The New York Times GamesStrandshas a challenging collection of themed words to find in a letter grid. The hardest part is that you have to use all the letters, and you cannot overlap any of the letters either. If you want to win today, you’ll need to know therules of how to playStrands,you’ll need to know all about the theme, and you’ll probably need some luck to find that first word.
But if you are struggling, don’t worry. This article contains all the hints you will need to win, including general clues, word spoilers, and even the whole answer.

The NYT Games Strands Puzzle #72 for July 02, 2025
Today’sStrandsclue isOn Board.There are eight things to find in this puzzle: one Spangram category and seven themed words.
New York Times Games Strands Clues
Searching for some help with thisrelaxing puzzle gamethat won’t spoil any of the words? you’re able to find three clues to the overall puzzle in the three expandable sections below.
General Hint 1
Hint 1: The board it is on is made of wood.
Hint 3: Finger foods at a party, perhaps.
Spoilers for Two of the Words in Today’s Strands
Need more than just some hints for thischallenging puzzle game? In the expandable sections below, you can find a spoiler. There is one word in each section along with its position in the letter grid.
Word 2: Olive
The Answer to Today’s New York Times Games Strands
The full spoiler for thispuzzle gameis located in the expandable section below. If you press the Read More button, you’ll see the themed words, the Spangram, and where each are located in the puzzle’s grid.
The category for today isCharcuterie. The words are Olive, Brie, Salami, Spread, Cracker, Nuts, and Fruit.

Today’s Strands Explained
Don’t get it? In this section, you may see how the Spangram, the themed words, and the clue all go together.
The theme, which isCharcuterieis the French term for Cold Cuts, and it is used in English to describe a snack board, usually finger food for parties. They are always servedOn a Board.

Want to play? Check out theNew York Times Games Strandswebsite available on almost any device with a browser.


