

  1. Start with obvious words. Look for clear connections to the theme first.
  2. Scan diagonals early. Strands loves to hide words at an angle.
  3. Build around found words. Once one word is cleared, the leftover letters often point to the next.
  4. Use hints wisely. Earn them steadily by spotting extra words, then save them for when you’re truly stuck.
  5. Think about synonyms. The theme clue isn’t always literal — broaden your thinking.

Final Thoughts

Simple yet clever, it turned everyday familiarity into smart wordplay. The satisfaction came from recognizing that even the mundane — like elevator buttons — can tell a story.

Today’s Strands reminded us that progress doesn’t always mean taking the stairs — sometimes, it’s about pressing the right buttons and trusting the ride upward.