NYT Strands is the daily word-search-style puzzle from the New York Times that challenges you to uncover theme-linked words hidden across a letter grid. On 04 January 2026, the theme "I just know..." focused on ways we express supernatural intuition and extrasensory perception, with several related words and a spangram that perfectly tied the concept together.

04 January 2026 NYT Strands Theme: "I just know..."

Today's theme revolved around expressions of unexplained certainty and psychic abilities—the kinds of supernatural knowledge that go beyond ordinary perception. The vocabulary centered on people and phenomena associated with extrasensory perception and mysterious knowing. The puzzle had a nice blend of accessible answers and clever word placements, making it moderately challenging.

04 January 2026 NYT Strands: Hints

  • Think about people who claim to see or know things others can't
  • Look for words associated with psychic abilities and supernatural powers
  • Several answers describe professions or people with extrasensory gifts
  • Consider words related to mind-reading and future sight
  • The spangram relates to an unexplained sense beyond the traditional five

04 January 2026 NYT Strands: Answers

  • Medium (a person believed to communicate with the deceased or spirits)
  • Clairvoyant (a person who claims to have supernatural insight or perception)
  • Oracle (a person or thing regarded as an infallible source of knowledge or prophecy)
  • Psychic (a person said to have supernatural powers or extrasensory perception)
  • Telepath (a person capable of reading minds or transmitting thoughts telepathically)

Spangram

SIXTH SENSE

This spangram perfectly captures the heart of today's puzzle, referring to an intuitive faculty or extrasensory perception that operates beyond the five conventional senses—the mysterious ability to "just know" things.

How Strands Works

Strands is a daily word search puzzle with a twist:

  • You're given a theme.
  • The grid is packed with hidden words tied to that theme.
  • Words can run in any direction, including diagonals.
  • Once you find all the theme words, you're done!

Each puzzle usually has around 6–8 theme words.

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 Words

The 04 January 2026 Strands puzzle felt moderately challenging, with a mystical theme and clever word selections that really made you think about supernatural abilities and extrasensory perception. Once the spangram "Sixth Sense" clicked into place, everything else fell neatly into position. How many answers did you spot before needing hints?

Come back tomorrow for a fresh grid and theme — and tell us in the comments which word stumped you the most today!