Ever notice how a dash can change everything? Today’s NYT Strands puzzle nails that with offbeat phrases joined by hyphens—the catchier, the better. Titled “Dash It!”, Puzzle #534 wraps your grid around whimsical expressions that hinge on a single punctuation. Let’s connect those dashed phrases and unleash the playful charm of today’s puzzle.
Today’s Theme: “Dash It!”
It’s all about expressions that rely on a dash—fast-paced, quirky idioms that rush across the board once you catch the clue. Words like willy-nilly and hoity-toity set the tone immediately. Premium points for spotting them early.
Spangram of the Day: HYPHENATED
Expect a hyphen-heavy reveal—HYPHENATED stretches fully across the 5th row (from left edge to right edge), serving as your grid’s guiding hyphen.
Today’s Theme Words
Here are the dash-tastic expressions hiding in the grid:
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HOITY-TOITY
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PELL-MELL
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HOCUS-POCUS
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WILLY-NILLY
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HYPHENATED (spangram)
Yesterday’s Recap – Puzzle #533 (August 18)
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Theme: If the Shoe Fits…
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Spangram: FOOTWEAR
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Words: Sneaker, Slipper, Espadrille, Sandal, Loafer, Clog
Pro Tips for Solving Faster
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Spot the dash in the title and anticipate hyphenated phrases.
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Hunt the spangram early—finding HYPHENATED unlocks major progress.
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Fill in familiar idioms—start with recognizable ones like WILLY-NILLY or HOCUS-POCUS.
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Use clue words to gain momentum—word.tips suggests entries like DATE, PEEP, or SLIP for extra hints.
Popular NYT Strands FAQs
| Q | A |
|---|---|
| What is NYT Strands? | A themed word-search puzzle in a 6×8 grid with daily fresh words plus a special spangram. |
| What’s a spangram? | Your longest, theme-defining word or phrase that spans opposite edges—today, HYPHENATED. |
| How to unlock hints? | Type any three 4+ letter non-theme words to reveal a letter from a theme word. |
| Can you replay old puzzles? | Usually not—they’re playable only on their release day. |
| Strategy for newbies? | Pick the longest expected themed word, find the spangram fast, then fill the rest with help from hints. |
Puzzle Summary Table
| Date | Puzzle # | Theme | Spangram | Theme Words |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 19, 2025 | 534 | Dash It! | HYPHENATED | Hoity-toity, Pell-mell, Hocus-pocus, Willy-nilly |
| August 18, 2025 | 533 | If the Shoe Fits… | FOOTWEAR | Sneaker, Slipper, Espadrille, Sandal, Loafer, Clog |
Final Thoughts
NYT Strands #534 delivers a delightful play on hyphens—each phrase is its own mini adventure. With HYPHENATED as your spangram, the puzzle is both charming and slightly chaotic in the best way. These idioms make for a memorable solve—clear punctuation not required!
