Theme: Think Again!
The theme for today’s NYT Strands puzzle is “Think Again!”, a clever clue that pushes solvers to consider abstract, imaginative, and creative concepts—those typically associated with the right hemisphere of the brain. This part of the brain governs intuition, emotions, and artistic expression, which sets the tone for the types of words hidden in the puzzle grid.
As is customary in NYT Strands, there is one word that spans the puzzle and ties the theme together. Today’s spangram is RIGHTBRAIN, stretching diagonally from the lower part of column 4 to the upper area of column 6. Spotting the spangram early often helps unlock the theme and provides valuable direction for identifying other theme words.
The word “RIGHTBRAIN” reinforces the idea that today’s puzzle centers around right-brain functions, giving solvers a significant clue: think emotionally, creatively, and intuitively.
Here are the words that align with today’s theme:
CREATIVITY – Perhaps the most obvious right-brain trait. The ability to think outside the box and generate novel ideas is central to this puzzle.
FEELINGS – Emotions and feelings are governed largely by the right brain, which focuses more on subjective interpretation than logic or analysis.
INTUITION – Right-brain thinking often involves trusting your gut rather than relying on step-by-step reasoning.
SPONTANEITY – This captures the impulsive, free-flowing nature of right-brain behavior—another perfect fit for today’s theme.
Each word not only fits with the overarching idea but also reflects a key aspect of human cognition often underappreciated in logic-dominated puzzles. This gives today’s Strands a refreshingly abstract and emotionally rich tone.
Given that today’s puzzle focuses on abstract concepts, the best approach is to scan the grid for familiar suffixes or prefixes like “-ITY,” “-ING,” or “-TION.” These often indicate nouns or verbs tied to feelings or mental processes.
If you're stuck, locating the spangram (RIGHTBRAIN) can serve as an anchor point. From there, mentally brainstorm words that relate to right-brain activities—art, music, empathy, emotion—and try connecting them letter by letter.
Unlike puzzles based on concrete nouns (like fruits, cities, or animals), today’s abstract theme can be more challenging. There’s less visual association, so it requires more imagination and lateral thinking—ironically, exactly the kind of skill the puzzle celebrates.
Today’s NYT Strands offers a refreshing change of pace with its abstract, introspective theme. “Think Again!” invites players to step away from rigid logic and embrace creativity, intuition, and spontaneity. With the spangram RIGHTBRAIN and theme words like CREATIVITY, FEELINGS, INTUITION, and SPONTANEITY, the puzzle challenges solvers to embody the very traits it highlights. Whether you solved it quickly or got stuck along the way, today’s puzzle is a brilliant example of Wordle's expanding puzzle offerings that blend wordplay with cognitive themes.