NYT Strands puzzle June 18 answers: Today's theme, spangram, full word list and easy hints

If you are finding today’s NYT Strands puzzle a bit tricky, you are not alone. Strands is the New York Times’ twist on the classic word search. It asks you to find words that follow a theme and connect letters in any direction, even diagonally. Each letter must be used, and there is always one big word called the spangram. That word stretches across the grid and captures the theme.

Let’s break down the June 18 puzzle.

Today’s theme hint and explanation

• Hint: Down time
• What it means: All the answers are words linked to feeling low or sad. Think emotions, gloomy moods, and moments when your energy feels off.

NYT Strands Spangram for June 18

• Spangram direction: Horizontal
• Spangram: Sadness

This is the main word to look for in the grid. Once you spot it, the rest of the words often come easier.

NYT Strands puzzle answers for June 18

Here are all the answers in today’s puzzle:

• Sadness
• Melancholy
• Blue
• Woebegone
• Doleful
• Teary
• Gloomy

Each of these words is about sadness or feeling down. The grid had a clear theme, even if the path to each word was not always simple.