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 11 January 2026, the theme “Yay!!!” focused on how we express personal views, with several related words and a spangram that neatly tied the whole idea together.

11 January 2026 NYT Strands Theme: “Yay!!!”

This theme was pure positivity. Every word in the puzzle reflected excitement, approval, or celebration. The vocabulary was familiar and lively, making the puzzle feel lighthearted, with the spangram tying all those happy reactions together in a playful way.

11 January 2026 NYT Strands: Hints

  • Think of things people shout when they’re excited or celebrating good news.
  • Many answers are exclamations rather than objects or actions.
  • Look for upbeat, enthusiastic language you’d hear at a party or after a win.
  • Several words end with a strong vowel sound that emphasizes excitement.
  • The spangram ties together all forms of positive reactions and praise.

11 January 2026 NYT Strands: Answers

  • Hooray (a classic cheer)
  • Yippee (a playful shout of joy)
  • Booyah (celebratory and triumphant)
  • Huzzah (an old-fashioned cheer)
  • Whoopee (pure excitement)
  • Awesome (modern praise)

Spangram

THATS GREAT
The spangram sums up the entire puzzle’s feeling, acting as a broad expression of approval that connects all the celebratory words scattered across the grid.

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 11 January 2026 Strands puzzle felt comfortably moderate, with a relatable theme and smart word choices. Once the spangram clicked, everything else fell into place nicely. 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!