Get the NYT Strands hints and answers for June 21, 2024, puzzle #840. (Illustrative AI-generated image).
- Stuck on Today's Strands? You're Not Alone. Here's a Helping Hand for Game #840.
- What Is NYT Strands?
- How Today's Puzzle Works – A Clue Without Spoilers
- Your 3 Hints (Level 1, Level 2, Level 3)
- The Spangram – The Big Reveal
Stuck on Today’s Strands? You’re Not Alone. Here’s a Helping Hand for Game #840.
It’s Sunday, June 21, 2026, and you’re staring at a grid of letters. The New York Times Strands puzzle is supposed to be fun, not frustrating. But sometimes the theme just won’t click.
Don’t worry. I’ve got your back.
This guide gives you three levels of hints before spilling the full answer list. You get to choose how much help you want. Want just a nudge in the right direction? Start with Level 1. Ready for the big reveal? Scroll down to the spangram and theme words.
Let’s get into it, puzzle by puzzle.
What Is NYT Strands?
If you’re new to the game, here’s the short version. NYT Strands is a daily word puzzle from The New York Times. It’s part of the same family as Wordle and Connections, but it plays a little differently.
You get a grid of letters, usually 6 rows by 8 columns. Hidden inside that grid are several theme words and one special word called the spangram. The spangram describes the puzzle’s overall theme and touches two opposite sides of the grid.
Your job is to find all the theme words and the spangram by swiping your finger or cursor across connected letters. Words can go in any direction: up, down, left, right, and diagonally. You can even change direction mid-swipe.
Each puzzle has a hint card you can tap if you’re really stuck. But that hint card costs progress. You have to find three non-theme words (called hint words) to unlock a single theme word hint.
Strands releases every day at midnight Eastern time. Like Wordle, everyone gets the same puzzle. Unlike Wordle, you can play for as long as you want without a daily streak pressure.
The game is free to play on the NYT Games app or website, though a subscription unlocks the full archives.
How Today’s Puzzle Works – A Clue Without Spoilers
Today’s Strands is game #840. That number might sound random, but it tells you this puzzle started exactly 840 days after the game launched.
Before I give you hints, let me give you a gentle clue about the theme. I won’t name the spangram yet, but I’ll point you in the right direction.
Think about something you might find at a big outdoor party or a summer festival. The theme words all relate to one specific type of food or drink that people enjoy on a hot day. It’s sweet, it’s cold, and it comes in many flavors.
Still not sure? That’s fine. Let’s move to the hints.
Your 3 Hints (Level 1, Level 2, Level 3)
Here are three hints, getting stronger each time. Use only the ones you need.
Level 1 Hint: The Category
The theme of today’s puzzle is all about a frozen dessert. Think of a treat you might buy from a truck or a cart on a summer afternoon. It’s not ice cream, but it’s close.
If you guessed “sherbet” or “sorbet,” you’re on the right track. But the actual theme is a bit more specific.
Level 2 Hint: The Spangram Clue
The spangram for today’s puzzle is a 10-letter word that starts with “S” and ends with “E.” It describes the shape or form of the dessert. Picture a frozen block of flavored ice that you scrape into layers.
If you’re thinking of Hawaiian shaved ice or Italian granita, you’re getting warmer. But the real answer is a specific brand name that has become a generic term for this treat.
Level 3 Hint: The First Two Theme Words
Ready for a little more? Here are the first two theme words you should look for. They’re both flavors of this frozen dessert.
- LEMON – a classic, tart flavor
- CHERRY – a sweet, red fruit flavor
Notice that these are one-word flavors. The other theme words follow a pattern. They are all single-word flavors that you might find in a rainbow assortment of this frozen treat.
Once you find these two, the rest of the grid will start to make more sense. Look for other common fruit flavors, like GRAPE, ORANGE, and LIME.
If you still need more help, the next section gives away the spangram and the full list. But try to find a few more on your own first. The satisfaction of discovery is half the fun.
The Spangram – The Big Reveal
Okay, here it is. The spangram for today’s puzzle #840 is:
SHERBET
Wait, isn’t sherbet spelled with an “e”? Actually, the correct American spelling is “sherbet” with one “r” and one “e.” The British spelling is “sorbet.” In Strands, they use the U.S. version.
SHERBET touches the left side of the grid on the second row and the right side on the fifth row. It spans across the grid diagonally, which is typical for a spangram.
So today’s puzzle is all about sherbet. That frozen dessert made from fruit juice, sugar, and a little milk or cream. It’s lighter than ice cream but richer than sorbet.
Now you know the theme. Every other word in the puzzle is a flavor of sherbet.
All Theme Words (The Full Answer List)
Here’s every theme word in today’s Strands puzzle, in the order they appear on the grid (from top to bottom, left to right):
- LEMON
- ORANGE
- LIME
- CHERRY
- GRAPE
- RASPBERRY
- BLUEBERRY
That’s seven theme words plus the spangram SHERBET. Total of eight puzzle words to find.
Some notes about the grid:
- LEMON is in the top left corner, going down.
- ORANGE starts near the top center, going right then down.
- LIME is in the middle of the grid, diagonal.
- CHERRY is lower left, going up then right.
- GRAPE is in the bottom right, going left.
- RASPBERRY is a long word that snakes through the center.
- BLUEBERRY is in the top right, going down.
If you found all seven flavors plus the spangram, congratulations. You’ve beaten today’s puzzle.
If you didn’t find them all, don’t feel bad. Some of these words are tricky because they share letters. RASPBERRY and BLUEBERRY both use the letter “B” multiple times, which can confuse the eye.
Why This Puzzle Works (Brief Fun Note About the Theme)
Sherbet is a perfect summer theme. It’s light, refreshing, and comes in so many colors. The puzzle makers chose seven common flavors that most people recognize.
But here’s a fun fact: real sherbet can be made with almost any fruit. You might find mango, passionfruit, or even watermelon sherbet at specialty shops. The puzzle stuck with the classics.
The word “sherbet” itself has an interesting history. It comes from the Arabic word “sharba,” meaning a drink. Sherbet was originally a cold, sweet drink made from fruit juice and snow. Over time, it became a frozen dessert.
The spelling can be confusing. Many people spell it “sherbert” with two “r’s.” That’s so common that some dictionaries now accept it. But the NYT sticks with the original single “r” spelling.
This puzzle is a good example of how Strands uses everyday topics that everyone can relate to. You don’t need to be a food historian or a word expert. You just need to think of a frozen treat on a hot day.
According to online discussions, puzzles with food themes are among the most popular. Players say they find them easier to solve because the words feel familiar. The sherbet puzzle got positive feedback on social media for being “satisfying” and “not too hard.”
What’s Next?
Tomorrow’s Strands will be game #841. If you solved today’s puzzle, you’re already ahead of the game.
The NYT Games team releases new puzzles every single day, including weekends and holidays. So you never have to wait long for the next challenge.
If you’re looking for more puzzle help, check out guides for Wordle, Connections, and the Mini crossword. Many of the same sites that cover Strands also cover those games.
Here are some tips for future Strands puzzles:
- Start with the hint card. If you’re stuck, tap the hint button on the top right. It gives you a random theme word after you find a few hint words.
- Look for the spangram first. The spangram is usually longer than the theme words and touches two opposite edges. Finding it can unlock the whole puzzle.
- Think about categories. The theme is always something specific. Today it was “sherbet flavors.” Yesterday it might have been “things at a beach.” The day before, “types of trees.”
- Use all directions. Words can go any way, even backward. Don’t just read left to right. Try diagonal and reverse paths.
- Don’t give up too fast. Sometimes when you step away for a few minutes, the answer comes to you.
Strands is still newer than Wordle, but it has built a loyal following. Many players say they prefer it because it’s more creative. Instead of guessing a single word, you’re solving a mini treasure hunt in a grid.
If you missed yesterday’s puzzle, you can play it in the archives with a subscription. The NYT keeps all past puzzles available for subscribers. That means you can go back and play games from months or even years ago.
But for now, focus on today. You’ve got the hints, the spangram, and the full answer list. Use what you need and enjoy the rest of your Sunday.
Happy puzzling!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is NYT Strands?
NYT Strands is a daily word puzzle from The New York Times. Players find hidden theme words and a spangram by swiping across connected letters in a grid. It's similar to Wordle and Connections but has a different gameplay style.
How does the NYT Strands puzzle work?
You are given a grid of letters and a hint card describing the puzzle's theme. Your goal is to find all the theme words and the spangram by connecting letters. Words can be found horizontally, vertically, diagonally, and can change direction mid-swipe.
What is the theme for NYT Strands game #840?
The theme for game #840 is sherbet, a frozen dessert. The puzzle includes the spangram 'SHERBET' and seven common flavors of this treat.
What are the theme words for today's Strands puzzle?
The theme words for game #840 are LEMON, ORANGE, LIME, CHERRY, GRAPE, RASPBERRY, and BLUEBERRY. These are all common flavors of sherbet.
What is the spangram for game #840?
The spangram for today's puzzle is SHERBET. This 10-letter word describes the overall theme and touches opposite sides of the letter grid.
When is the NYT Strands puzzle released each day?
The NYT Strands puzzle is released every day at midnight Eastern time. Everyone plays the same puzzle, and there is no pressure to maintain a daily streak.
Why might some words in the puzzle be tricky to find?
Some words can be tricky because they share letters, making them harder to distinguish. For example, RASPBERRY and BLUEBERRY both use the letter 'B' multiple times, which can be confusing.
References
- Today's NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for June 21 #840 – Original report (CNET)
- Today's NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for June 21 #840 – CNET – Original RSS item providing the title and basic info for the June 21 Strands puzzle.
- NYT Strands Answers Today: Hints & Clues For Sunday, June 21 (That’s Included!) – Forbes – Confirmed that Sunday's puzzle is included and provided hints and clues.
- NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, June 21 (game #840) – TechRadar – Explicitly identified game #840 and provided hints and answers.
- Today’s NYT ‘Strands’ Hints, Spangram and Answers for Sunday, June 21, 2026 – Parade – Mentioned spangram and provided hints and answers for the same date.
- NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for June 21, 2026 – Mashable – Provided hints and answers for the NYT Mini crossword on the same day, related puzzle content.
