NYT Strands today — my hints, answers and spangram for Thursday, January 16 (game #319)

Looking for NYT Strands answers and hints? Here's all you need to know to solve today's game, including the spangram.

Jan 16, 2025 - 01:13
NYT Strands today — my hints, answers and spangram for Thursday, January 16 (game #319)

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #319) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

Today's NYT Strands theme is… Bar association

NYT Strands today (game #319) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

  • RICE
  • TRACK
  • CORE
  • MILK
  • TASTE
  • CART

NYT Strands today (game #319) - hint #3 - spangram

What is a hint for today's spangram?

Mixed beverages

NYT Strands today (game #319) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: top, 4th column

Last side: bottom, 1st column

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #319) - the answers

NYT Strands answers for game 319 on a blue background

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #319, are…

  • ZOMBIE
  • SIDECAR
  • MARTINI
  • STINGER
  • COSMOPOLITAN
  • SPANGRAM: COCKTAILS

  • My rating: Easy
  • My score: 1 hint

When I saw today’s theme I initially feared that it was going to be about boring legal words (and who’d want that), but my concerns were soon eased when the first Hint gave me ZOMBIE – which is both a slow-moving human whose brain has been eaten by an inexplicable virus OR a delicious beverage made from rum, lime and grapefruit juice.

Why it’s called a Zombie is uncertain although I suspect you’d find navigating stairs tricky if you had more than a couple.

Strands also included the classic cocktail COSMOPOLITAN – not a word that I use very often, but one that was strangely satisfying to connect letter by letter.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.


Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Wednesday, 15 January, game #318)

  • BLUE
  • RIGHT
  • GRAY
  • ORCA
  • BALEEN
  • HUMPBACK
  • SPANGRAM: WHALES

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.