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 17 January 2026, the theme “That’s putting it mildly!” delivered a playful set of understated expressions, all cleverly connected by a spangram that tied the mood together. It was a fun mix of familiar phrases and expressive vocabulary.

17 January 2026 NYT Strands Theme: “That’s putting it mildly!”

Today’s theme leaned into gentle, old-fashioned expressions used when reacting to minor annoyances. The puzzle felt lighthearted, with words that sound dramatic but are actually quite tame. The spangram was moderately long and clearly reinforced the idea of humorous, low-stakes frustration rather than serious outrage.

01 January 2026 NYT Strands: Hints

  • Think of polite or humorous reactions to small problems.
  • Look for exclamations you might say instead of stronger language.
  • Several answers have a slightly old-fashioned or folksy tone.
  • Expect expressive words rather than objects or actions.
  • The spangram ties the list together by describing the shared outcome of these reactions.

17 January 2026 NYT Strands: Answers

  • Drat (a mild expression of annoyance)
  • Curses (a toned-down complaint)
  • Phooey (dismissive frustration)
  • Tarnation (folksy exasperation)
  • Fiddlesticks (playful disbelief)

Spangram

Foiled Again neatly captures the puzzle’s spirit, summing up mild frustration after small setbacks, and connecting every playful exclamation in the grid into one shared feeling of humorous, harmless defeat.

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 17 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!