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 05 January 2026, the theme "Slapped together" focused on things done hastily and imperfectly—work that prioritizes speed and function over polish and perfection. The puzzle featured several descriptive words and a spangram that captured this concept of rushed, rough-around-the-edges execution.
05 January 2026 NYT Strands Theme: "Slapped together"
Today's theme revolved around the idea of things done quickly without much attention to refinement or cleanliness. The phrase "slapped together" perfectly describes rushed jobs, hasty work, and unpolished results. This concept applies across many contexts—from quick-fix solutions to makeshift repairs to hurried meals. The vocabulary centered on words that describe both speed and lack of refinement, making it a moderately challenging puzzle that required thinking about how these two qualities intersect.
05 January 2026 NYT Strands: Hints
- Think about adjectives that describe fast-paced, rushed actions
- Look for words associated with dirt, mess, or uncleanliness
- Several answers describe hastily completed work or quick solutions
- Consider words that suggest speed and lack of polish
- The spangram is a common expression that perfectly captures doing something hastily and imperfectly
05 January 2026 NYT Strands: Answers
- BRISK (done with speed and energy)
- SPEEDY (characterized by rapid movement or action)
- SWIFT (happening quickly or promptly)
- STAINED (marked or discolored, showing lack of care)
- FILTHY (extremely dirty or unclean)
- GRUBBY (dirty and unkempt in appearance)
Spangram
QUICK AND DIRTY
This spangram perfectly captures the heart of today's puzzle, referring to solutions or work done rapidly with more focus on getting it done than doing it perfectly. It's a common expression used to describe expedient approaches that prioritize function and speed over elegance and thoroughness—exactly what you get when something is "slapped together."
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
- Start with obvious words. Look for clear connections to the theme first.
- Scan diagonals early. Strands loves to hide words at an angle.
- Build around found words. Once one word is cleared, the leftover letters often point to the next.
- Use hints wisely. Earn them steadily by spotting extra words, then save them for when you're truly stuck.
- Think about synonyms. The theme clue isn't always literal — broaden your thinking.
Final Words
The 05 January 2026 Strands puzzle presented a moderately challenging theme that required thinking about the intersection of speed and sloppiness. The phrase "slapped together" cleverly hinted at both qualities—things done quickly and carelessly. Once you identified either the speed-related words (BRISK, SPEEDY, SWIFT) or the mess-related words (STAINED, FILTHY, GRUBBY), the spangram "Quick and Dirty" likely clicked into place, helping you complete the remaining answers. This puzzle rewarded players who could think about multiple dimensions of the theme simultaneously.
Come back tomorrow for a fresh grid and theme — and tell us in the comments which word stumped you the most today!
Discussion