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. For 13 January 2026, the theme “You need to chill” guides solvers toward cool, refreshing ideas, capped off by a spangram that neatly ties the entire puzzle together.

13 January 2026 NYT Strands Theme: “You need to chill”

Today’s theme leans into literal and playful interpretations of “chill.” The grid focuses on foods associated with cooling down, mixing familiar treats with everyday items. The spangram is fairly direct, helping anchor the puzzle once you start spotting frozen-related words.

13 January 2026 NYT Strands: Hints

  • Think about foods you’d usually keep cold or frozen.
  • Look for sweet treats as well as everyday staples.
  • Some answers are plural and a bit longer than you might expect.
  • Don’t ignore diagonals — several words bend that way.
  • The spangram connects everything you’d find in a freezer.

13 January 2026 NYT Strands: Answers

  • Waffles (often stored frozen for quick breakfasts)
  • Vegetables (commonly bought and kept frozen)
  • Sherbet (a cold, refreshing dessert)
  • Popsicles (a classic frozen treat)
  • Pizza

Spangram

Frozen Foods
This spangram sums up the puzzle perfectly, pointing solvers toward items typically found in the freezer aisle and helping narrow the search once the theme clicks into place.

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 13 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!