Strandshas another grid for word-puzzle fans to ponder over. Today’s puzzle is a pretty challenging one; the theme is a little strange, and the themed words might trip you up if you have trouble pinning down the theme early.
If you are stuck on thischallenging puzzle game, you can find all sorts of helpful hints in the article below. Whether you need spoilers, general clues, or an explanation for the puzzle, you can find it all in this article.
The NYT Games Strands Puzzle #166 Jul 13, 2025
TheStrandspuzzle for today has the clueThis or That. It has nine items to find: one Spangram and eight themed words.
New York Times Games Strands Clues
Therules ofStrandsfeatures an in-game hint system, which is great, but it spoils entire words, which is not so great. If you want a nudge in the right direction, but don’t want that whole word ruined for you, check out the three spoiler-free sections below.
General Hint 1
Hint 1: If you put the themed words together, you have a choice between one thing or another thing.
Hint 3: Common sayings, all with ____ or _____.
Spoilers for Two of the Words in Today’s Strands
If you decide you want to see some spoilers, but you don’t feel like finding non-themed words to charge your hints in theNew York Times GamesStrands, check below. Each of these two sections has one spoiled word inside it.
Word 2: Nothing
The Answer to Today’s New York Times Games Strands
Still stuck? The complete answer to theStrandspuzzle number 166 for August 16 is in the expandable section below. Peek inside to see all the themed words and a finished puzzle as well.
The category for today isOptions. The words are Feast, Famine, Double, Nothing, Sink, Swim, Make, and Break.
Today’s Strands Explained
If you don’t get it, don’t worry. Inside this next expandable section is a full explanation for how the themed words and the clue work together for thisinnovative puzzle game.
The clue,This or That, refers to how all the themed words areOptions. So each of the eight words are pairs, likeDouble or Nothing, andSink or Swim.
Want to play? Check out theNew York Times Games Strandswebsite available on almost any device with a browser.
